LESSON PLAN – Deciding For Yourself

Theme – Managing Decisions

CAREER SKILLS – Career Management

KEY SKILLS – Communication, Problem Solving, Working With Others

WORK RELATED LEARNING – Learning For Work

COMPETENCIES –

SUGGESTED SUBJECT AREA – English, Personal Development

Learning Outcomes

By completing this task students will be able to:

  • Understand the stages in decision making.
  • Practice decision making skills.
  • Apply the 5 logical steps to decision making to a decision of their choice.

Preparation and Materials

  • Copies of Info Sheet and Activity Sheets “Deciding For Yourself” (1) and (2) for each student.
  • Blackboard/flipchart.
  • This lesson has optional links to lesson plan “Decisions Which Way Is Best”.

Method

  1. Put the students into pairs or small groups of 3 to 4.
  2. Explain the aims of the lesson using the learning outcomes on the Info Sheet.
  3. Give out Activity Sheet (1) and ask the students individually to complete it.
  4. Ask the students to compare their responses with a partner or in their small group.
  5. Ask for examples and list on the blackboard/flipchart a range of decisions taken by students each week. Discuss the range, importance and difficulty of the decisions the students have listed. Circle the most important decisions.
  6. Tease out from students any differences in the way we make major decisions.
  7. Discuss the future decisions they will need to make and who will be available to help them to make these choices.
  8. Give out the Info Sheet and go through step by step the 5 logical steps to decisions making, using the example of subject choices.
  9. Give out Activity Sheet (2). Students working with a partner choose one other important decision they will make in the future and record step by step what they will need to do.
  10. Check that the students are completing the task and offer help if needed.
  11. Ask the students what they have learned from the lesson.
  12. Summarise the main learning outcomes.

Learning Outcomes: By completing this task you will be able to:

  • Understand the stages in decision making.
  • Practice decision making skills.
  • Apply the 5 logical steps to a decision of your choice.

INFO SHEET – Deciding For Yourself

FIVE LOGICAL STEPS INVOLVED IN EFFECTIVE DECISION MAKING
  • STEP 1 what are the decisions/choices to be made? (e.g. what subjects should I study in grade 9?) Gather all the information available (e.g. subjects to choose from). Examine them critically (e.g. how good am I at each of these?).
  • STEP 2 Find out the facts (e.g. nature of the examination/course work). Check with the experts (e.g. subject teachers). Ask opinions (e.g. parents, tutor, other students). Read reports (e.g. subject ‘result’ you received).
  • STEP 3 Consider all the options carefully. What is important to you. What are the advantages and disadvantages of each option?
  • STEP 4Consider the consequences of and reasons for the choice/decision.
  • STEP 5 Make your decision based on all your information gathering and personal deliberations.

ACTIVITY SHEET (1) – Deciding For Yourself

NAME DATE

ACTIVITY SHEET (2) – Deciding For Yourself

FIVE LOGICAL STEPS INVOLVED IN EFFECTIVE DECISION MAKING

STEP 1

STEP 2

STEP 3

STEP 4

STEP 5