Method 8 Synectics

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Main idea and its purpose

Synectics is a problem-solving methodology that stimulates thought processes of which the subject may not be aware. This method was developed by George M. Prince and William J. Gordon, in the 1950s.
The term synectics is derived from the Greek word “synectikos” which means “to bring together”. Or “combining different things into a single compound. Synectics is about making connections.Synectics was developed by William J.J. Gordon and his associates in 1961. It is a very interesting approach to innovation development. Initial work with the Synectics procedure was to develop "creativity groups" in industrial organizations. It was designed for a group of people trained to work together to act as problem solvers or product developers. Gordon then adapted it for school children. A key element of Synectics is making analogies.
It's meant to take us into a slightly illogical world. In synectics, we can connect two completely different things to reveal a new meaning together. It gives you the opportunity to see things from a new perspective.

Application guidance: scope of application, for example, when working with a group of a certain age and composition; in individual work, etc.

Synectics is a way of rationally approaching creativity and problem solving. "Traditionally, the creative process is considered after the fact... The Synectics study has attempted to study the creative process in vivo while it is happening."
According to Gordon, Synectics research has three main assumptions:
1. The creative process can be described and taught;
2. The processes of invention in art and science are similar and driven by the same "psychic" processes;
3. Individual and group creativity are similar.
There are many opportunities to develop synectic thinking in the lessons. You can share the examples below with your class and see what ideas the children can generate together. Ask the children to come up with three ideas for each example:
Your personality is like a snowflake because…
Teaching is like space exploration because…
A shark is like a torpedo because…
A whale is like a submarine because…
A teacher is like a wolf because…
The classroom is like an anthill because…
A civil war is like a volcanic eruption because…
Math is like peanut butter because…
A comma is like a specific bar because…
Reading is like diving for pearls because…
Learning is like a roller coaster because…
This comparison of two things often leads to children asking a number of interesting questions that reveal not only similarities but also differences.
A key element of Synectics is the use of analogies. Metaphorical activity helps bring the creative process into consciousness. Metaphors establish a relationship between one place or another. Metaphor connects familiar concepts with unfamiliar ones or creates new fresh ideas from familiar objects/ideas.
It introduces a conceptual distance between the learner and the object. For example: asking students to think of a chair as a horse or to imagine time as a thief. The instructor provides a structure through which students can think about a familiar concept in a new way or in an unfamiliar way. Conversely, the instructor can also make students think about familiar things in familiar ways. For example, parliament as a vegetable market. Metaphors help learners to connect two completely different ideas with each other and give a new perspective on it. Synectics strategies that use metaphorical action are designed to provide a structure through which people can free themselves to develop imagination and insight into everyday activities.

The results of applying the method, for example, increasing the ability to go beyond standard solutions, etc.

It is a creative process of making connections and can be used in any curriculum.
The synectics teaching model belongs to the information processing family. Information processing models emphasize ways to enhance people's innate desire to understand the world by acquiring and organizing data, perceiving problems and generating solutions to them, and developing concepts and language to communicate them. Synectics is a problem solving method; it involves the creative thinking of a group of people. Making simple analogies can make a beautiful article. This is possible with the help of Synectics.
Synectics can be used not only for the development of general creative power, but also for the development of creative reactions in various subject areas.

Instructions for combining creativity methods

1. Determine the goal
Determine why you want to use creative methods in your work and for whom, that is, what is the purpose, goals, meanings, audience, for whom it is happening.
2. Read
Read the description of the methods and recommendations for their use.
3. Choose
Choose those that best suit your purpose and tasks. When choosing methods, pay attention to the fact that they can be conditionally divided into several groups:● procedural, those that help answer the question HOW TO DO IT? How to optimize the process? How to do the process differently?● horizontal, those that answer the question WHO? WITH WHO? FOR WHOM? This is about the distribution of responsibility, and about clarifying the interests, association or for whom we are doing it.● vertical, those related to WHY? WHAT IS A PURPOSE? WHAT IS THE MAIN? It is about clarifying the hierarchy in the structure, the essence of the problem and its solution, what it consists of and what one wants to achieve.
4. Make it specific
Add the missing aspect to the vector. Depending on the task, one of the vectors will be the main one, and the other 2 will be auxiliary.● For example, you need to start the learning process in a different, new way: you choose the most suitable methods for your task and audience, and add methods for vertical and horizontal questions. This will add specificity towards the goal of this process and the distribution of tasks for everyone in the process, will help determine who and what it will be useful for. This creates a habit of thinking in different directions and structuring the process.● For example, the "Blooming Lotus" method allows you to determine the vertical vector, disassemble the problem into components, detail it by seeing the entire system of the problem at the same time, show the connections between different elements and find a solution for each element separately. If we add a horizontal and procedural layer of questions from the SCAMPER method, adding and concentrating on what is still missing, what can be added, what aspect has not yet been revealed, then we will get an even more complete picture and a solution that will cover the maximum fields of the same problem.

