THE DEVELOPMENT OF CRITICAL THINKING: SIX THINKING HATS BY EDWARD de BONO

Edward de BONO Born May 19,1933 (age 81) Nationality: British

If you never change your mind, why have one? Edward de Bono

Edward de Bono – a Maltese physician, author, inventor, and consultant. He originated the term lateral thinking, wrote the book Six Thinking Hats, and is a proponent of the deliberate teaching of thinking as a subject in schools.

Critical thinking is the intellectually disciplined process of actively and skillfully conceptualizing, applying, analyzing, synthesizing, and/or evaluating information gathered from, or generated by observation, experience, reflection, reasoning, or communication as a guide to belief and action. In its exemplary form it is based on universal intellectual values that transcend subject matter divisions: clarity, accuracy, precision, consistency, relevance, sound evidence, good reasons, depth, breadth, and fairness.

The idea of the Six Thinking Hats method is the following: These hats help us to change our image. They also help us to develop our thinking. We put one hat and start thinking in one direction, we change the hat and look at the problem from another point of view.

White Hat: Information The white color is associated with paper, it means information. Having put it on, we analyze what information we have, what information we lack, what new information we need, and how we are going to get this information. It determines accuracy and relevance.

Red Hat: Feelings, Intuition, Gut Instinct It is associated with feelings, emotions, intuition. When we use this hat, we have an opportunity to describe our feelings and emotions without explaining anything. It is a key ingredient in decision making.

Black Hat: Difficulties & Problems It is like a cloak of a judge. Having put it on, we criticize. But we should be very careful while doing it – reasons must be given.

It points out thinking that does not fit the facts, experience, regulations, strategy, and values. In fact, it points out potential problems.

Green Hat: New Ideas It reminds us of plants, life, and energy. Having put this hat on, we offer and suggest some creative ideas, alternatives, possibilities, speak about modifications and variants.

It removes faults, does not have to be logical. It really generates new concepts.

Yellow Hat: Benefits & Feasibility It reminds us of the Sun and optimism. Having put it on, we try to find all positive facts and factors. Even if we don't like the idea, the yellow hat asks us to find something positive in it.

It considers both short and long-term perspectives, finds the benefits and values. Mind: reasons must be given. In fact, it needs much more efforts than the black hat.

Blue Hat: Managing & Thinking It is associated with the process of thinking itself.

It is a control hat organizing the thinking. It sets the focus and agenda, summarizes and conducts, ensures that the rules are observed.

THE KEY BENEFITS The Six Thinking Hats Method provides a wonderful framework for thorough thinking to help administrators, educators, and students

Conduct a richer and more balanced exploration of any subject; Become independent thinkers; Objectively guide group discussions; Evaluate alternatives constructively; Improve research and writing skills;

Think thoughtfully before speaking; Listen more intently to the views of others to gain a deeper understanding of issues; Present ideas with more confidence; Solve problems; Make well thought through choices.

Presented by Ludmila Guseva Ramenskaya Gymnasia 2014 Resources: The free pictures from the Internet