Blog

Decision Focus video series

Short, animated videos on the principles of Decision Quality carry the core Decision Skills content. Downloadable student activities.

Decision Focus video series

Short, animated videos on the principles of Decision Quality carry the core Decision Skills content. Downloadable student activities.

01 What's a Good Decision?

Introduction to Decision Skills

02 Decision Traps

Common behavioral biases that affect decision-making

03 Helpful Frame

Clarify the decision being made

04 Clear Values

Use your personal values to clarify decision options

05 Creative Alternatives

Get creative when considering decision paths to follow

06 Useful Information

Gather the most useful information

07 Sound Reasoning - Weight & Rate Tables

A numerical tool to rate decision alternatives

08 Sound Reasoning - Decision Trees

Use a decision tree to complete, "I am choosing this alternative because..."

09 Commitment to Follow Through

Get set to purposefully execute a decision

10 Appropriate Decision Process

Iterate on the key elements of a decision

11 Responsible Decisions

Take responsibility for actions and attitudes

12 Risky Decisions

Teenagers taking risks is natural development

Learning and Teaching Programs

Programs supporting educators in learning and teaching Decision Skills in a relevant, enjoyable, and valuable way.

Learning and Teaching Programs

Programs supporting educators in learning and teaching Decision Skills in a relevant, enjoyable, and valuable way.

StrongStart

9th grade summer bridge built around Decision Skills and run by school teachers.

Steps to Success

9th grade course that teaches Decision Skills for students to get and stay on course for graduation.

Healthy Lifestyle Choices

A course that frames Decision Skills within the context of Health class and focuses on mental health.

Essential Decision Skills

A course tailored to your school's, organization's, or company's content and time requirements.

Decision Quality for Administrators

School leaders work an actual problem while guided through the Decision Quality process.

Decision Quality for Educators

Teachers and staff learn how to bring Decision Skills to students and Decision Quality capacities to staff.

Decision Quality for Counselors

School counselors learn to build Decision Quality capacities in their students and colleagues.

Positive Pathways

Positive Pathways is a program developed with students who have faced difficult decisions that may have landed them in a precarious position in mind.

Materials to Learn and Tools to Use

Printed high-quality materials and tools to support learning and teaching Decision Skills.

Materials to Learn and Tools to Use

Printed high-quality materials and tools to support learning and teaching Decision Skills.

Decision Island Booklet

The Decision Island Booklet gives educators an engaging and adaptable tool to teach Decision Skills in any setting.

Coin Flip Activity

The critical elements of a good decision are highlighted along with some of the human biases that can compromise our decision making processes.

Decision Workspace Tool

A simple worksheet that students can use to apply Decision Chain concepts.

Conversations for Clarity Instructional Kit

Instructions and an example showing how to apply the Decision Chain worksheet for a specific decision.

Decision Skills Infographic

A 2-sided graphic overview and reminder of the primary Decision Skills concepts.

Decision Quality

The Fundamentals of Making Good Decisions Booklet

Decision Chain Poster

Inspires thoughtful decision-making. Available in two sizes.

Decision Chain Framework

The Chain is a framework with good decision elements.

Decision Chain Framework

The Chain is a framework with good decision elements.

Helpful Frame

Clarify the decision you're tackling by framing it.

Clear Values

Decisions are easier to make if we know our personal values.

Creative Alternatives

Every problem has many possible solutions--learn how to choose.

Useful Information

Gather enough useful information to make a decision.

Sound Reasoning

Does our decision make sense? Use decision tools to be sure.

Commitment to Follow Through

Use simple techniques to make the decision a reality.

Decision Quality (DQ) Fundamentals

Get more of what you really want with expanded understanding of how to make a better decision.

Decision Quality (DQ) Fundamentals

Get more of what you really want with expanded understanding of how to make a better decision.

Declare a Decision

Drive a wedge between stimulus and response by claiming Decision Power.

Types of Decisions

Size up the problem before making a decision.

Defining Decision Quality

There is a distinction between a good decision and a good outcome.

The Decision Process

The decision process includes frame, build, evaluate, and improve.

Balancing Head and Heart

Good decisions make sense and feel right.

Know Yourself

Know your preferences, strengths, and weaknesses.

Avoid Traps and Biases

Our biases affect how we filter and interpret information.

Decision Fitness

Think ahead about certain decision circumstances and create policies how to handle them.

Keep Learning

We should continue consciously sharpening our Decision Skills.

Various Decision Roles

How people around us influence our decisions.

