PCER > Enrichment Program 2014-15 > Workshop on “Thinking Your Way”

This simple and fun method allowed participants to look at problems from non-traditional perspectives. This technique added depth by ensuring that all possibilities are explored and is a also a good critical-thinking tool. The Workshop was based on Edward De Bono – Six Thinking Hats.

Date
Time
Event
Venue
25th September, 2014
11.15 a.m. – 1.15 p.m.
Workshop on “Thinking Your Way”
Room No: 401

Objective:

  • Define parallel thinking.
  • Encourage critical thinking.
  • Explore ideas from a variety of viewpoints.

The Workshop highlighted on the features of the Six Thinking hats and how each Hat helps in decision making.

The Blue Hat:

  • The control hat, organising thinking itself.
  • Sets the focus, calls for the use of other hats.
  • Monitors and reflects on the thinking processes used.
  • Blue is for planning

The Red Hat:

  • Emotions & feelings
  • Hunches, intuitions, impressions
  • Doesn’t have to be logical or consistent
  • No justifications, reasons or basis
  • All decisions are emotional in the end

The Green Hat:

  • New ideas, concepts, perceptions
  • Deliberate creation of new ideas
  • Alternatives and more alternatives
  • New approaches to problems
  • Creative & lateral thinking

The Yellow Hat:

  • Positive & speculative
  • Positive thinking, optimism, opportunity
  • Benefits
  • Best-case scenarios
  • Exploration

The Black Hat:

  • Cautious and careful
  • Logical negative – why it won’t work
  • Critical judgement, pessimistic view
  • Separates logical negative from emotional
  • Focus on errors, evidence, conclusions
  • Logical & truthful, but not necessarily fair

An overview of the different Thinking Hats were given. The student teachers were asked to write their thoughts on the different scenarios presented to them on 6 coloured chart paper cut-outs and stick it on the hat that was prepared by them with the help of the newspaper. The scenarios were:

Scenario 1

  • All students should be given Rs 250/- every week to attend school.
  • Apply different hat thinking to this suggestion.
  • Don’t worry if you agree or disagree with the statement.

Scenario 2

  • You are assigned a career as soon as you are born.
  • Apply different hat thinking to this suggestion.
  • Don’t worry if you agree or disagree with the statement.

Scenario 3

  • Teachers using new methodologies should have a 30% pay raise.
  • Apply different hat thinking to this suggestion.
  • Don’t worry if you agree or disagree with the statement.

Scenario 4

  • Computers are essential for good education.
  • Apply different hat thinking to this suggestion.
  • Don’t worry if you agree or disagree with the statement.

The student teachers thoroughly enjoyed the session as it made them think differently using their 6 Thinking Hats.