Six Thinking Hats

Developed by Edward de Bono, Six Thinking Hats© is a simple and practical process used to help groups reach an understanding of a concept or task by focusing on key ideas and thinking at high level.

This process divides into six functions and roles. A unique colored “thinking hat” is assigned to each of these six roles. When team members literally or figuratively wear a particular hat symbolizing a particular role, they focus on a single perspective. When they switch to a different hat or actively listen to perspectives represented by those who wearing other hats, they begin to develop a deep understanding from the various those other points of view.

The impact of this strategy is that teams work collaboratively to consider six perspectives associated with a single issue or problem. By applying the role-playing that is inherent to this strategy, individuals who may be reluctant to speak out are secure in expressing ideas that fit a position rather than expressing their own ideas.

Implementation

 

1. Have copies of hats in the six colors for students to display in their groups that include the kind of thinking represented by each hat.
2. Provide guiding questions as each thinking hat is used.
3. Use brainstorming protocols so that ideas are generated, discussed, and developed without fear of.
4. Six color descriptions and guiding questions:

 

White hat

 

• Facts about the topic
• Data – known and unknown
• What do you know about the topic? What do you need to know that you don’t know?

 

Red Hat

 

• Feelings about the topic
• Emotions
• How do you feel about the topic?

 

Yellow Hat

 

• Positive elements of the topic
• Values and benefits
• What are the benefits of understanding the topic?

 

Black Hat

 

• Judging the topic
• Disadvantages and problems
• What problems are associated with or caused by the topic?

 

Green Hat

 

• Alternative, solutions, related ideas
• Creative ideas
• How would life be different if [the topic] did not exist?

 

Blue Hat

 

• Summary of the topic, next steps
• Action plan
• What do you consider to be the most important idea about the topic that all humans need to understand?

 

Classroom Management

 

1. Each student or group is assigned a hat.
2. Each color hat is assigned a kind of thinking.
3. The group develops a statement of the thinking that their assigned perspective would use to define or explain that issue and the related challenges the issue presents.
4. The group prepares a statement of the consequences gained by their kind of thinking for that issue.
5. Each thinking group shares their findings to the entire group.
6. The group examines the short and long term effects of each of the consequences.
7. The group determines the best course of action to use based on the multiple perspectives presented.