Decision Process for Groups

How we work together makes a difference.

Online Courses

A free, self-paced course to learn or teach Decision Skills. Sign up!

Decision Quality (DQ) Fundamentals

Get more of what you really want with expanded understanding of how to make a better decision.

It's Your Choice Video Series

This 18 episode video series explores Decision Skills via a conversation between Roger and Nicole.

01 Talkin' 'bout Decisions

Slow down when making decisions. Understand the difference between decisions and outcomes.

02 What Makes a Good Decision

Learn the 6 elements of a good decision and explore Decision Quality.

03 Don't Get Trapped

Our own human behaviors are subject to many types of behaviors.

04 I'm Thinking of a Feeling

Explains why a better decision is one that balances head and heart.

05 How Do I Get There

Highlights the Comfort Zone Decision Trap and how taking risks can be good.

06 Look at It This Way

Introduces the concept of Decision Frame and explores perspective.

07 Size It Up

Explore how scope and who a decision affects helps frame a decision.

08 What's Your Problem

Discusses the importance of Purpose for Decision Frame and introduces the Sunk Cost trap.

09 Whose Decision Is It

Describes how time frame and who is involved affect Decision Frame.

10 What Do I Really Want

Explains the importance of being clear about your own values and that trade-offs are often needed.

11 Got Choices

Discusses the importance of creative alternate decisions should be brainstormed and refined.

12 Are You Sure

Describes the role of uncertainty in decision-making: no one knows the future.

13 What Might Happen

Explains how exploring possible decision outcomes helps make a better decision.

14 How Likely Is It

Learn more about probabilities, plus the Gambler's Fallacy and Wishful Thinking Decision Traps.

15 Makes Sense and Feels Right

Shows how Sound Reasoning brings together values, alternatives, and information.

16 Building a Tree

Demonstrates how to build a Decision Tree to explore probabilities and information.

17 Make It Happen

Explores tools that help the step of actually following through with a decision.

18 Are We There Yet

Watch a recap of the Decision Chain and its role in the quality decision-making process.

Teach

Decision Focus video series

Short, animated videos on the principles of Decision Quality carry the core Decision Skills content. Downloadable student activities.

Decision Focus video series

Short, animated videos on the principles of Decision Quality carry the core Decision Skills content. Downloadable student activities.

01 What's a Good Decision?

Introduction to Decision Skills

02 Decision Traps

Common behavioral biases that affect decision-making

03 Helpful Frame

Clarify the decision being made

04 Clear Values

Use your personal values to clarify decision options

05 Creative Alternatives

Get creative when considering decision paths to follow

06 Useful Information

Gather the most useful information

07 Sound Reasoning - Weight & Rate Tables

A numerical tool to rate decision alternatives

08 Sound Reasoning - Decision Trees

Use a decision tree to complete, "I am choosing this alternative because..."

09 Commitment to Follow Through

Get set to purposefully execute a decision

10 Appropriate Decision Process

Iterate on the key elements of a decision

11 Responsible Decisions

Take responsibility for actions and attitudes

12 Risky Decisions

Teenagers taking risks is natural development

Programs for Students

Programs supporting educators in learning and teaching Decision Skills in a relevant, enjoyable, and valuable way.

Programs for Students

Programs supporting educators in learning and teaching Decision Skills in a relevant, enjoyable, and valuable way.

StrongStart

9th grade summer bridge built around Decision Skills and run by school teachers.

Steps to Success

9th grade course that teaches Decision Skills for students to get and stay on course for graduation.

Healthy Lifestyle Choices

A course that frames Decision Skills within the context of Health class and focuses on mental health.

Essential Decision Skills

A course tailored to your school's, organization's, or company's content and time requirements.

Positive Pathways

Positive Pathways is a program developed with students who have faced difficult decisions that may have landed them in a precarious position in mind.

Programs for Educators

Workshops for adults focus on mastering Decision Quality and applying it throughout a school district.

Programs for Educators

Workshops for adults focus on mastering Decision Quality and applying it throughout a school district.

Decision Quality for Administrators

School leaders work an actual problem while guided through the Decision Quality process.

Decision Quality for Educators

Teachers and staff learn how to bring Decision Skills to students and Decision Quality capacities to staff.

Decision Quality for Counselors

School counselors learn to build Decision Quality capacities in their students and colleagues.

Real Stories for the Classroom

The Chain is a framework with good decision elements. Real life decision stories create opportunities to explore Decision Skills through relevant situations students want to talk about.

