September 18, 2021

Faculty Club, Stanford University

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See the photos

Watch the individual presentations

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Watch the whole first session

Watch the whole second session

Watch the toast and panel discussion

 

Personal Life Decisions and Decision Education for Youth

In this symposium, we:

• Gained insights from thought leaders in the field

• Heard personal success stories

• Learned how to integrate critical decision-making skills into the formal educational curriculum

• Saw useful practical tools

• Learned of the challenges faced by front-line educators

SYMPOSIUM AGENDA

1:30 - 3:00 PM Session - Personal Life Decisions

• Keynote - Ralph Keeney -- Give Yourself a Nudge (to making better decisions)​

  • Ralph L. Keeney is Professor Emeritus at the Fuqua School of Business of Duke University, North Carolina. Throughout his career, he has been a professor and consultant on making important decisions for policymakers, businesses, and individuals. He received his PhD from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, is a member of the US National Academy of Engineering, and has authored or co-authored several books, including Give Yourself a Nudge, Smart Choices, Value-Focused Thinking, and Decisions with Multiple Objectives.

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• The Value from Applying DQ to Personal Life Decisions

  • A Student – Zach Reed

  • A Teacher – Carrie Brumbach

  • A Tool to Help Reach Clarity – Chris Spetzler

 

• Software to Help You Reach DQ – Florian Methling EntscheidungsNavi

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• SCOPE Decision Process and Medical Decision-Making — Jeff Belkora

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3:30 - 5:00 PM Session - Decision Education for Youth

• Keynote - Brett Pierce -- What are the obstacles and solutions to integrating critical decision-making skills into the formal educational curriculum for middle and high schoolers?

  • Brett Pierce is a program developer, producer, educator, and writer who has spent over 30 years working in media production that engages and entertains around a defined curriculum. Brett is the Founder and Executive Director of Meridian Stories, a digital storytelling nonprofit for middle and high schoolers, now in its eleventh year. Brett has spent much of his professional life at Sesame Workshop in New York City, serving as a Co-Executive Producer on media projects about literacy, math, science and conflict-resolution, and life skills for youth around the world, including projects in China, Macedonia, Indonesia, Poland, Iraq, and, most recently, South Sudan, Somalia and the Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya.

 

• What Have We Learned Over 20 Years? – Carl Spetzler

 

• How DEF Brings Decision Skills to Youth – Chris Spetzler

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• The Value of Decision Skills for Youth

  • Youth – Lexie Howell

  • Teacher -- Liz Thompson

 

• Preview – an Online Intro Course with CA College Credit Available to High School Students – Jeff DeFranco

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5:30 PM Reception with Music by Dale Nesbitt and Jazz Quartet

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6:30 PM Dinner with Toast to the Seminal Figures of Decision Analysis

• Ron Howard with Ralph Keeney representing Howard Raiffa

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8:00 PM Evening Panel - What Will It Take to Make Decision Skills Universal Life Skills?

• Panelists: Brett Pierce, Chris Spetzler, Liz Thompson, Trina Weller

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