The Six Thinking Hats

A central element of Edward de Bono’s philosophies of learning is that thinking is a skill which can be taught and he has developed a specific approach called the “Six Thinking Hats” technique. This is a tool which can be used in a range of situations as a framework for thinking, and in particular for communication tasks such as the structuring of meetings, to help focus on the thinking process. Traditionally, for many people, one’s own argumentation is a key tool for communication and discussion, however with the Six Thinking Hats technique people are taught to think in parallel, rather than interaction by opposition. This approach allows individuals to go beyond their own (and other people’s) first reaction and instead look at different perspectives in order to make better decisions.

The Six Hats facilitates the separation of different interpretations of information at different times, e.g. separating facts from opinions, positive from negative, practical from creative. Each of the Six Hats has a colour associated with it which helps describes the function of that particular hat. The hat associated with overviews is blue like the sky. The hat associated with facts and figures is white like computer printouts. The hat associated with being positive and sunny is yellow like the sun. The hat associated with cautious and judgemental is black like judicial robes. The hat associated with creativity and growth is green like all things in nature. The hat associated with passion and personal is red like the heart.

• Introduction

• Instructional Design

• Learning Styles