When teachers facilitate class discussions, they take pains to ensure that the exchange of ideas stays focused on the ideas, rather than devolving into personal retorts or defensive or aggressive stances. Of course, when students make a stance and speak in support of an idea, they are willing to support it further, through brainstorming and research, so taking a stance and debating can be a productive thing. Depending on the chemistry of a class, though, helping students stay focused on the ideas rather than the personalities helps more students become willing to get involved in discussions. One method that helps approach is the Six Thinking Hats Method, which was developed by Edward de Bono (1991) in Six Thinking Hats for School Logan IA: Perfection Learning Corporation ISBN I-56312-098-8. Thanks to Frank Thoms for sharing this concept with us. (I'll be adding to this page as I try this out with students and outfit it with examples.)
Based on the metaphor of "wearing a hat" as suggesting a thinking style, the concept has students wear -- figuratively but possibly literally (or a colored hat or picture of one could be displayed) -- six different hats at different times of a discussion. This produces parallel thinking or brainstorming in a similar direction, rather than antithetical and contradictory thinking. Students begin sentences with "and" rather than "but" which keeps the level of defensiveness down. Ideas accumulate and leap frog over each other, making forward progress in a collective manner. When the discussion loses steam with a particular hat, teachers shift and say something like, "Okay, now let's put our White Hats on." and a different discussion ensues.
Blue Hat -- Thinking -- When students wear this hat, they brainstorm in terms of control of thinking and organizing ideas into action. They produce summaries, outlines, overviews, conclusions, guidelines, directions and actions that are practical.
Red Hat -- Feelings -- When students wear this hat, they explore basic human emotions and feelings, dislikes, suspicions, as well as complex emotions like hunches, intuitions, senses and aesthetics.
Green Hat -- Creativity -- When students wear this hat, they brainstorm in terms of creative of new ideas and ways of bringing progressive change. They explore new approaches, routes, options, choices, avenues, structures, resources, and methods.
White Hat -- Information -- When students wear this hat, they brainstorm in very neutral ways, looking for information, facts and figures without interpretations or opinions.
Yellow Hat -- Benefits -- When students wear this hat, they brainstorm to explore the possible benefits and constructive situations, the values and dreams and visions.
Black Hat -- Judgment -- When students wear this hat, they brainstorm to explore the possible drawbacks or downsides or the negative situations that could result. This is a protective way of viewing situations.