1. Edward de Bono’s Six Thinking Hats An aid to decision making and problem solving.

2. De Bono’s thoughts The de Bono Hats represent six thinking strategies De Bono considered human cognition and thought to be of several types, approaches, or orientations. He theorized that of these approaches, most people used only one or two of the approaches and that people developed thinking habits which in turn limited people to those approaches. De Bono believed that if the various approaches could be identified and a system of their use developed which could be taught, that people could be more productive in meetings and in collaborating within groups and teams by deliberately using the approaches

3. Main purposes Focus and improve the thinking process Encourage creative, parallel and lateral thinking Improve communication Speed up decision making Avoid debate

4. Six Hats Developed by Edward de Bono (1980s) Framework for thinking Easy to use Visual and tactile Involves a variety of thinking Allows students to separate their thinking Can be used by individuals, small groups or whole class

6. The Red Hat Intuition, opinion & emotion, feelings What do you feel about the suggestion? What are your gut reactions? What intuitions do you have? Don’t think too long or too hard.

7. The White Hat The information seeking hat. What are the facts? What information is available? What is relevant? When wearing the white hat we are neutral in our thinking.

8. The Yellow Hat The sunshine hat. It is positive and constructive. It is about effectiveness and getting a job done. What are the benefits, the advantages?

9. The Black Hat The caution hat. In black hat the thinker points out errors or pit-falls. What are the risks or dangers involved? Identifies difficulties and problems.

10. This is the creative mode of thinking. Green represents growth and movement. In green hat we look to new ideas and solutions. Lateral thinking wears a green hat. The Green Hat

11. 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 Blue Hat

12. Six Thinking Hats Intuitive (feelings) Informative Constructive (positives) Cautious (negatives) Creative Reflective

13. Ways to use the Six Thinking Hats Responding to literature Problem solving Brainstorming Role-play and drama Visual and creative arts