First Important Priorities
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First Important Priorities is a problem solving activity that guides students to see connections among researched facts, independent thinking, and pertinent action. By practicing the strategy, students learn to examine their own ideas, discuss and challenge other’s ideas, question how final decisions are made, and see how the process of decision-making impacts outcomes. This is a good follow-up for activities that generate multiple ideas about a topic, e.g. Plus/Minus/Interesting or Consider All Factors.
Implementation
1. Managing the discussion requires setting group norms related to being non-judgmental regarding other students’ comments and ideas.
2. Brainstorming practice is a good way to acquaint students with the process.<?xml:namespace prefix =" o" ns =" "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"" />
Classroom Management
1. In the large group, list all options, ideas, suggestions or statements.
2. Break into small groups.
3. Explain:
- some values are more important than others.
- some factors are more important than others.
- some objectives are more important than others.
- some consequences are more important than others.
- Ask the groups to number the ideas in order of importance.
4. Each group identifies the ideas that are most important and includes notes about why they are important.
- If it is difficult to choose the most important ideas, reconsider it from other viewpoints: drop out the least important and see what remains.
5. Group leaders explain why they set these particular prioritie.
6. Look for commonalities and differences.
7. Ask the group to reexamine the priority list.
8. Try to reach a group decision about the most important ideas by consensus or by voting.
