Thinking Styles Herrmanns Creative Brain Playing the Diversity

Thinking Styles Herrmann’s Creative Brain Playing the Diversity Game (Cognitive preferences) Wiki. Vet Workshop, LIVE Centre 31 st July 2007 Thanks to Julia Atkin for input (www. learning-by-design. com)

Herrmann’s Creative Brain model • Concerned with “ways of knowing” • ‘Left-brainers’ and ‘right-brainers’ “For people whose preferred mode of knowing is visual, what is presented in pictures will get through to them better than a lecture or book with text only” (Herrmann 1989)

The Brain - right versus left Left mode processing Right mode processing • serial/sequential • focal/convergent • verbal/symbolic • logical/analytical • parallel/simultaneous • diffuse/divergent • image/spatial • intuitive/holistic the wood © Julia Atkin, 2007

The Brain - cerebral versus limbic neocortex Neocortex - conceptual, cerebral, reasoning “thinking cap” limbic system reptilian Mac. Lean’s Triune Brain Limbic - emotional, registers rewards & punishments, controls ANS (fight or flight) Reptilian - instinctive, most ancient part of the brain

Herrmann’s Creative Brain model • Some rules … – No cognitive preference is better than another • “Every [one] brings critically important contributions to living and working” – Not a measure of intelligence • “The [model] is a metaphor describing how a person prefers to acquire and process information, not how fast or accurately they do it. ” – Over 90% of people have >1 preference – “Profiles tend to remain constant, but they can and do change. ”

The Diversity Game • Arrange your five cards in order, starting with the card that best describes yourself, and ending with the one that is least like you … • What was your immediate response to the cards that were dealt? • Would you be comfortable finishing the game with these cards?

The Diversity Game • Move around the other players and trade cards to “improve” your hand. . . • Were there any noticeable patterns in the kinds of cards other players wanted to keep and those they were willing to trade? • What might patterns suggest about the preferences of the group?

The Diversity Game • Discard your two least preferred cards … • What reaction did you have when you had to give up two cards?

The Diversity Game • Examine all the discarded cards and make any exchanges you want to … • Were those choices easy or difficult? • Were you able to put together a hand that closely represented you?

The Diversity Game • Remember a personal story to share with the group that illustrates a time when all three of the qualities in your hand came into play and influenced your behaviour … • Does your story reflect the way you are much of the time?

© Ned Herrmann, The Creative Brain, 1989

“If a learner is highly inclined towards one mode of processing … he or she will tend to approach tasks in that mode even when it’s not the more appropriate. ” Communication & Learning Likes & Expectations “Learning requires moving outside our comfort zone. ” (Atkin 2000) © Julia Atkin, 2007

Discuss … • Can we use this model as a basis for collaborative work with Wiki. Vet? – To facilitate teamwork? – As a model for learners?