A sample agenda for this meeting follows.
1. Subject: The organizer explains that the subject
of the meeting is to be focus skill PMI. He reminds the members of the
nature of PMI, looking in the 'Plus' direction, then the 'Minus' direction
and finally the 'Interesting' direction. time 2-3 minutes.
2. First practice: the group of six works as a whole
group together. Two minutes for plus points, two minutes for minus points
and two minutes for interesting points. The timekeeper keeps this time
exactly.
Subject: 'Everyone should wear a badge showing his
or her mood'.
time: 6 minutes.
(Note that when the group works as a whole no feedback time is required.)
3. Second practice: two groups of three are set up.
The two groups should move somewhat apart so that separate discussions
are taking place. Each group works through the PMI, spending two minutes
on each section. The time-keeper keeps the exact time for both groups
and tells them when to move on to the next part. At the end of the six
minutes the groups meet together again and each group reports its output.
This is the 'feedback' part. Someone in each group should have kept
simple notes.
Subject: 'It would be useful to have eyes in the back
of our heads, as well as the usual ones.'
working times: 6 minutes, feedback time: 4 minutes, total: 10 minutes.
4. Third practice: each individual is assigned to
do just one section (P or M or I). Individuals work alone for 2 minutes.
Subject: 'Instead of barking, watchdogs should be
trained to go and quietly press a burglar alarm button.'
At the end of two minutes the group reassembles and each person in turn
gives the feedback.
working time: 2 minutes, feedback time: 4 minutes.
5. Fourth practice: two groups of three with each
group going through the entire PMI process. Two minutes on each section
with changeover signaled by the timekeeper. At the end of six minutes
the groups meet to report and compare their thoughts.
Subject: 'On leaving school every youngster should
spend a year doing "national service" which would consist of community
service, hospital work, teaching etc.'
working time: 6 minutes, feedback time: 5 minutes, total: 11 minutes.
6. Discussion section: this would cover such points
as the following:
The value of doing a PMI.
When would a PMI be most useful?
The dangers of doing a PMI.
Whether the formality of the PMI seems strange at first.
Whether the strict, and short, time seems awkward at first.
The difficulty of the 'Interesting' part of the PMI.
Points for discussion could also be taken from the relevant section
of this book.
total time: 10 minutes.
7. Fifth practice: The group works as a whole. Two
minutes in rotation are spent on each of the sections monitored as usual
by the timekeeper.
Subject: 'At elections everyone should have two votes
and one of these can be used negatively to cancel a vote for a disliked
candidate'.
time: 6 minutes.
8. Practice items: each individual spends three minutes
noting down 'practice items' which could be used on future occasions
for the application of thinking skills. These should be of both the
'fun' and 'serious' type. Each individual offers his items and the note-taker
collects them to start a stockpile of such items.
working time: 3 minutes, feedback time: 4 minutes, total time: 7
minutes.
9. End of session: Reminder of next session and thinking
skill which is to be the APC. Members to read relevant section of this
book.
time: 1 minute.
The overall timing of 60 minutes should be kept to. If necessary the
working time on each section can be reduced (even to one minute for a
practice item). The session devoted to inventing new practice items can
be shortened or even omitted if necessary. What is important is that the
overall time discipline be kept. Otherwise the sessions expand into long
waffle sessions.
Once the session is over the club members may want to linger on for social
reasons but there should be no further direct exercise of the thinking
skills or discussion of them. Later on each session will extend for two
hours, but this is too much at the beginning.
