Matrixes, empowerment and Freire

After reading or discussing an issue ask learners to construct a matrix to rank ideas or to record information and opinions.  One variant of this is the PNI table.  P = positives, N= negatives, I= implications.

e.g. The positives, negatives and implications of the different stages of applying for a job; the issues in changes to a local bus or library service etc.

The idea behind the tables is that learners deal with issues that are important with them.  The table is the way for them to "get a handle" on the issues.  This links very closely to the ideas espoused by Paulo Freire.

http://www.infed.org/thinkers/et-freir.htm

I have been using this table format for many years so was delighted when I attended a staff development event at an input given by an ESOL tutor who modelled some of the tools used by reflect.esol

http://www.reflect-action.org/resources