Thinking about thinking

In Foundation Studies, we want you to do all of these, EXCEPT: 

• question what you read and hear 

• question what you read and hear 

• repeat what your teachers, parents, or other sources say exactly 

• think about things from other perspectives 

Answer explanation

Repetition does not show thought but more shows memory. It's more important for you to be able to think about things deeply and from varied perspectives than it is for you to remember exact details.

What is a benefit of the Plus, Minus, Interesting (PMI) technique?

• helps you decide which ideas you like and dislike

• allows for a category of ideas that aren't immediately judged as 'good' or 'bad'

• helps make sure you have considered many peoples perspectives

• allows for prioritization of actions

Answer explanation

adding a category for 'interesting' allows for ideas that are more complex, and are not necessarily 'pros' or 'cons' to be considered and developed, often leading to the most meaningful outcomes

What do you notice about the 'interesting' column in the 'Free Bubble Tea Proposal' PMI table?

• it has questions and ideas

• it has statements

• it has clearly good ideas

• it has ideas that aren't related to the 'plus' and 'minus' columns

Answer explanation

The ideas in the 'interesting' column directly reference the 'plus' and 'minus' columns, expanding on them by including ideas to address the 'minus' column or to add details that are not positive or negative.

Watch the short video Consider All Factors - YouTube (ignore instructions to print and reference other videos). What factors should be considered with using this technique?

• traffic congestion

• other people's perspectives

• all possible factors

• immediate factors

Answer explanation

In the video, traffic was used as an example, but factors can be almost anything: time, place, people's perspectives, budget, time, impact on different groups, interest levels, demographic information, environmental considerations, age restrictions, personal preference, inclusion, accessibility, and many many more!

In the CAF bubble tea proposal in the sway presentation, what factor is NOT included?

• who can have free bubble tea

• what to provide people who don't like bubble tea

• impact on shops that sell bubble tea

• the bubble tea that will be provided

• impact of bubble tea on health

Answer explanation

Some of the factors listed in the CAF are questions, and some are statements-this process is just about identifying factors and potential problems with ideas, so it isn't important to structure them a certain way, or to provide solutions.

Look at the website 7. OPV lesson workcard (debono.com) and do a few practice OPVs. Which of these statements about viewpoints is TRUE?

• You have to agree with another viewpoint to be able to see it.

• There might be true and correct viewpoints that are specific to one person, and not true for another person, about the same situation.

• Most people have the same viewpoints on situations, even if they have different backgrounds, knowledge, interest, and values.

• You don't need to see differences between viewpoints, you just need to identify that there are different viewpoints.

Answer explanation

Every point of view may be right for the person holding it but not right enough to be imposed on others. I may think that they best way to learn is by reading, because that is what works best for me. But that viewpoint is not true for someone who learns better by watching videos. So a viewpoint can be accurate for one person, but that doesn't mean other people have to share that viewpoint.

Make a list of all of the people impacted by the Bubble Tea proposal, and write a few words for each about what their view on the proposal may be. Use ideas from the PMI and CAF to think of people that will be impacted.