Concept Fan

CONCEPTS IS…
 The basis of man’s ability to reason.
 The objectives of ideas.
 Differs from one individual to another.

REASONS FOR CONCEPT VISIBILITY

a) Alternatives: concept as a fixed ‘fixed point’ to find
alternatives ways of carrying out the concept. It might be
more powerful than the ideas we are currently using.
b) Strengthen: an improvement effort to remove faults and
weaknesses, enhance the apparent power of concepts.
 THE NATURE OF CONCEPTS
Concepts: general, nonspecific, vague, blurry.
Level of concepts: general to specific

TYPES OF CONCEPTS
1. Purpose Concepts: the purpose of activity@ operation in general.
“What are we trying to do?”

2. Mechanism Concepts: the mechanism being used to achieved an

effect. “How does it work?”

3. Value Concepts: the benefits of activity. “Why is this useful?”

 DEALING WITH CONCEPTS

 The most important thing is not a matter of finding the right concept
but of trying different concept description until you find a useful one.
 Make the effort!
CONCEPT FAN

WIDENING THE SEARCH FOR

SOLUTIONS
WHAT IS CONCEPT FAN
 Concept Fans help you find new approaches to
problem solving, when you have rejected all obvious
solutions.
 Originated by Edward de Bono in his book
Serious Creativity, he develops the principle of 'taking
one step back' to get a broader perspective.
 SIMPLE CREATIVE THINKING SKILLS
 CONCEPT FAN HELPS US TO FIND DIFFERENT
APPROACHES TO SOLVE PROBLEMS.
 BY USING CONCEPT FAN WE CAN SPECIFY THE
IDEAS FROM THE BRODER CONCEPTS
 CONSIST OF SEVERAL STEPS / LAYERS
CONCEPT FAN

 Finding different ways of solving problem.

 “Working backwards” to find the best solution.
 Creating more ideas when dealing with situations
Purpose of Concept Fan

 generate alternative ideas.

 help explore and expand the level of
thinking.
 making the right decisions…
 Concept fan

The concept fan is a way of discovering

alternative approaches to a problem.

Idea = specific ways of putting a concept to work

Concepts = general methods or ways of doing

something

Direction = Difficulty
 STEPS………
 PROBLEMS
WHAT TO SOLVE??

 CONCEPTS
OBJECTIVE OF THE IDEA

 IDEAS
WAY TO CARRY UP THE CONCEPTS
WAY TO PUT A CONCEPT INTO
ACTION/WORK
PROBLEMS = SITUATION

CONCEPTS = OBJECTIVE

IDEAS =
SOLUTIONS
Steps to using the fan

Step 1: To start a
Concept Fan, draw a
circle on a large piece of
paper (A3 paper or White
Board), just right of
centre. Write the problem
you are trying to solve
into it. To the right of it
radiate lines representing
possible solutions to the
problem.
Steps to using the fan

Step 3: Use this as

the starting point to
radiate out new
ideas.
Steps to using the fan

Step 4: If this
does not give you
the idea you are
looking for then
repeat the
process and take
another step back
as in the figure.
 EXAMPLE:

Go for counseling session to get

advice and help every time we face
problem related to study

RISE SELF
POOR Attend motivational programmes
ESTEEMS related to study skills and self-
ACADEMIC confidence every semestr
PEFRORMANCE
join student societies and
activities every sem e.g Leadership
programme,debating club

To start a Concept Fan, draw a circle in the

middle of a large piece of paper. Write the
problem you are trying to solve into it. To
the right of it radiate lines representing
possible solutions to the problem. :
 It may be that the ideas you have are impractical
or do not really solve the problem. If this is the
case, take a 'step back' for a broader view of the
problem.
 Do this by drawing a circle to the left of the first
circle, and write the broader definition into this
new circle. Link it with an arrow to show that it
comes from the first circle.
 Use this as a starting point to radiate out other
ideas.
 Go for tutoring in weak
subject e.g.statistics
every week
Radiating new idea from the broader problem.
Conduct group
Then write the possible solution. discussion every week
with classmates
Attend motivational
program every sem to
improve our study skills
& self-confidence in lives

Go for counselling

RISE SELF ESTEEMS Attend motivational

prog

Join societies

Try to answer past years

question every time we finish
learning each topic

Update notes and do self-

revision after each class

Participate during class e.g.

asking question, give views
 Go for tutoring in weak
subject e.g.statistics every
week
Radiating new idea from the broader problem.
Conduct group discussion
Then write the possible solution. every week with
classmates
Attend motivational
program every sem to
improve our study skills
& self-confidence in lives

Go for counselling

RISE SELF
Attend motivational
ESTEEM prog

Join societies

Try to answer past years

question every time we finish
learning each topic

Update notes and do self-

revision after each class

Participate during class e.g.

asking question, give views
The Concept Fan is a useful technique
for widening the search for solutions
when you have rejected all obvious
approaches. It gives you a clear
framework within which you can take
'one step back' to get a broader view
of a problem.
Concept Fan helps to:

 provide new focus points.

 generate more/alternatives of ideas.
 find the right solution or the best way in term
of the problem solving.