Real Stories for the Classroom

The Chain is a framework with good decision elements. Real life decision stories create opportunities to explore Decision Skills through relevant situations students want to talk about.

School vs Football

Student faces choice to pursue pro football or change schools to get support for learning challenges.

Time Management and College Choice

High school student uses Decision Skills to navigate life, choose extracurriculars, finalize college choice,

College vs Startup Business

College student faces a decision: drop out of college to create a startup or continue college.

Friday Night Decision

Student-created Decision Traps scenario presents a choice between friendship and romance

Decisions in the Himalayas

A Group Decision that Trekking Students Face

Group Dynamics

Students Struggle with Team Dynamics and Making a Decision

Lexie's Makes a Risky Decision

Student Presents Her Bungee Jumping Decision to Her Parents

Post-Graduation Uncertainty

Recent Graduate Faces Choices with Job Search and COVID Uncertainty

Life and Death on Mt Everest

Climber Faces Choice to Summit or Save a Life

Barcelona Bound

Music Students Face decisions on tour in Barcelona

Rigs to Reefs

How Decision Analysis Resolved a Real Environmental Challenge Removing Oil Rigs

Highway Closure Debate

Should this section of San Francisco coastal road be closed to cars or not?

Subject Curriculum

Decision Skills Curriculum Integrated into Advisory, English, U.S. History

School Adoption

Schools and Districts Achieve Their Goals with DEF

Decision Quality (DQ) Fundamentals

Get more of what you really want with expanded understanding of how to make a better decision.

It's Your Choice Video Series

This 18 episode video series explores Decision Skills via a conversation between Roger and Nicole.

01 Talkin' 'bout Decisions

Slow down when making decisions. Understand the difference between decisions and outcomes.

02 What Makes a Good Decision

Learn the 6 elements of a good decision and explore Decision Quality.

03 Don't Get Trapped

Our own human behaviors are subject to many types of behaviors.

04 I'm Thinking of a Feeling

Explains why a better decision is one that balances head and heart.

05 How Do I Get There

Highlights the Comfort Zone Decision Trap and how taking risks can be good.

06 Look at It This Way

Introduces the concept of Decision Frame and explores perspective.

07 Size It Up

Explore how scope and who a decision affects helps frame a decision.

08 What's Your Problem

Discusses the importance of Purpose for Decision Frame and introduces the Sunk Cost trap.

09 Whose Decision Is It

Describes how time frame and who is involved affect Decision Frame.

10 What Do I Really Want

Explains the importance of being clear about your own values and that trade-offs are often needed.

11 Got Choices

Discusses the importance of creative alternate decisions should be brainstormed and refined.

12 Are You Sure

Describes the role of uncertainty in decision-making: no one knows the future.

13 What Might Happen

Explains how exploring possible decision outcomes helps make a better decision.

14 How Likely Is It

Learn more about probabilities, plus the Gambler's Fallacy and Wishful Thinking Decision Traps.

15 Makes Sense and Feels Right

Shows how Sound Reasoning brings together values, alternatives, and information.

16 Building a Tree

Demonstrates how to build a Decision Tree to explore probabilities and information.

17 Make It Happen

Explores tools that help the step of actually following through with a decision.

18 Are We There Yet

Watch a recap of the Decision Chain and its role in the quality decision-making process.

Explore

Evidence of Value

DEF is evidence-based with formal studies of efficacy on outcomes like academic improvement and decision competence.

21st Century Skills

Decision Skills Enhance SEL, Critical Thinking, Creativity, College & Career Readiness, etc.

21st Century Skills

Decision Skills Enhance SEL, Critical Thinking, Creativity, College & Career Readiness, etc.

Social-Emotional Learning

The CASEL model identifies responsible decision making as a key element. Decision Skills improve personal and social effectiveness.

Critical Thinking

Applying sound reasoning tools to make effective decisions and understanding uncertainty extend critical thinking in a relevant way.

Creativity

A decision can only be as good as the best alternative. Decision Skills help creativity and create space to improve life outcomes.

College & Career Readiness

Decision Skills are central to the skills employers are looking for. Students face challenging decisions regarding their future.

CTE PBL IS

DEF materials are integrated in a variety of educational settings and used in support of different academic pathways.

STEM

Decision Skills include applying math to describe situations that are relevant to students' lives. Science and engineering require probability.

Decision Skills Case Studies

Experiences with Decision Skills

A variety of environments and audiences benefit when applying DEF tools and materials.

