A linear thinker follows a logical
order, to solve a problem and only
use information related to the
situation.
Nonlinear
A nonlinear thinker thinks out of the
box and looks for creative strategies
to solve a problem or situation.
Videos
Linear
Nonlinear
Linear
Advantages
-The ability to think logically and sequentially.
-They are excellent in activities on the left side of the brain.
-They are good in subjects that work on cause and effect.
-Cite information that they have found useful in the
past to solve current problems.
Disadvantages
-A person who thinks linearly may be deficient in the arts and language.
-Linear thinking implies the lack of abstract thinking (a linear
thinker can lose new and exciting ways to look at problems.)
Nonlinear
Disadvantages
-The deficiency in mathematics and science, although
not all nonlinear thinkers have problems in this area.
-Nonlinear thinkers can often be seen for having attention
deficit, even to the point of having this disorder.
-They may not be good at perceiving things that have a
definite cause, and hence, won't understand its effects
Advantages
-Produces positive results, although the means to arrive
at the results may not always be traditional.
-Uses abstract thinking to solve problems (imagination).
-Visionary thinkers who like to test the limits of
what is known and possible in the linear world.
Activities
Linear
Annotations:
1) Asking direct questions. Example: Is telling lies
a good thing? Answer NO.
2) Counting or solving sums. Example: How much is
4+4= 8
3) Have students tell the time and the minute, using a printable clock.
4) The child will be asked to observe the image, and answer to the question: How an elephant goes out of a lake? A linear thinker will look for a series of logical solutions and the nonlinear thinker will answer “wet”.
5) Have students to order the days of the week or to complete the alphabet with the missing letter.
Nonlinear
Annotations:
1) Asking open-ended questions in attempting to
solve a problem. Example: Is eating fast food a good thing? Yes/No and Why?
2) Six hats of Edward de Bono (Adopt successively various attitudes (roles), through 6 hat colors.)
3) Reverse Thinking: Think about what everyone will typically do, then do the opposite.
4) Create mind maps, this can be a useful tools to take out a lot of ideas.
5) Roles storming: What would you do if you were
someone else? Think like: opposite gender, mother/father, and customer.
1) Neo K12 FlowChart Games are a simple
set of games that students can play to
learn more about a variety of topics. These
include the phases of the moon,
photosynthesis, and much more.
2) Socrative is an interactive app that teachers
can use to poll students, create quizzes on the
fly, and even create formative assessments.
3) Mathgametime.com is a page
that allows students to play
different games related to math.
Nonlinear thinking
1) Mind Meister: Students can create mind
maps, to different topics to analyze, and
make conclusions or opinions about it.
2) Wordle: Helps students to write
down all those ideas that come to
their mind about a topic.
3) Powtoon: Allow the student to be
creative when presenting a task.