Aiming High Step 8

Aiming High: The ability to set clear, tangible goals and devise a robust route to achieving them.

Step 8: I set goals and secure the right resources to achieve them

Outcomes

To achieve Step 8, learners will show that they can set goals, and then be able to secure the right resources to achieve them.

In Step 7, learners focused on how to set goals, ordering and prioritising tasks in order to achieve them. This step expands on that, by introducing the idea of having the right resources to complete tasks.

Learners need to be able to:

Identify what resources they need in order to complete a task
Secure those resources

Introduction

Resources are those things that we need to use to complete a task.
Lots of things can be described as resources, and we can divide them up into different categories:
- Human Resources: These are things that humans bring to complete a task. These include: the time and effort of people who can complete tasks, and their knowledge, skills and experience.
- Physical Resources: These are tangible things that we might need to be able to complete tasks. These include: machines, technology, buildings or physical spaces.
- Financial Resources: This is the money that we might need to pay for things we might need to complete the tasks.
- Natural Resources: These are the materials that we might need to complete the task like water, gas, minerals and lots of other things.
We are likely to need a combination of different resources to complete a task.

Skill Starter

Plan and Prepare

Split learners into small groups and choose a goal for them to achieve, such as setting up a short team game or obstacle course.

Prepare a set of available resources for learners to access or, where appropriate, ask learners to prepare something for the next session.

Before learners have access to securing the resources, give them 5 minutes to make a plan of what they will need.

Optional challenge: Assign prices to the resources and give each group/pair a budget. You may also choose to limit key items so that learners are required to adapt their plan.

15 mins

Group activity

Active

Teach & Apply

To turn a plan into reality, we need to know not just the resources we need, but also how to secure them. Either through owning them or borrowing them. How we do this depends on the type of resources:
- Human Resources: It might be that you can provide the time and energy required if you have the right expertise and the time available. If not, you might need to persuade other people to help you out – on paid or volunteered time.
- Physical Resources: If you need special equipment for a short period of time then you might be able to hire this. However, if you use up the resource through using it then you will have to purchase it. Space can be hired or borrowed.
- Financial Resources: You might be able to fund this work yourself or if you might be able to secure the budget from someone else if you can convince them it is a good idea.
- Natural Resources: We usually will need to purchase these, although we might be able to recycle something already existing, or to have them donated if we need.

Optional Activity

Let's Celebrate

Learners plan a team celebration event in small groups.

Learners discuss and plan which resources they will need to make their event a success. How would they secure them? Additional restrictions can be added mid-task such as budget, time or a resource shortage.

20 mins

Group activity

Discussion

Written

Reflection & Assessment

Embed these strategies across your teaching and coaching to help learners apply what they’ve learnt.

Challenge learners to think about what they might do as an alternative if some of the resources they have identified are unavailable – can they adapt the tasks or resources?

Use these ideas for ways of assessing this skill step to help you check learners’ understanding and confidence.

This step can be assessed through an extended project or challenge where learners are given responsibility for creating a plan to achieve a goal. If an extended project is not possible, then a shorter planning activity can be used.
Ask these reflective questions:
- What are resources? Can you give examples?
- What does it mean to secure resources?
- Does this differ for different resources?