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.

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.