Synectics

Synectics is a problem solving method that uses metaphors and analogies to spark creativity.

The Process: (Source 1)

1. Establish an understanding of a word or topic through the use of a dictionary or other reference. Alternately, if the word or topic is well understood, have the students briefly describe it individually through writing or through discussion in small groups.

 2. Ask the students to brainstorm direct analogies. In this step, the word or topic being examined is compared to something totally unrelated. For example, if the word in Step #1 was 'cat', ask: "In what ways is a cat like a tornado?"

 3. Have the students work with a direct analogy to create a personal analogy. The student should 'become' the cat and describe how they would feel as the cat.

 4. To explore contrast, ask the students to identify differences: "How is a cat different than a tornado?"

 5. Create a new analogy by asking the students, "How are the cat and the tornado like an ocean?"

 6. Return to the original word or topic so that the students may use the ideas produced to create their new product (a poem, a paragraph, etc.).

Note: Each section should be completed separately with a period of time between each section.

Brainstorming is important for synectics - it allows students to discover what they know already and explore their own thoughts and ideas about connections between subjects. The teacher should be a facilitator, guiding the process. Students must feel that the classroom is a safe, non-judgmental place before brainstorming occurs. (Source 2)

Using metaphors and analogies can help increase the understandings of students about a topic or issue in that they help develop student's ability to think creatively, as they force strange things together and form uncommon connections (Source 2). Synectics are useful in: 1. helping students move their thinking from the literal to non-literal 2. guiding students to identifying similarities and differences to enhance students' understanding of and ability to use knowledge. 3. assisting students to identify similarities and differences which enhances students' understanding of and ability to use knowledge. 4. enhancing student understanding through representing similarities and differences in graphic or symbolic form. 5. enriching projects and writing by giving students another form of representation.

For evaluation, I would use a graphic organizer of some sort, which is a visual representation under Constructed Response Assessments. A graphic organizer would clearly show their line of thinking in their analogies or metaphors.

I would use Synectics in Entrepreneurship somehow when students are developing their ideas for business ventures. When considering the problem they see that needs to be solved, I would ask them to make analogies/metaphors for the problem when exploring the solution to the problem and how to best address the problem.

Source 1: [|Synectics]

Source 2: [|Synectics]