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Brainstorm action ideas.Brainstorm with learners using a separate space on the board or overhead. List all their suggestions. Through discussion, reduce the list if possible to three to five alternatives or choices. Transfer these choices to the left column of the Decision Making Model grid.
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Talk about some of the issues that should be considered as they evaluate their choices. What things (criteria) are important to the class?
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Explain that we need to have some criteria, or important things to consider, when making the best decision out of the various action ideas (choices) brainstormed by the class. It must be a decision that as many of the class as possible can support. Fill in the top row of the decision making model with some of the criteria, and/or use additional criteria important to the learners.Try to arrive at least four meaningful criteria so learners can see the benefits of the model. (It may be helpful to use a question format on the grid itself)
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Evaluate each action idea (alternative) with the class, one criteria at a time. Have them raise their hands and take a tally after you ask each question. Write that number in the appropriate box.
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Remind learners of opportunity cost being the next best alternative we give up when we make a choice, and that thinking about what they are giving up in each decision actually helps them make better decisions.
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Evaluate the number of positive responses for each criteria chosen corresponding to each idea or choice. Compare and discuss the results. If some criteria are more important than others, give them more “weight” when calculating the impact. Make a consensus decision together based on the highest number of positive responses and the relative importance of certain criteria over others. The alternative with the highest number of total votes should be the first choice. Explain that the opportunity cost for choosing the first choice is not being able to do the second best choice on the list of alternatives.