Decision-Making: A Neglected Skill for 21st Century Learners

Decision-Making: Decision-Making: A Neglected Skill for A Neglected Skill for 21st Century Learning21st Century Learning

Bernie Dodge, PhDSan Diego State University

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Adult life is full of Adult life is full of decisionsdecisions

Adult life is full of Adult life is full of decisionsdecisions

Adult life is full of Adult life is full of decisionsdecisions

Adult life is full of Adult life is full of decisionsdecisions

Adult life is full of Adult life is full of decisionsdecisions

Max Planck Society – April 14, 2008

Decisions we allow kids to Decisions we allow kids to makemake

Which book would you like to do your report on?

Do you want to be the record-keeper, the spokesperson or the artist?

Color the sky with whatever crayon you like

A decision A decision II have to make… have to make…

First….First….

Ask yourself, when do adults need to apply this content?

Second…Second…

Look for (or create) disequilibrium

Strategy 1: Create an Strategy 1: Create an OpportunityOpportunity

Identify (or make up) an opportunity for action that requires choosing from among alternatives.

Strategy 2: Recommend a SolutionStrategy 2: Recommend a Solution

Identify a real problem over which there is strong disagreement and decide on what to recommend.

Strategy 3: Change the Strategy 3: Change the SituationSituation

Change the situation to create new problems that someone needs to decide how to respond to.

Create an OpportunityCreate an Opportunity

Create an OpportunityCreate an Opportunity

Create an OpportunityCreate an Opportunity

Recommend a SolutionRecommend a Solution

Change the SituationChange the Situation

To summarize, look for one of To summarize, look for one of these:these:

Opportunity for improvementResponding to an existing problem

Responding to a new situation

…and pick situations that require learning what you need them to learn.

Teaching decision-making Teaching decision-making skillsskills

Should occur in context, not isolation

Should provide reusable techniquesUltimately should be internalized by repeated practice

PMI TechniquePMI TechniqueMake a list of aspects of the choice to be made.

Mark each one as Plus, Minus or Interesting

Optionally, put a number from 1 to 10 to indicate how important each aspect is

Total up the number of items in each column

http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newTED_05.htm

Bernie’s Plasma TVBernie’s Plasma TV

Plus Minus Interesting

Should I go ahead and have the set repaired?

Bernie’s Plasma TVBernie’s Plasma TV

Plus Minus Interesting

Less expensive than replacing it with a new one

If it lasts 3 years, the replacement will be bigger, better and cheaper

Should I go ahead and have the set repaired?

Bernie’s Plasma TVBernie’s Plasma TV

Plus Minus Interesting

Less expensive than replacing it with a new one

Won’t be ready for Spring Break

If it lasts 3 years, the replacement will be bigger, better and cheaper

It may break again in 18 months or less

We could get a new one immediately

Should I go ahead and have the set repaired?

Bernie’s Plasma TVBernie’s Plasma TV

Plus Minus Interesting

Less expensive than replacing it with a new one

Won’t be ready for Spring Break

Repairman says LCD is better than plasma

If it lasts 3 years, the replacement will be bigger, better and cheaper

It may break again in 18 months or less

We could get a new one immediately

Should I go ahead and have the set repaired?

Bernie’s Plasma TVBernie’s Plasma TV

Plus Minus Interesting

Less expensive than replacing it with a new one (+5)

Won’t be ready for Spring Break(-3)

Repairman says LCD is better than plasma

If it lasts 3 years, the replacement will be bigger, better and cheaper(+7)

It may break again in 18 months or less(-4)

We could get a new one immediately(-4)

12 -11

Should I go ahead and have the set repaired?

Another technique: Decision TreesAnother technique: Decision Trees

Useful for decisions more complicated than yes/no.

Breaks down big decisions into a series of smaller ones.

Allows you to evaluate the end points to see which path is best.

Bernie’s Plasma Decision TreeBernie’s Plasma Decision Tree$1800

$2400

$800

7/10

10/10

10/10

Other Techniques to TryOther Techniques to Try

Pareto AnalysisGrid AnalysisForce Field Analysis

A Great ResourceA Great Resource

http://www.mindtools.com

A practice problem…

What shall we do?What shall we do?

First, count off by 6’s.

6 Thinking Hats6 Thinking Hats

1. Blue Hat1. Blue Hat

Hat worn by people chairing meetings.

Pays attention to the process and directs the other hats to pitch in

2. White Hat2. White Hat

focus on the data available.

look at the information you have, and see

look for gaps in your knowledge, and either try to fill them or take account of them.

3. Green Hat3. Green Hat

stands for creativity. This is where you can develop creative solutions to a problem.

freewheeling way of thinking, in which there is little criticism of ideas.

4. Red Hat4. Red Hat

looks at problems using intuition, gut reaction, and emotion.

tries to think how other people will react emotionally.

tries to understand the responses of people who do not fully know your reasoning.

5. Yellow Hat5. Yellow Hat

the optimistic viewpoint that helps you to see all the benefits of the decision and the value in it.

helps you to keep going when everything looks gloomy and difficult.

6. Black Hat6. Black Hatlooks at all the bad points of the decision.

tries to see why it might not work.

highlights the weak points in a plan.

You have 7 minutes to decide on what we should do

Time’s up!

In conclusion…In conclusion…

Look for decisions your kids can make as part of learning what they need to learn

Create an opportunityRecommend a solution to an existing problemChange the situation

Scaffold that decision-making experience by providing techniques that they can use outside of classPMIDecision treesSix Thinking Hats

Decision-Making: Decision-Making: A Neglected Skill for A Neglected Skill for 21st Century Learning21st Century Learning

Bernie Dodge, PhDSan Diego State University