As the workforce keeps changing, the education system that prepares students for it needs to keep up. A concept called “decision education” can play an important role.
Technological advances, artificial intelligence, global challenges and economic ups and downs are shaping society. Skills and dispositions such as adaptability, active open-mindedness, solving complex problems and navigating uncertainty are more important than ever.
Decision education teaches students to break down complex challenges, critically evaluate information and weigh options—crucial skills that young people need as they step into the working world.
Why decision education?
Incorporating decision education into K12 classrooms helps students build a foundation for making complex decisions, whether in their personal lives, during their education or as they enter the workforce.
Decision-making skills involve more than just understanding how to weigh options, they include the ability to gather and assess information, consider different perspectives, evaluate risks and apply knowledge in real-world scenarios.
A fundamental aspect of decision education is teaching students how to seek out reliable information and avoid thinking traps caused by cognitive errors or misinformation. In a world where information is abundant but not always trustworthy, the ability to discern valid sources is crucial.
By instilling a mindset of truth-seeking and open-mindedness, educators can prepare students to make informed choices.
Embedding across subjects
Integrating decision-making skills into curriculum can be a seamless process that doesn’t require additional time or resources.
In subjects like English Language Arts, decision education can be taught through character analysis. For instance, students might evaluate the choices a protagonist makes in a story, considering the consequences and how their decisions might have differed.
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In mathematics, it can be explored through concepts such as probability and statistics. Students can engage in real-world scenarios, such as selecting software or apps or deciding on investment strategies, where they weigh options based on probability and expected outcomes.
States like Tennessee and Utah have introduced specialized courses in mathematical decision-making, providing high school students with the opportunity to learn strategies grounded in real-life applications. These courses, which cover topics such as career and college decision-making, financial planning, and risk assessment, empower students with skills they will use throughout their lives.
In social studies and civics, decision education can support critical discussions about historical events and leadership. By examining decisions made by historical figures, students can analyze the information available at the time and consider alternative actions.
This type of analysis teaches history and promotes an understanding of hindsight bias, encouraging students to evaluate the past in its proper context.
Supporting educators and policymakers
To ensure the effective integration of decision education, educators and policymakers must work together. Educators can be supported with professional development to better understand how to embed decision-making principles into their lessons.
From a policymaker’s perspective, promoting decision education can start with including decision-making skills as part of a portrait of a graduate—a framework that defines the skills and attributes all students should develop before graduation. Additionally, policymakers can support curriculum standards that incorporate decision-making in core subjects like financial literacy and career readiness programs.
The Houston Independent School District, which mandates a course called the Art of Thinking, has made great strides in embedding decision education in its K-12 curricula.
Embracing decisions as opportunities
Decision education teaches students to view decisions as opportunities to shape their future, giving them a sense of control and agency by helping them understand their ability to influence outcomes in their careers and personal lives. This mindset empowers them to take initiative, adapt to change and approach challenges with a sense of possibility.
In the workforce, this translates to making informed, strategic decisions that drive innovation and success. Ultimately, decision education helps students see that their choices today can inform and create the future they want.
