Decision Making Critical Thinking

7 Steps to Decision Making

1. Define your problem- What is the problem you need to solve?2. Gather information and resources-What information do you

already know?3. List Options- What are the choices you have?4. Weight, compare options- What are the positives and

negatives of each option? 5. Make a decision6. Make a plan of action-How will you accomplish what you

have set out to do?7. Evaluate the decision- Did you make the right choice? What

could you do better in the future?

Decision Making Scenarios

• We are going to read 4 different scenarios where someone has to make a decision.

• You need to pick one!• After you will fill out a worksheet answering

questions as you decide what to do in this situation and try to solve the problem.

• There are slips of paper with these scenarios typed out on them so after if you want to come grab one to keep at your so you can refer back to the scenario while you fill out your worksheet. Put it back when finished.

Scenario 1Football season starts this weekend and Steve is excited about his school’s first game. He has already purchased his ticket and has made plans to meet his friends there. His school team is playing their long-time rival and it should be the best game of the season. On the night before the game, Steve’s parents receive a phone call from friends visiting in a city 30 miles away. Steve’s parents have not seen these friends in years because they live in a distant state. Friday night is the only time Steve’s parents can drive to see their friends. Steve’s parents have asked him to stay home from the game to baby-sit his six-year-old brother. They realize Steve has made plans to go to the game but feel that he will have an opportunity to attend many more games this year. Steve’s parents will let him make the final decision. What should he do?

Scenario 2Marie is in the eighth grade at East Middle School. She earns above average grades in all of her school courses except science. Her favorite after-school activity is playing basketball. She would like to play basketball in high school next year. However, the high school says that athletes must pass all their classes in order to participate in a sport. This summer Marie can participate in a special summer science school that will help her in science. She also has been given the chance to go to basketball camp. The basketball camp takes place the exact time as the science school. Marie has two weeks before she either has to sign up for basketball camp or summer science school. What should she do?

Scenario 3A not so popular student has invited you to a sleep over at a birthday party on Friday night. You have accepted the invitation and are planning to attend. On Wednesday, you are invited to a boy-girl party for the same Friday night by one of the most popular students in your school, someone you have hoped to become friends with. After talking with your friends, you realize most of them will attend the boy-girl party. Your parents have told you it is your decision, but that you should attend the party you responded to first. You really want to be a part of the popular crowd. What do you do?

• Scenario 4 • You are an eighth grade student. Since the seventh

grade you have been on the Junior Varsity Cheerleading Squad. You recently tried out for the Varsity team next year. You were notified that you made the team. The cheerleading sponsor informs you that you can no longer be in band if you are cheering on Varsity football nights, since the band marches during half time at the football games. You have been in band since fifth grade and have really enjoyed being in the band and going on band trips. Next year the band is going to Disney World. What do you do?

LOST ON THE MOON

Your spaceship has just crash-landed on the light side of the moon. You were scheduled to

rendezvous with a mother ship 200 km away on the surface of the moon, but the rough landing has ruined your ship and destroyed all equipment on

board, except for the 15 items I will list.

Your crew’s survival depends on reaching the mother ship, so you must choose the most critical items for the 200-km trip. Your task is to rank the 15 items in terms of their importance for survival.

Place 1 by the most important item, 2 by the second most important item, and so on through

15, the least important.

Good luck!

A. Box of MatchesB. Food ConcentrateC. 50 Feet of Nylon RopeD. Parachute SilkE. Solar-powered Portable Heating UnitF. Two .45-caliber PistolsG. One Case of Dehydrated MilkH. Two 100-pound Tanks of OxygenI. Stellar Map of Moon’s ConstellationJ. Self-inflating Life RaftK. Magnetic CompassL. Five Gallons of WaterM. Signal FlaresN. First-aid Kit with Injection NeedlesO. Solar-powered FM Receiver-transmitter

A. Box of Matches

NASA ranks matches as 15th. The moon has no oxygen to sustain a flame; matches are

virtually worthless.

B. Food Concentrate

Ranks #4. An efficient means of supplying energy

requirements.

C. Fifty Feet of Nylon Rope

NASA ranks the rope as 6th as it could be useful for climbing cliffs and helping those who

might be injured.

D.Parachute Silk

8th. The parachute could be used to provide protection

from the sun.

E. Solar-powered Portable Heating Unit

13th on the list. Not needed on the light side of the moon (it is already hot) and useless on the dark side (as it is solar-

powered).

F. Two .45-caliber Pistols

NASA ranks the pistols 11th – a possible means of

propulsion.

G.One Case of Dehydrated Milk

12th on NASA’s list. Dehydrated milk could be a bulkier duplication of food

concentrate.

H.Two 100-pound Tanks of Oxygen

#1 on the survival list. You can’t live without oxygen,

your most pressing survival need.

I. Stellar Map of the Moon’s ConstellationRanked #3 by NASA. The

primary means of navigation (finding your way around).

J. Self-inflating Life Raft

Because the CO2 bottle used to inflate the raft could be used for propulsion, NASA

gives this a rank of 9.

K. Magnetic Compass

NASA ranks the compass next to last, at number 14. This is because the moon does not have a magnetic field. The

compass would be worthless.

L. Five Gallons of Water

This is ranked 2nd most important. You are going to get very thirsty on the light

side of the moon.

M.Signal Flares

NASA ranks this as the 10th most important. You will use

these as a distress signal when the mother ship is

sighted.

N.First-aid Kit with Injection Needles

NASA says that these should rank as the 7th most important. Vitamins,

medicines, etc are injected in special needles that fit in the

space suits.

O.Solar-powered FM Receiver-transmitter

5th on NASA’s list. It is needed for communication

with the mother ship.