Synectics
Graphic Organizers

"Creativity -- nothing more than following a systematic process,
allowing random connections to take place, and
using your intuition to develop unique solutions.

Oh, by the way,
it's much easier and much more fun
when you work with others throughout the process."
- Doug

Background Information: Synectics (Gordon, 1961) provides an approach to creative thinking that depends on looking at, what appears on the surface as, unrelated phenomenon and drawing relevant connections. Its main tools, analogies or metaphors. The approach, often used in groupwork, can help students develop creative responses to problem solving, to retain new information, to assist in generating writing, and to explore social and disciplinary problems. It helps users break existing minds sets and internalize abstract concepts. Synectics works well with all ages as well as those who withdraw from traditional methods (Couch, 1993).

Top | Process: Teacher-facilitators use synectics in the classroom by leading students through a process which results in a three dimensional view of the "problem" in order to create solutions. Although this process appears a bit cumbersome, the resultant scope and depth of your options will justify the time spent.

Remember, tools, when used for the right types of jobs hold great value; synectics does not work for every job.

• Define the word(s): Use a dictionary or other standard source to define each word, concept, or theme. I prefer an unabridged dictionary for more detailed definitions.

  See Try it, it works for a word list and suggestions. This process works with a multitude of content areas.

  To ensure a fresh view generate each of the following lists separately, put the current list away, and start the next list after a break of at least five to ten minutes. If time permits longer breaks yield more beneficial results.
  
  When using synectics to define a person, appropriate for self evaluation, focus your questions on the areas of physical attributes, skills, interests, personality traits, attitudes, and emotional states.

• Create direct analogies: What words have the same or similar meaning? (use a Thesaurus or book of synonyms)
  
  
• Describe personal analogies: What would it feel like to have the characteristics or traits of…? (describe emotions and physical attributes)
  
  
• Identify compressed conflicts: What words have the opposite meaning or characteristics? (use a book of antonyms)
  
  
• Create a new direct analogy: What words have the same or similar meaning?
  
  Yes, this repeats the prompt from the second step. The difference, after going through the first three lists you will have gone deeper into the subject and this list will reflect that depth.
  
  
• Synthesis: Look at all four lists and find key words or phrases, expand on those to generate more. Finally, focus on a theme that may incorporate several elements based on the final list.

I have used this process many times and I'm always amazed at the connections.

As an exercise to explore the overall concept of tolerance I use the following list of words to elicit multimedia pieces. I allow students to work independently or in a group with no more than three. In a group of three, I have the expectation of "multi"media, e.g. music, visual art, writing, theatre, etc.

Feel free to give this a try, but be warned, students will whine and complain at the beginning. Keep encouraging them to use the process. It works. With younger students try going through the process with only one word, concept, or theme, and of course you may want to create your own word list.

Put each word on a small piece of paper and then let the students randomly select one to three words. I put the whole list into a three column Word document, leaving about a half inch in between, then cut them out and put them in a baggy. Have fun.

Tolerance word list | Top

adultery advertising affirmative action anarchy anti-Semitism appropriateness bias bigotry blasphemy books cable television CD-ROM chaos chauvinism computer hackers computer viruses conformity content-neutral crime democracy civilization discrimination disruption domination e-mail education espionage exploitation exploration expression fidelity films flaming (e-mail) freedom gender equity genocide

glass ceiling Greenpeace homophobia homosexuality imagination indecent inflammatory institutional racism interference Internet intimidation intolerance invasion justice libelous liberty magazines mail fraud mixed relationships monogamy morality movies murder NatRifleAssoc (NRA) naturalism nonpartisanship nudity objectionable obscenity offensive partisanship peace personal diaries politically correct pornography

prejudice privacy prohibited propaganda prostitution protection prudence racism radio reasonable religion religious right repression responsible standards restraint restriction righteousness sabotage security sex sexual harassment slander society Spanish inquisition submission suppression television theft threat tolerance unclean Victorianism video violation violence

Simon Wiesenthal Center Multimedia Learning Center Online - http://motlc.wiesenthal.com/ - Provides a comprehensive resource on the Holocaust and WWII, virtual exhibits, a teacher's resource center, special collections from the Institute of Documentation in Israel, and more.

Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) - Teaching Tolerance - http://www.splcenter.org/teachingtolerance/tt-index.html - A national education project dedicated to helping teachers foster equity, respect, and understanding in the classroom and beyond.

Trigger Questions - http://members.ozemail.com.au/%7Ecaveman/Creative/Techniques/syn_quest.htm - Take creative action by using the Trigger Questions to transform your ideas and information into something new. These questions are tools for transformational thinking and may lead you to some great discoveries.

Bridging Snapshots	CerebralChart	Sketch
Compare/Contrast Matrix	Network Tree	Spider Map
Continuum Scale	PMI	Synectics
Cycle	Problem/Solution Outline	T-Chart
Fishbone Map	Questions	Venn Diagram
Human Interaction Outline	Ranking	Web
KWLH	Series of Events Chain

Teachers - Make sure you check out the Assignments section which provides exercises, projects, support resources, and rubrics.

Historical and Cultural Context - provides an overview of art movements and the context in which they developed. We have not covered every movement or period, rather selected snippets to help provide students with an opportunity to explore the elements that have influenced other artists in their quest for expressing personal voice. As with all of our work, this site remains a work in progress.

Wow, validation.

Check out edHelper.com to find more educational resources, lesson plans, news updates, and more.

Kipperman, D., & Linder, D. (1995). CerebralFlatulence. In EdTec 670 Cardboard Cognition. Available: http://edweb.sdsu.edu/courses/edtec670/Cardboard/card/c/CerebralFlat.html

Couch, Richard (1993). Synectics and Imagery: Developing Creative Thinking Through Images. In: Art, Science & Visual Literacy: Selected Readings from the Annual Conference of the International Visual Literacy Association (24th, Pittsburgh, PA. September 30 - October 4, 1992). (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED 363 330)

Gordon, W.J.J. (1961). Synectics. New York: Harper & Row.