71
Options Explotion
Grade level: 2 y old and up
Objectives:
-
A routine for creative decision making
OPTIONS EXPLOTION
1. List the obvious options. There would not be a
decision unless there were at least two or three
obvious options.
2. Now brainstorm all sorts of different options to
find the “hidden” options. Often there are hidden
options that are the real best choices. Be imaginative!
Piggyback on ideas already up, combine ideas to get
new ones, look for ideas of a very different kind,
imagine you are in different roles and suggest ideas
from the perspective of those roles, etc.
3. Ask: What have we learned about the situation
from finding these options? This is a way of
understanding the situation better. You may want to
go on to a routine for comparing and choosing among
options.
PURPOSE:
•
This routine fosters creative
thinking.
It
helps
explore
“hidden” options in a decision
making situation. Often people
don’t make good decisions
because they miss the hidden
options. It is also relevant to
understanding.
It
helps
in
building an understanding of
decision-making
situations
even when you are not the real
decision maker.
Tips:
•
Be imaginative! Combine ideas to get new ones, look for ideas of a very different kind,
imagine you are in different roles and suggest ideas from the perspective of those roles, etc
•
Use what if….questions
•
Use a web as a tool to document the brainstorm