Resources for Each Step
Maximize the value of each step in the Community Action and Problem Solving Process
Step 1: Community Environmental Inventory
Step 2: Issue Selection
Step 3: Policy and Practice Research
Step 4: Goal & Strategy Selection
Step 5: Taking Action!
Step 6: Celebrate & Reflect
Highlighted Resources!
We've recently created many new online resources, all are found on this site!
Generating Good Questions
The heart of researching lies in developing deep and creative questions. Often young people struggle with this initially, and may need a little structure to help them learn how to develop research questions. A big tip we can provide is to make it fun. Use common game techniques to facilitate this. Time students to think[…]
What are Policies and Practices?
Now that research is underway, it is important to contextualize it and narrow down to a few key research topics. We like to structure this in terms of local policies and practices. Policies are rules, regulations, stated guidelines, etc. from a government or private organization. These include items like school dress codes and driving speed[…]
Happy New Year! Let’s Dig Into Researching
Hi Earth Force friends! We want to wish you a restorative and productive 2021. I left off this blog in December wrapping up Step 2, choosing an issue to work on. We went through various topics, resources, and tools to help make group decisions democratically. From there, it is time to dig into the issue[…]
Open Space for Questions + 2021 Planning
Hello Earth Force friends! I am writing to you from Michigan, where the state just instituted stricter COVID-19 guidelines. I hope you are all safe and staying healthy. We find that those working on Earth Force + PBL projects that take course over the school year usually break for the holiday after making a decision[…]
Wrapping up A Key Decision
In Step 2, we have discussed selecting an issue to tackle as a group in a democratic way. Democratic decision-making means that not everyone who participated will receive their first choice, we all make compromises to work together! Before putting the final stamp of approval on the issue that has been selected, have a debrief[…]
Methods of Voting
Now more than ever, it is important for young people to understand the civic processes involved with voting. As an integral part of our country’s fabric, encouraging youth to get involved and vote when they are eligible is crucial. Voting can be integrated into the classroom in both large and small ways. We suggest beginning[…]
What’s for Lunch? An Exercise in Decision-Making
Last week, we provided a few recommendations on the keys to making equitable decisions. In preparation, use this What’s for Lunch activity to familiarize students with democratic decision-making, using a fun topic. Allowing students to practice criteria-based decision-making before making a touch decision takes some of the complexity and pressure off of the process. Looking[…]
Keys to Decision-Making
Once issues are identified, it is time to make a decision on which one to work on! Having a group tackle one issue together helps you, the educator, manage student work as well as help build collaboration skills in young people. When your group is ready to make a decision, keep these practices in mind![…]
Wrapping up Step 1: A List of Strengths and Issues
After conducting inventories, compiling data, and digging into the root cause of concerns you and your group find, it is time to analyze your root causes to come up with a concise Strengths and Issues List. Organizing your key information in this way will help youth make decisions, research policies, and develop sustainable solutions. This[…]
Step 1 Checklist
Many educators and students are heading back into the classroom (or virtual equivalent) this week! With that in mind, use this checklist to make sure your students are completing everything they need in the Inventory process. Looking for a Step 1 Overview? Check our our previous blog post for a short overview video. You know[…]