Instructions: Always read aloud everything on the lesson page.
Have class members take turns in reading different sections. Have them pay attention to the correct use of the skill name (GBB pronounced as Gee Bee Bee). Use a watch or timer to keep the practice drills to no more than 3 minutes per idea. Participants should practise in groups of 4 or 5 and instructor explains in a friendly way that there are three rules to observe during the drills:
Equal Time. Each participant gets to give his or her point, in turn, around the group.
No Passing. The aim is to practise thinking not passing. Take your time to think.
Have Fun. Resist commenting on each other’s point. Try to suspend .judgement.
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
THE LESSON: (Read aloud.)
GBB: Beyond Critical Thinking: Software For Your Brain
G = GOOD. The good things about an idea–why you like it.
B = BAD. The bad things about an idea–why you don’t like it.
B = BETTER. What could be much better about an idea.
_________________________________________________________________
SKILL: (Read aloud.)
Everyone agrees that we should all be more broad-minded, more tolerant, more thoughtful, considerate, and more creative. Why don’t people THINK? How often have you heard that question? It is easy to say to someone, “Why don’t you be more broad-minded?” But it is not so easy to actually do it.
This is because it is impossible to focus attention on general attitudes like the ones mentioned above. They sound great as slogans and battle cries but have proved to be of little value as operating tools which can actually be practised and used.
However, a GBB is specific. It is possible to ask someone to “Do a GBB on this.” The person then takes pride in the skill of being able to deliberately see the Good, Bad and Better points in the situation.
Instead of just saying that you like an idea, or you don’t like it, you can use a GBB. When you use a GBB, you give the good points, the bad points, and also the points which are neither good nor bad but are much better.
You can use a GBB as a way of managing ideas, suggestions, and proposals. You can ask someone else to do a GBB, or you can be asked to do one yourself.
________________________________________________________________
PRACTISE DRILLS: (Do three drills. Group Discussion. Then three more drills)
#1 – IDEA: By law, all Fridays should be free public transport days.
#2 – IDEA: People should be allowed to vote every day not just every few years.
#3 – IDEA: Marriage should not be forever but for a 5-year period, with an option to renew.
________________________________________________________________
GROUP DISCUSSION: (5 – 10 minutes)
What did you notice about your thinking? Pther people’s thinking? The different reactions to the different drills. Ask groups for feedback.
________________________________________________________________
MORE PRACTISE DRILLS: (Do three more drills)
#4 – IDEA: Salespeople are valuable because they can sell. Should they also have to service clients as well?
#5 – IDEA: Students should receive positive marks not only for getting things right but also for the mistakes that they make.
#6 – IDEA: In a war, only the leaders should have to fight it out.
(TIP: Use these kind of fun, quirky or detached subject items to develop skill in the GBB before moving to personal, family, business, sport or more emotionally charged items).
________________________________________________________________
PRINCIPLES: (Discuss each Principle in turn and give examples from real life.)
1. Without a GBB you may not be able to appreciate a good idea that seems bad to you at first sight.
2. Without a GBB you may fail to see the disadvantages of an idea that you like very much.
3. The GBB can reveal that ideas are not only good or bad but can also lead to much better ideas.
4. Without a GBB most judgements are based not on the value of the idea but on your emotions at the time.
5. With a GBB you decide whether or not you like the idea after you have thought about it instead of before.
6. The GBB is simple but powerful brain software and the more you use it the more skilled at using it you become.
_________________________________________________________________