SIX VALUE MEDALS TABLE

Based on concepts from the book

Six Value Medals by Edward de Bono

The Six Value Medal (SVM) Table below is a useful tool for determining the value of our choices. The SVM Table requires students to consider what we value as a community, and then use reasoning to think more carefully about possible choices. For this exercise students will work in small teams. Each team will use one assigned Value Medal to think about their decision and commitment to use the Fish! Philosophy at school.

INSTRUCTIONS: After we assign groups students must login and check their e-mail to find the Value Medal table (Silver, Steel, Glass, Wood, or Brass) for their team.

1. TYPE your name and date as shown next to the SVM TABLE.

2. Return to the Greeting Circle for the Gold Medal example, and for your group and medal assignment.

TASK: We will preview the Gold Medal example for you to use as your guide. Groups will use a Goals sheet to stay on track and work together as a team to complete steps 3, 4, and 5.

3. REASONING: Read, think, and discuss with your team what your assigned medal stands for. Use your medal to discuss and write about why the decision to use Fish! Philosophy makes sense. See EXAMPLE.

4. VALUE RATING: Rate how important you think the decision under consideration is for each Value Medal. Be prepared to explain your value rating to the class.

5. SAVE as: "SVM Table" and PRINT your work. Teams will meet at the Greeting Circle to report on their medals. All students must take notes during the presentations to complete their SVM Tables.

TEAM PRESENTATIONS WILL BE IN THREE PARTS:

A. DESCRIPTION - Read and describe the importance of your team's medal.

B. REASONING - Use your team's value medal to explain why Fish! Philosophy makes sense.

C. VALUE RATING - Use your Value Medal to explain why Fish! Philosophy is important to you.

PRESENTATIONS will be no more than five minutes each. GRADES will be based on teamwork, following directions, effort and cooperation. During each presentation the entire class will be observed. ALL STUDENTS must turn in their completed SVM Table for credit.

SVM Table

SVM TABLE	Name: Date:	DECISION UNDER CONSIDERATION: Should we use the Fish! Philosophy at School?	RATING SCALE 1-4 scale of importance: 1=Low 4=High
VALUE MEDAL	DESCRIPTION	REASONING	VALUE RATING
GOLD	Gold is precious, and so are you! Think about your hopes and dreams for the future as you examine the Essential Qualities of a Haverford School Graduate. How do these qualities improve your personal pride, achievement, sense of belonging, trust in others, and overall growth?
SILVER	Silver relates to the principles and standards we set for ourselves and for our school. Think about what matters to you and all of the members of our school community. What is your individual responsibility for treating everyone with kindness and respect?
STEEL	Steel is considered one of the best building materials for adding strength and stability. Use the *Reasoning* link from the Good Decision Chain to consider if the choice makes sense. How strong and stable is the choice given what you know about the Essential Qualities and your individual responsibility as a member of our community?
GLASS	Glass has many colors, shapes, sizes, and it is an important part of our everyday lives. Think about how creative, simple, and useful the new idea is before you decide to take action.
WOOD	Wood comes from trees that clean the air we breath. Think about what may happen to the environment. Is there a positive or negative effect on our campus or the earth?
BRASS	Brass looks like gold, but it is a different metal. Think about what the new idea will look like to you, other students, teachers, parents and visitors to our community.

Excerpt from The Haverford School Principles of Community:

“A fundamental principle of the Haverford community is individual responsibility. All members of our community should accept responsibility for their actions, consider and account for the moral implications of their conduct, and have the courage to do what is right. Our Haverford community is built on respect for one another.

All of us should strive to:

Treat others honestly, fairly, respectfully, and courteously.

Discourage and refrain from verbal abuse and bullying.

Seek out and include others at every opportunity.

Listen to others and try to understand their life experiences and points of view.

Avoid cliques, snobbery, and other similar forms of exclusivity.

Value and respect the life of the mind and independent thinking.

Reject superficiality, materialism and sense of entitlement.

Recognize and encourage the many ways to learn and to succeed.

Possess empathy and generosity of spirit.

Work together to find commonalities and resolve disagreements amicably.

Embrace and advance the greater common good for our community and for the world around us.

Haverford believes that a diverse and inclusive community is a better learning community and

prepares our boys for the world they will face upon graduation. Haverford expects a communi-

ty in which a diverse population can live and work in an atmosphere of trust, understanding,

appreciation, and mutual respect for each individual. We reject prejudice based on race, eth-

nicity, culture, religion, social-economic status, gender, learning styles, disability, age, or sexual

orientation.”

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EXAMPLE

SVM TABLE

Name: Fred Friendliman

Date: September 20, 2008

DECISION UNDER CONSIDERATION:

Should we use the
Fish! Philosophy at School?

RATING SCALE

1-4 scale of importance: 1=Low 4=High

VALUE MEDAL

DESCRIPTION

REASONING

VALUE

RATING

GOLD

Gold is precious, and so are you!

Think about your hopes and dreams for the future as you examine the Essential Qualities of a Haverford School Graduate.

How do these qualities improve your personal pride, achievement, sense of belonging, trust in others, and overall growth?

EXAMPLE: FISH! Philosophy makes sense for the GOLD VALUE MEDAL because we can choose our attitude and "take joy in our accomplishments" and "meet the challenges of daily life, great and small, with courage, flexibility and humor." If we practice these qualities we may improve our personal pride, sense of belonging and trust. If we remind each other to make eye contact and listen, play appropriately, and try to make someone's day, we will be practicing many of the Essential Qualities.