Synectics for Creative Thinking in Technology

 Hummell, L.  (2006). Synectics for creative thinking in technology education. The Technology Teacher, 66(3), 22-       27.  Retrieved October 4, 2009, from ProQuest Education Journals. (Document ID: 1169096171).

Synectics is a creative problem solving process developed in 1961 by William J. J. Gordon and George Prince. This process helps students solve problems by following a set of prompts that relate familiar to unfamiliar or unfamiliar to familiar. Students use what they know about something familiar and apply to the unfamiliar to create something new following these steps:

1. Define or describe the current situation or problem.
2. Write down ideas about direct analogies.
3. Write down your reactions to personal analogies.
4. Explore compressed conflicts and form an oxymoron.
5. Write down new direct analogies.
6. Reexamine original situation or problem.

Students learn to follow these steps can apply them to problems in almost every aspect of life. Problem-solving is a life-long skill that benefits everyone.