In my opinion, our learners are our planet’s most precious resource. We want to help them develop the skills they need to go into the world with workable tools to make their way and get along with others. Toward that end the aim of most educational enterprises is to empower learners to take charge of their lives. When young people start out on their journeys we guide them and make most of the important decisions. As they mature we shift more and more to the process of promoting their ability to choose. Using the matrix with young people takes “choosing” to another level.

In presenting the matrix  we empower learners by asking for permission to show them our point-of-view. We do this to build collaboration and cooperation. They are free to engage or not engage. We then  influence them with the two crossed lines to “notice” who/what is important, what “shows up” on the inside (and sometimes the outside) that gets in the way, and what they do next. They notice their toward moves. They notice their moves away from unwanted stuff. They notice what is happening outside of them as well as what is going on inside. They notice that making choices is fun, and scary , and powerful, and often difficult. They also learn that the act of choosing is empowering.

The next step is to pass the pen to them. We invite them to come to the board to sort their experiences. They are free to accept or decline but most learners love this move since they become the teacher and we become the student. Now they are getting the matrix experience from a different perspective. Often this happens spontaneously since it is in the nature of all of us to want to copy and emulate others as well as share what we know. This exchange can be done with individuals or groups. They learn to develop psychological flexibility as we give up control and watch. Learners take a step out of their usual comfort zone of “you teach/I learn” and practice something new. There is no right or wrong and they are rewarded for the simple act of doing something different.

The matrix provides a safe place for them to try out new stuff. Once they get this down we have “taught them how to fish” and they can take the matrix with them wherever they go since it is now part of their experience. They can pull it out anytime they choose.