Six Thinking Hats Technique

The six-hat thinking technique involves a manipulable discussion process by allowing the subject, case or situation to be viewed from different angles.

Description

What is this technique about
The six-hat thinking technique involves a manipulable discussion process by allowing the subject, case or situation to be viewed from different angles. In this discussion process, participants generate ideas according to the characteristics of their hats and share them with others.

Features of hats,

White hat: It is a neutral hat.
The red hat is the Emotional hat.
Yellow hat: It is an optimistic hat.
Black hat: It is a pessimistic hat.
Green hat: It is an innovative hat.
Blue hat: It is a cool hat.



Where does it come from 
The six-hat thinking technique was introduced by Edward De Bono in 1985. The purpose of the six-hat thinking technique is to use different ideas to identify solutions to a problem.

For which purposes it is used (why in your engineering teaching)
 
The six-hat thinking technique allows developing ideas by focusing on thought processes, avoiding discussions and looking at the situation from various angles. Different ideas about the problem arise due to the nature of each hat.
It can be used in engineering education, product and process development, definition and problem-solving.

General overview of how to implement it

Execution:

1. Hats are prepared and randomly distributed to participants.
2. 
The problem is determined, written on the board and shared with the participants.
3. 
It is ensured that each participant participates in the thinking process in according to the hat.
4. If it is thought that the thinking process is not saturated, the participants are asked to change their hats.
5. As a result, it is ensured that the blue hat reviews the process and completes the process.

​​​​​​​Materials/equipment needed

  • Paper, markers, flipchart
  • Writing utensils, pen, pencil 
  • Coloured hats
 

References

Paterson, A. (2006). Dr. Edward de Bono's Six Thinking Hats and Numeracy. Australian primary mathematics classroom, 11(3), 11-15.


Geissler, G. L., Edison, S. W., & Wayland, J. P. (2012). Improving Students' Critical Thinking, Creativity, and Communication Skills. Journal of Instructional Pedagogies, 8.


Kivunja, C. (2015). Using de bono’s six thinking hats model to teach critical thinking and problem solving skills essential for success in the 21st-century economy. Creative Education, 6(03), 380.


De Bono, E. (2017). Six thinking hats. Penguin uk.


Classification

  • Digital/on-line or face-to-face Face-to-face, Digital/online
  • Duration of the application of the technique 30-60 min
  • Technique Category Creativity techniques for critical and lateral thinking, Creativity techniques for communication & motivation
  • Type of activity Collaborative team setting, Classroom activity
  • Group or individual activity Group
  • Size of the group you are working with Up to 15
  • Type of class Practice-based
  • Phase of the creativity process Divergent phase: Association
 

Material

  • Whiteboard or similar
  • Paper
  • Other