CORT tools

PMI (Plus, Minus and Interesting) This is a simple tool which encourages students to look at both sides of a situation/ idea. The interesting point is to encourage ‘thinking outside the box’. Example - All cars should be banned from city centres so people can walk about freely

Example - Children should spend 3 months a year earning money

CAF (Consider All Factors) This tool looks at a situation from every angle. If a decision is made what other factors come into play e.g. cost, implications, people it would affect.

This could be used to follow on from the bill activity. Example - In most countries cars drive on the right side of the road. In Britain we drive on the left. There is a suggestion that Britain should change to be like other countries. What are the factors involved?

Tip: PMI would be used to consider existing or proposed rules, with CAF to consider making rules.

C& S (Consequence and Sequence) This tool looks at the sequential consequences of any given action. Depending on the topic they could either look at the consequences within one day, one week, one month, one year or 1 year, 5years, 10 years, 15 years. A useful tool to look at new laws –the consequences of doing

something or the consequences of not doing something. Example - A new electronic robot is invented to replace all human labour in factories.

AGO (Aims, Goals and Objectives) Aims as the starting point, goals as the ultimate destination and objectives as recognisable points of achievement along the way

Example - Do an AGO for the police and put the objectives in order of priority from the point of view of the police, the public, local shop owners.

Tip: In thinking, the idea is to use planning as a thinking situation which brings together objectives (AGO) consequences (C&S) factors involved (CAF) and the treatment of ideas (PMI)

APC (Alternatives, Possibilities and Choices) With this tool, identify a key issue and then generate as many APC points around the issue as possible. It can then be followed with a FIP to help provide a starting point.

Example - Fewer people want to be scientists. What possible explanations are there for this and what possible actions can be taken?

OPV (Other People’s View) Identify an issue and key players who might be influenced/impacted by this issue. Note likely or known viewpoints of each key player. This encourages empathy for other people’s point of view

Example - A father forbids his 13 yr old daughter to smoke. What is his point of view and hers?

Example - Cleaning up the environment costs money. What are the viewpoints or an ordinary citizen, an environmental group industrialists and the government?

FIP (First Important Priorities) This tool is used in a judgement situation as it doesn’t produce answers to a question. This is used once you have used other tools to generate ideas and then it would help the students to focus on what would need to be dealt with first.

CORT tools