The CoRT 1 course employs a series of practical tools and techniques that divide thinking into definite stages in order to make it easier and more effective. At each stage there is a clear thinking task to be performed. CoRT 1 is suitable for children aged four years and upwards.

Using the tools detailed below, these initial 10 lessons help children and students to:
> Be strong, confident decision-makers.
> Think clearly about actions and their outcomes.
> Reach solutions more quickly than ever before.
> Assess all aspects before making a decision.
> Produce answers beyond the obvious.
> Thoroughly assess and judge situations.

Who should attend: Head teachers, teachers (pre-school, primary, secondary, further education, vocational, adult, special needs), teacher trainers, careers officers, educational guides, advisors and curriculum leaders.

Course dates: To be announced.
For details of course prices please contact Nancy Rawlinson, Executive Administrator.

COURSE OUTLINE

PMI - Plus, Minus, Interesting
Designed to ensure that decision or commitment takes place after both sides of the matter have been considered and not before. The 'I' of PMI can be used as a tool in subsequent lessons:

CAF - Consider all Factors
This operation is essentially related to action, decision, planning, judgement and the drawing of  conclusions.

RULES - Provides an opportunity for practicing the two previous lessons: PMI and CAF
An existing or proposed rule is an opportunity for practicing PMI. The factors involved in making a rule provide practice in CAF. 

C & S - Consequence and Sequel
Crystallisation of the process of looking ahead, to seeing the consequences of some action plan decisions rules and invention etc.  Attention is focused directly on the future. Immediate, short medium and long-term consequences are examined by different groups.

AGO - Aims Goals Objectives
This lesson provides a focus on the intentions behind actions relating to purpose. In some situations, it is more appropriate to use aims rather than goals or objectives. The key here is to focus on purpose rather than reaction.

PLANNING - The idea is to use planning as a thinking situation which brings together Objectives (AGO), consequences (C&S), the factors involved (CAF) and the treatment of ideas (PMI).

FIP - First Important Priorities
FIP is a judgement situation which requires no absolute answers. It is person, and/or situation specific. It is a crystallisation of the process of picking out the most important ideas, factors, objectives, consequences, etc. per the requirements of the specific situation and/or person.

APC - Alternatives, Possibilities, Choices
APC is an attempt to focus on exploring all the alternatives, choices, and possibilities - beyond the obvious.

DECISIONS - This lesson provides an opportunity to bring together the last two lessons in particular, FIP and APC:
alongside the other lessons generally. In making decisions your have to:
>  Consider all the factors.
>  Be clear about aims/objectives.
>  Assess priorities.
>  Look at consequences.
>  Discover alternative courses of action.
>  You can also do a PMI on the decision once made.

OPV - Other People's View
This considers the process of looking at other people's viewpoints so that the process can be used consciously and deliberately to escape from one's own point of view.