The BeCool program uses colors and icons to symbolize COLD, HOT and COOL responses. Each time a particular response is illustrated, it is paired with the color and icon that symbolizes that response.
These colors and icons will be of special help to the learner who is significantly cognitively challenged, who may be unable to verbalize behaviors associated with acting HOT, COLD and COOL, but quite capable of recalling the neutral color or symbol of the COOL response and act accordingly.
The teacher is encouraged to continually refer to these colors and the "feeling tones" they evoke as the specific behavioral components of each response is presented and practiced.
The COLD Response Color
The HOT Response Color
The COOL Response Color
"Blue" or the coldness of "Ice" are used to represent the COLD response. This "Self-blaming Perceiving Style" elicits a "victim-like", passive response and is characterized by a retreat from the problem situation into self-pity, self-deprecation and/or self-righteousness. The feeling tone of the passive style is COLD.
"Red" or the heat of "Fire" are used to represent the HOT response. This "Other-blaming Perceiving Style elicits a response that is "aggressive" and characterized by an angry attack on the person perceived as causing the conflict. The feeling tone of the "acting out" aggressive style is HOT.
"Neutral color" or the calmness of "clouds" represent the COOL response. This "Non-blaming Perceiving Style" is characterized by a calm, assertive (but nonthreatening) demeanor and a sincere interest in fair resolution of conflict. The tone of the assertive style is COOL
Additional "COOL" Symbol
In addition to the "clouds" and "neutral color", the BeCool logo that appears after the COOL response is paired with a pair of sunglasses that cover the "oo" in Cool.
The BeCool "Sunglasses"
In the Lower and Upper Elementary versions of "BeCool," dark glasses are used to establish a visual metaphor for a "centered, detached state of consciousness" or a "time-out to calm down and think through the options. For the Middle School and High School+versions, the glasses appear only when the BeCool logo appears after a COOL response is made. In time, your students may use the imagery of the sunglasses to help them learn emotional control and the calm objectivity required for THINKING and ACTING COOL.