THE LOGICAL BRANCH (kw6) - tocfe-australia.com.au...Title Microsoft Word - THE LOGICAL BRANCH (kw6).docx Author Andrew Kay Created Date 11/21/2013 3:41:47 AM

1 TOC for Education Australia, Inc. | PO Box 551, Glebe, NSW 2037 | www.tocfe-‐australia.com.au | Ph 1300 919 761 Copyright TOC for Education -‐Australia Inc. 2013

Better Choices

Introducing the Theory of Constraints Logical Thinking Tool

The Logic Branch for Learning, New Ideas and Behaviour

TOC for Education -‐ Australia Inc.


Improving thinking skills, behaviour and personal achievement for people of all ages. TOC for Education -‐ Australia Inc. is a registered not-‐for-‐profit organisation providing workshops and training in the Theory of Constraints (TOC) logical and practical thinking and communication tools to:

▪ Students ▪ Parents/carers ▪ Educators ▪ Education administrators ▪ Counsellors ▪ Community groups ▪ Business Organisations At the heart of our approach is the desire to contribute to a better world by teaching children and adults new and effective ways of thinking in order to improve their lives and opportunities now and in the future. The following pages provide an overview of the extraordinary Theory of Constraints thinking Tool the Logical Branch. Based on original material by Kathy Suerken, President TOCfE International


THE LOGICAL BRANCH

Create positive outcomes and better solutions

This structured, dynamic tool enables people of all ages to effectively analyse the cause and effect link between actions and consequences. The Branch is used in learning curriculum by revealing the flow of logic that explains the story, idea or

concept, beginning to end in a simple and effective structure. It helps students to logically organise and explain information. The Branch assists in creating new and better solutions and helps overcome negative side effects. The tool is highly effective for students and adults in taking greater responsibility for their own actions and behaviours.


The Problem For some students:

a) Don’t know how to solve their problems b) Are unable to control impulsive behaviours c) Memorise rather than understand what is

taught d) Cannot see the value of education to

improve their lives

For many teachers: There is much time pressure to:

a) Deliver the prescribed curriculum b) Attend to individual learning needs of all

the children c) Teach higher order thinking skills (process)

For many people in many situations: a) Don’t know how to overcome the negative

side effects of potentially good ideas. b) Don’t understand or think through their

actions. c) Fall victim to the consequences of their or

others’ actions


The Problem Why do we need to change some of our ideas or actions?

What do you think of when you hear the word consequences?

Does it look like some of thes images?

“We are free to make choices but we are not free of the consequences”.

Surprise, Stress, Frustration, Uncertainty, Drama, Loss, Broken Relationships, Ill Health, Aggression, Disappointment, Grief, Upset….

When we don’t think through what we do, or take responsibility for what we do, there are often undersirable effects and negative consequences.

Behaviour

Ideas

Learning


CONSEQUENCES


By using the Logical Branch Tool we can: Develop clarity and reasoning skills • By applying cause and effect

logic to curriculum content or any other written or oral material

Develop emotional intelligence

• By understanding the cause and effect logic of actions and behaviours on consequences

Create new and better solutions • By overcoming negative side

effects of potentially good ideas.


The Solution

A method that enables us to effectively:

• Logically analyse and explain a structure of cause and effect connections

• Analyse rather than memorise events, concepts and information

• Support a position using logic • Create better solutions • Improve recall and retelling of story • Make reasoned and responsible decisions • Effectively question and interpret

information • Take greater responsibility for our

behaviours


The Solution

A method that is: • Simple… Is the method easy enough to be

used by people of all ages and abilities? • Concrete… Is the method specific and not

too abstract? Does it allow people to relate the analysis to real life experience?

• Graphically structured… Is the method sufficiently structured and visual?

• Logically sequenced… Does the order of the steps make sense?

• Practical… Does the method enable its underlying theory to yield practical outcomes?

• Assessable… Does the method provide a strategy for evaluation?


Behaviour Applications: • Counselling • Peer mediation • Classroom management • Life management skills • Workplace leadership • Parent and Teacher conferences

Applied to behaviour, the Branch enables students to think through consequences of their own behaviour.

If students identify these relationships themselves, they are much more likely to take corrective, responsible actions on their own.

They not only gain confidence in their ability to solve their own problems but are often able to prevent conflicts with others. As a result, the learning environment is significantly improved.

Benefits of using the Branch in Behaviour situations: ▪ Understand why they should change

behaviour ▪ Creates ownership of responsible

solutions and commitment to their implementation ▪ Develop the habit of 'thinking before

acting” ▪ Enables a change in behaviour without

feeling the need to demonstrate independence ▪ Develops emotional understanding and

empathy ▪ Improves clarity of language and focuses

communication ▪ Develops initiative to responsibly solve

own problems ▪ Substantially improves relationships

Reduce impulsive behaviours - switch from act first to think first, no half-baked ideas, no fights, no denial

Gain confidence in own ability, take responsible actions, build relationships, increase harmony and personal wellbeing


Curriculum Applications: ▪ Analysis of narrative and informational text (oral or written) ▪ Development of communication skills (oral and written)

Applied to content, the Logical Branch enables students to logically organise and explain information. Students are more likely to remember what they are learning because they are able to understand content through the logical connections embedded in the information.

Applied to curriculum, the Branch enables students to relate content to their everyday lives and to actively engage in more focused and meaningful classroom discussions, regardless of their level of academic skill.

Benefits of using the Branch in content applications: ▪ Meaningfully participate in lessons regardless of prior content knowledge ▪ Enables students to clearly and succinctly retell and remember key points of text ▪ Enhances ability to draw inferences from text ▪ Focuses thinking beyond a literal interpretation ▪ Enables students to resolve inconsistencies in logic to support a position ▪ Identify essential, yet less obvious details in text by surfacing assumptions underlying main ideas ▪ Evokes classroom discussion that is more focused and meaningful ▪ Enhances ability to improve existing solutions and create new ones

Less dependency on memorising to pass exams, less misunderstandings, less miscommunication and confusion with schoolwork.

Increases focus and clarity, improves recall of key points of text, improves, expands and deepens thinking, transfers meaning to real life situations, improves solution building.


Case Studies For a comprehensive selection of case studies from around the world please visit: http://www.tocfe-‐australia.com.au/index.php/case-‐studies

Contact Us For information on upcoming workshops in Australia please visit: http://www.tocfe-‐australia.com.au/index.php/our-‐program email: info@tocfe-‐australia.com.au Phone: 1300 919 761 (within Australia)

THE LOGICAL BRANCH (kw6) - tocfe-australia.com.au...Title Microsoft Word - THE LOGICAL BRANCH (kw6).docx Author Andrew Kay Created Date 11/21/2013 3:41:47 AM

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