REaCT: Lessons of tolerance - Inclusive teaching of adults

When using the hats they always should be referred to by colours and never by what they represent as it is unlikely to get honest reaction if one is asked to be e.g. emotional. When asking to take off one hat an put another one is neutral and the hats can be used without embarrassment. Role playing used in the thinking process and using the method as a game makes it enjoyable and more effective. As a game rule it is possible to request certain types of thinking, changing the hats as is necessary. There is no one good way of organising the hats during the thinking process, it depends on subjects, particular situation or attendees, etc.

Depending on the needs the six thinking hats method may be used in a more structured way. The participants / learners may decide beforehand on a formal structured sequence going through the hats.

On the other hand, the method may be used in a discussion occasionally when necessary. One can be asked to put one or the other hat on depending on how the discussion goes. For the idiom of the hat to be the most useful all the people must know the method and be aware of the meaning of each hat. Then the concept becomes a sort of common language. By practicing use of the method eventually one should be able to sit down at any discussion table and switch in and out of “hats” with ease.