Chapter 1

I found the Six Thinking Hats created by Edward de Bono very intriguing. I have not encountered this idea before, but after researching it further it seems to hold true. When looking at a problem it is best to "wear" each one of these hats while considering the situation or issue. 

This concept could be easily explained to students at any level, especially young children. It is a easily understood idea that easily relates to any child. Plus, the idea of putting on and taking off a "thinking cap" has been used in many classrooms. This idea could be easily incorporated across the curriculum with any lesson that involves many of the education concepts listed in Chapter 1 Section 9 (multiple perspective, decision making, problem solving, critical thinking, convergent thinking and divergent thinking). You could even get really creative and give the students real colored hats  to put on when problem solving. That may help them relate to the ideas and gain a better understanding. This idea could help students gain confidence and think at a higher level and can be easily adapted for any subject. For example, it could relate to a history lesson plan by allowing the child to look at the multiple perspectives of important figures of the past. Or it could help explain a concept in psychology.

Once children grasp the concept of the thinking caps, this idea could easily be used for assessment purposes. Since the purpose of the caps is to get the students to look deeper to understand the problem, the assessment could contain questions that are more meaningful that require critical thinking instead of the overused "minute facts." The hats allow students to answer questions and explain their reasoning behind them by backing their answer up with facts. 

I think this is a great concept and I look forward to trying it out during student teaching!

SOURCE: de Bono, Edward, Six Thinking Hats: An Essential Approach to Business Management (New York: Little, Brown, & Company, 1985); and Maraekakaho School