Applying Six Thinking Hats

Creative thinking and critical thinking are both important aspects of problem solving.

The Six Thinking Hats assignment provides a framework for students to practice both.

Six Thinking Hats is a technique developed by Edward De Bono. This parallel thinking technique provides a structure for people to explore six distinct perspectives of a complex issue or scenario. Typically, this technique is used during group settings, but can also be performed by an individual.

Scenario

You are a school counselor for the Sioux Falls school district (K-12). The district is concerned about the increase in the rate of vaping among its students. You will use the Six Thinking Hats technique to analyze the problem of youth vaping.

Plan of Action

Using the Six Thinking Hats technique, analyze the problem of the increase in the rate of vaping among K-12 students. Under each hat, compose 5-6 entries (either questions to seek information and/or statements of what is known) from the point of view (POV) of the specific hat.

The examples in the portal are a good start to help students understand the point of view (POV) of each hatbut some of the entries in the examples lack specific, detailed evidence to strengthen the argument that the specific hat is making.

For this assignment, before you construct the specific hats POV, you need to perform some research on the topic to be able to provide strong, convincing evidence for each hat. For example, the White Hat focuses on data, facts, known information and/or information that is needed. You will need to provide data, facts, etc. and source this information when constructing this hats POV.

Purely opinion writing will not earn full creditonly 25% credit. Students MUST use in-text citations and create a reference page for ALL sources used (from the research) to develop the POVs of the different thinking hats.

• White Hat: focuses on data, facts, known information, or information that is needed.
• Black Hat: focuses on difficulties, potential problems, why something may not work.
• Red Hat: focuses on feelings, hunches, gut instinct, and intuition.
• Yellow Hat: focuses on values and benefits: why something may work.
• Green Hat: focuses on creativity: possibilities, alternatives, solutions, new ideas.
• Blue Hat: focuses on process control, timing, next steps, action plans.