Wayfinder x DEF

Wayfinder partners with DEF to Launch New Responsible Decision-Making Module

AI Meets the Classroom

AI meets decision science: DEF brings Decision Insights VIII into classrooms to help students frame, assess, and visualize thoughtful decisions.

Alternative Education Environments

At-Risk Youth feel empowered and less judged when learning Decision Skills.

DEF's Work at Stanford

Empowering youth and graduate students with practical decision-making tools through Stanford partnerships and scalable DEF curriculum

Doerr Leadership Institute Chooses DEF for Decision Making Seminar

College students said that their Decision Chain course experience was significantly more satisfactory than other courses.

Study Shows Improved Decision-Making Competence

A year-long, rigorous study established the benefits of including decision education within a school’s US History curriculum.

District Equity Team Applies DQ

DEF and the Eugene 4J School District together created an infographic combining equity sensitivity and the Decision Chain concepts.

Decision Skills Added to Health Class

With very little prep time, Joe Robusto successfully delivered a decision-making class with DEF support.

ASML Teaches High School Students

Companies like ASML, Intel, and Eli Lily conduct decision-making classes for the children of their employees.

Decision Skills Integrated Across Advisory

Starting with the StrongStart program, a high school gradually integrated more and more DEF materials into their curriculum.

Grad Coach Uses Decision Workspace Tool

Sara says she relies on the Decision Workspace form for student in-take. She has also used the concepts with her parents and 911 callers.

StrongStart Shows Improved GPAs

A randomized study showed improved academic learning and decision-making competence as a result of StrongStart participation.

DEF materials with 6th graders

Currently a middle school teacher in Redmond, Oregon, Carrie shares her experience successfully implementing DEF materials with 6th graders in a summer camp.

Facing Up to Cancer

Teacher Applies Decision Skills Training when Facing Cancer Treatment

Chicago Difference

DEF's materials are scalable for a large group of students, plus applicable and relatable to college first years.

Equity & Inclusion

Equity is a core value-we need to consider a decision's likely impact on equity.

Decision Science

Decision Education is built on the foundation of Decision Science, the behavioral and normative fields of decision-making research.

Adopt Decision Quality Culture

Adopt Decision Quality as a school or district to teach Decision Skills to students and benefit the entire school community.

Get Involved

Join DEF and others in the movement for Decision Education to help improve the lives of young people with effective Decision Skills.

Programs

Programs for Students

Programs supporting educators in learning and teaching Decision Skills in a relevant, enjoyable, and valuable way.

StrongStart

9th grade summer bridge built around Decision Skills and run by school teachers.

Steps to Success

9th grade course that teaches Decision Skills for students to get and stay on course for graduation.

Healthy Lifestyle Choices

A course that frames Decision Skills within the context of Health class and focuses on mental health.

Essential Decision Skills

A course tailored to your school's, organization's, or company's content and time requirements.

Positive Pathways

Positive Pathways is a program developed with students who have faced difficult decisions that may have landed them in a precarious position in mind.

Programs for Educators

Workshops for adults focus on mastering Decision Quality and applying it throughout a school district.

Decision Quality for Administrators

School leaders work an actual problem while guided through the Decision Quality process.

Decision Quality for Educators

Teachers and staff learn how to bring Decision Skills to students and Decision Quality capacities to staff.

Decision Quality for Counselors

School counselors learn to build Decision Quality capacities in their students and colleagues.

About

Blog

This blog shares practical guidance on teaching young people how to decide, not what to decide.

About Us and What We Do

We teach students how to make thoughtful, informed decisions through practical, engaging Decision Skills programs.

What We Do

We equip students with practical Decision Skills that teach them how to make thoughtful, informed choices.

Who We Are

We are an organization focused on helping young people build brighter futures through strong Decision Skills.

Who We Work With

We work with educators, schools, and youth-focused organizations who are committed to strengthening students’ decision-making skills.

History And Impact

Since our founding, we’ve been dedicated to bringing effective Decision Skills to young people through research-based programs and educator partnerships.

Get Involved

Get involved and help bring practical, life-changing Decision Skills to more young people.

Endowment

Our endowment provides long-term stability that ensures Decision Skills education remains accessible to students

Contact Donate

Inside the DEF Blog: Building Better Decision-Makers

Education in the Digital Age (Dummy Entry)

Lifelong Learning (Dummy Entry)

Education and Success (Dummy Entry)

The Value of Education (Dummy Entry)

The Importance of Education (Dummy Entry)