TOPIC: Benchmark – Participatory Learning and Action Tools
Participatory learning and action (PLA) tools are used to engage communities in a process of shared decision making around their strengths and assets. Action steps are often identified by the group to make social, economic, or environmental changes in their community. Select and practice one of the following participatory learning and action tools:
- Community asset map
- Holistic worldview analysis
- Appreciative inquiry interview
- Problem tree analysis (also called diagramming)
- Photovoice
Guides on how to facilitate the tools are described in the community engagement and PLA resources in the Topic Materials. Identify an individual or group of individuals with whom you are currently working as part of your job, service, volunteerism, or family. Review the selected tool and become familiar with the process and purpose of the tool prior to facilitating it with your selected individual or group.
In a 1,000-1,250-word essay, discuss the following:
- What tool did you select and why did you select it instead of the other options?
- What cultural insight did you learn based on the individual or group you selected? Include a brief description of the individual or group you engaged for this assignment.
- What challenges did you identify in facilitating the tool?
- Discuss how the participants responded to the tool regarding their participation and shared decision making. Consider how PLA tools are focused on building the capacity of people versus projects or programs.
- A Health in All Policies approach, which include economic and environmental factors, is important in addressing the interconnectedness of health factors to support holistic transformation. Discuss how this community engagement approach through such a tool is useful for assessing a Health in All Policies approach. In addition, consider how this approach is effective in reducing health disparities by addressing economic and environmental issues through community mobilization and assets. Review the website and introductory report on “Health in All Policies,” by the American Public Health Association (APHA), and “What You Need to Know About Health in All Policies,” by the World Health
Organization (WHO), located in the Topic Materials for additional insight.
Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is not required.
You are required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite.
STUDY MATERIALS
Read Chapter 5 in For the Love of God: Principles and Practice of Compassion in Missions.
Read “Connecting Communities and Complexity: A Case Study in Creating the Conditions for Transformational Change,” by Durie and Wyatt, from Critical Public Health (2013). URL:
Read “Cultural Humility: Measuring Openness to Culturally Diverse Clients,” by Hook, Davis, Owen, Worthington, and Utsey, from Journal of Counseling Psychology (2013). URL:
Read “Reflections on Cultural Humility,” by Waters and Asbill, from American Psychological Association CYF News (2013). URL:
Read “Tyranny/Transformation: Power and Paradox in Participatory Development,” by Christens and Speer, from Forum: Qualitative Social Research (2006). URL:
Read “A Basic Guide to ABCD Community Organizing,” by McKnight, located on the DePaul University website. URL:
Read “Wholistic Worldview Analysis: Understanding Community Realities,” by Jayakaran (2007), located on the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) website. URL:
Read “Participatory Analysis for Community Action (PACA) Training Manual,” from the Peace Corps Information Collection and Exchange, Publication No. M0053(2007), located on the Peace Corps website. URL:
Read “Empowering Communities: Participation Techniques for Community-Based Programme Development: Volume 2: Participant’s Handbook,” by De Negri, Thomas, Ilinigumugabo, Muvandi, and Lewis(1998), located on the Participatory Methods website. URL:
Read “Generic Processes of Appreciative Inquiry,” located on The Center for Appreciative Inquiry website.URL:
Watch “Appreciative Inquiry,” by Townsin (2013), located on the YouTube website. URL:
Read “Ten Seed Technique,” by Jayakaran, located on the Dr. Ravi Jayakaran website. URL:
Read “Toolkit,” from the Asset-Based Community Development Institute, located on the DePaul University website.URL:
Read “Open Questions,” by Goetzman, located on the Global Learning Partners, Inc. website.
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