5. Сombine methods
Find and add polar aspects. You can combine methods that are more structural with playful ones based on the principle of combining polarities. This can make the process emotional but also structured at the same time. Yes, you can first choose the method that, in your opinion, is most suitable for your problem and task, then immediately determine the one that you would rather not use, which highlights the opposite sides. Moreover, your determined polarity can be conditional, that is, you yourself can determine what is polar in your case, what is the opposite. ● For example, if in one method there is a lot about the connections between elements, their detailed description, diving into the essence of details, then choosing a method that will consider the system of the problem from above, the whole whole, the system as a separate element in the environment around it, this will add scaling in finding a solution.
6. Application time
Different methods require different periods of time when applied. When combining methods, it is better to take this into account by adding a simpler and time-limited method to a method that is time-consuming and more difficult to use.
7. Calibrate the original purpose
During the whole process, calibrate from time to time with the original purpose, goals, meaning for what it all happens and for whom, because in the exciting creative space it can be easy to lose the axis on which the whole process should rest.
8. Experiment
Having created a combination of methods, it is important to experiment and be ready for changes and adaptation of the newly created to the needs, goals and tasks even more, because during the approbation we can just see the fact that was not taken into account. Here we can go back to points 4 and 5, adding aspects that are missing.● Note: try to feel the process, be present in it as much as possible, and allow imperfection and something spontaneous to arise, because the marker of novelty is your surprise, expansion of space and emergence of unexpected details, solutions, ideas.

Instructions for combining creativity methods

1. Determine the goal
Determine why you want to use creative methods in your work and for whom, that is, what is the purpose, goals, meanings, audience, for whom it is happening.
2. Read
Read the description of the methods and recommendations for their use.

5. Сombine methods
Find and add polar aspects. You can combine methods that are more structural with playful ones based on the principle of combining polarities. This can make the process emotional but also structured at the same time. Yes, you can first choose the method that, in your opinion, is most suitable for your problem and task, then immediately determine the one that you would rather not use, which highlights the opposite sides. Moreover, your determined polarity can be conditional, that is, you yourself can determine what is polar in your case, what is the opposite. ● For example, if in one method there is a lot about the connections between elements, their detailed description, diving into the essence of details, then choosing a method that will consider the system of the problem from above, the whole whole, the system as a separate element in the environment around it, this will add scaling in finding a solution.
6. Application time
Different methods require different periods of time when applied. When combining methods, it is better to take this into account by adding a simpler and time-limited method to a method that is time-consuming and more difficult to use.

3. Choose
Choose those that best suit your purpose and tasks. When choosing methods, pay attention to the fact that they can be conditionally divided into several groups:● procedural, those that help answer the question HOW TO DO IT? How to optimize the process? How to do the process differently?● horizontal, those that answer the question WHO? WITH WHO? FOR WHOM? This is about the distribution of responsibility, and about clarifying the interests, association or for whom we are doing it.● vertical, those related to WHY? WHAT IS A PURPOSE? WHAT IS THE MAIN? It is about clarifying the hierarchy in the structure, the essence of the problem and its solution, what it consists of and what one wants to achieve.
4. Make it specific
Add the missing aspect to the vector. Depending on the task, one of the vectors will be the main one, and the other 2 will be auxiliary.● For example, you need to start the learning process in a different, new way: you choose the most suitable methods for your task and audience, and add methods for vertical and horizontal questions. This will add specificity towards the goal of this process and the distribution of tasks for everyone in the process, will help determine who and what it will be useful for. This creates a habit of thinking in different directions and structuring the process.● For example, the "Blooming Lotus" method allows you to determine the vertical vector, disassemble the problem into components, detail it by seeing the entire system of the problem at the same time, show the connections between different elements and find a solution for each element separately. If we add a horizontal and procedural layer of questions from the SCAMPER method, adding and concentrating on what is still missing, what can be added, what aspect has not yet been revealed, then we will get an even more complete picture and a solution that will cover the maximum fields of the same problem.

7. Calibrate the original purpose
During the whole process, calibrate from time to time with the original purpose, goals, meaning for what it all happens and for whom, because in the exciting creative space it can be easy to lose the axis on which the whole process should rest.
8. Experiment
Having created a combination of methods, it is important to experiment and be ready for changes and adaptation of the newly created to the needs, goals and tasks even more, because during the approbation we can just see the fact that was not taken into account. Here we can go back to points 4 and 5, adding aspects that are missing.● Note: try to feel the process, be present in it as much as possible, and allow imperfection and something spontaneous to arise, because the marker of novelty is your surprise, expansion of space and emergence of unexpected details, solutions, ideas.