The Methodology
PIA has adopted the guiding principles of Purpose, Inclusion, Collaboration, Imagination, and Transformation PIA’s Community Development Education Program’s follow nine specific steps in developing and implementing programs. These steps are Needs, Outcomes, Brainstorming, Strategy, Delegate, Arrange, Market, Implement, and Tie-Up. While each step is broad and entails a number of different activities following is a very brief explanation of each step/stage.
Needs
Before any program is planned, the Community Development Education Program must first ascertain the needs of the community. While it is hoped that the interest areas of the Community Development Education Program and the needs of a particular unit or community will coincide, the Community Development Education Program should be listening before acting.
Outcomes
Because we are programming for transformation it is necessary to focus our activities toward specific outcomes. For each program, theCommunity Development Education Program will develop and document outcome statements. These will be used to measure success of a particular program.
Brainstorming
While many programmers start with brainstorming, we feel it is important to focus on this activity after knowing the needs and outcomes. Essentially, brainstorming ideas to us achieve a program _s specific outcomes rather than brainstorming about a program to do and then determining the outcomes.
Strategy
In this stage, the Community Development Education Programnarrows down the brainstorming and ultimately selects an activity or approach to the program being planned. A detailed plan of action is developed at this stage.
Delegate
While Community Development Education Program’s may or may not be working with others, at this point the Community Development Education Program brakes the program plan down into small action steps. If others are working with the Community Development Education Program the steps are divided up, otherwise, the Community Development Education Program begins working their way through the action steps by themselves.
Arrange
This stage overlaps considerably with the previous stage. Here, however, the programmer makes all the necessary arrangement for space, equipment, speakers, etc.
Market
Once the program and location are set the Community Development Education Program will develop a marketing campaign. This should include but is not limited to flyers, emails, other mass communication, and word of mouth.
Implement
This is where the program actually takes place. A detailed outline of the presentation should be developed and printed out well in advance of the program.
Tie-Up
Bringing closure to the program is very important. This stage includes, completing a presenter reflection form, reviewing participant reflection forms, submitting attendance data, and sending Thank You notes to those who assisted with the program or helped in making it possible.