8.+Six+Thinking+Hats

[] o **How to- give specific steps for strategy implementation:** //The strategy referred to as “Six Thinking Hats” is used by many teachers in all content areas. The six “hats” all refer to a different way of thinking about a subject. The point of the hats, usually represented by different colors, is to approach a concept with a preconceived notion of how you are going to evaluate a situation. The hat presents a different “point-of-view” or a direction to think ([|www.mycoted.com]). The hats are represented by different colors in order to help students visualize a different mode of thinking. One may choose the colors they want the six hats to be and the corresponding way of thinking, but be sure to stick with the colors to ensure the kids don’t get confused. Assign these ways of thinking prior to introducing a topic. The six ways of thinking include: 1Facts and Figures, 2Feelings and Emotions, 3Judgement and Action, 4Logical Positive, 5Creativity, Proposals, and Alternatives, and finally 6Overview/Process Control Hat.// o **When to-implement in content area (provide specific justification)** These hats would be a great strategy to use when talking about difficult subjects such as racism, segregation, or religious belief systems. This would allow groups of students to approach the topic from many different points of view and evaluate the situation from a historical figure’s point of view. Implementing this strategy in a mathematics classroom provides a little bit more of a challenge. When discussing mathematical figures in history, such as Pythagoras, the students can evaluate what the citizens ofGreecemust When discussing topics such as evolution, have students use this strategy. Students will learn to appreciate the scientific processes more by observing a debate from many different points of view. o **Research and references that supports the “effective instruction” label for this strategy** In the 1980s, Dr. Edward de Bono coined the strategy of the “Six Thinking Hats”. According to [|www.mycoted.com], Dr. de Bono has organized and authorized trainers to teach this method of approaching a subject. The trainers work for an association called “Advanced Practical Thinking, located inDes Moines,Iowa. The main point of using the “hats” is to teach students to think in a general direction instead of telling them what to think. The process promotes lateral thinking, full spectrum thinking, and allows students to separate their egos from their performance in the classroom (Mycoted.com, 2009). The only fair way I can see to assess this is to grade based on participation. Everyone should contribute something to the conversation. Keep a list of students in the class and mark off a tally beside their name whenever they contribute something to the discussion. When someone makes a discovery or presents an interesting point or idea, ask them to write it on the board under their assigned hat.
 * **Name of Strategy:** // Six Thinking Hats //
 * **Language Arts and Social Studies:**
 * **Mathematics:**
 * **Science:**
 * **Benefits**
 * Students learn to think from different point of views.
 * Students are encouraged to use their own ideas to evaluate a situation.
 * Students learn to collaborate within a group to produce a unified response.
 * **Drawbacks**
 * Students will approach a subject with a pre-conceived notion of what they should think and how they should respond.
 * One student may end up doing all the work within a group because the other children may be too afraid to express their opinions or the group leader may assert too much dominance and only report his/her ideas to the instructor.
 * **Learning styles, modalities, intelligences, or abilities addressed**
 * This strategy definitely appeals to the verbal/linguistic and interpersonal modalities. Students who work well in groups and enjoy sharing their thoughts will find this strategy very appealing.
 * Intrapersonal and logical-mathematical may find it difficult to complete this task. Students who tend to sink within themselves may find it hard to express their opinions to the group and students who tend to think in a more logical manner may find it hard to deviate from this pattern.
 * **Ways to assess the teaching/learning connection**
 * **Classroom management considerations**
 * Some students will get too into the roles they are “playing” and become a little aggressive in trying to assert their point of view. This is where the safe classroom environment comes into affect. Every student should feel that their opinion is heard, not necessarily shared by all students, but accepted within the confines of the classroom.
 * Students with dominant personalities will dominate conversation and other students who may have valid points will be drown out by the overpowering students.