Lateral Thinking: Random Word Activity: 

The random word technique can help you analyze problems or issues in your life that have you stuck. Here is how it works. Use a random word generator like this one: (https://randomwordgenerator.com/noun.php) to find a noun. 

Once you have selected your noun, think of all the features and the function of the noun. Then, apply those features and functions to your situation to help you analyze it. 

Consider these two examples:

Issue one: High school students are not prepared for class. 

Random Noun: Faucet

What are the features and the function of a faucet?

· Faucets make life convenient by letting us get the water we need immediately

· Faucets can leak, and even a drip can cause damage.

· Faucets have hot and cold knobs 

Now, how can we use these features and functions to help us think about the problem of students not being prepared for class?

· When everyone is prepared, it is very convenient for productive use of class time (just like the faucet is a convenient way to get water).

· Even one or two students who are not prepared (like the drips) can really cause damage to the productivity. Just as you need to make sure you turn off the faucet tightly to avoid the drips, the teacher needs to keep a tight hold on the expectation that students will come to class prepared.

· Faucets give out two types of water: hot and cold. Similarly, there are two ways to approach problems: reward or punishment. Perhaps students could be rewarded for being well prepared for class instead of just punished when they are not prepared.

Issue two: Helicopter parents in the elementary classroom 

Random Word: Seafood

Features and function of seafood:

· Seafood can be nourishing and provides a lot of protein to the diet

· Seafood is smelly

· Seafood is not readily available in some places 

· Seafood is a common allergen

· Seafood can be overpowering; it needs to complement the meal

How do these features and function help me to think about what to do with helicopter parents in the elementary classroom?

· A little parent involvement is great, but too much is stinky like fish that is around too long.

· Seafood is rare-parent involvement is rare. First, appreciate the intention of the parent to be involved and try to be patient. 

· Seafood needs to be paired with the right drinks and other food to complement the meal. Parent involvement could be channeled into the right activity, so it is complements education instead of becoming a barrier. 

· Seafood can be nourishing. Extra adults in the classroom can be nourishing to the learning environment because it allows for more small group attention. For example, perhaps parents could help run math enrichment activities or listen to students practice reading out loud. As long as they are not working directly with their own children, this might be a way to keep them involved without being disruptive.

Now it is your turn to try this technique with two issues/problems. Please submit the following.

Issue/Problem #1: 

Random Noun:

Features and function of the noun:

What about these features and functions can help you analyze your issue?

Issue/Problem #2

Random Noun:

Features and function of the noun:

What about these features and functions can help you analyze your issue?

Reflection: Share your thoughts on de Bono’s lateral thinking techniques. Which are most appealing to you? How might you use one or more of these techniques in your personal or professional life?