Step 4 | Deciding What to Do Ü Goal and Strategy
Selection
lesson detail
1† R EV I S IT T HE P O S S I B L E S T R AT E GI E S
T HAT CO U L D B E US E D T O C H ANGE
PO L ICIES A N D P R AC T I C E S .
Have students share their thoughts about
the area that has been selected to conduct
an inventory.
In small groups, students will locate different landmarks on their maps: schools, parks, neighborhoods, etc. Have them discuss who they
might be able to get information from in each
of those areas.
2† N A R R O W T H E L I S T O F P O S S I B L E
S T R AT E G I ES T O T H R E E T O
FIV E S T R AT E GI E S .
Letting students use any of the Voting Procedures
listed in the Background Information of Step Two
could accomplish this.
3† EST A B L IS H C R I T E R I A F O R S E L E C T I N G
A S T R AT EG Y.
You may want to choose a different method than
l e a r n i n g o b j e c t i v e s | Identify selection criteria when making a decision | Apply
selection criteria when making a decision | Demonstrate cooperative group process
when making decisions by listening respectfully and valuing others’ ideas and opinion
you used in Step Two, or use this opportunity to
have students practice the skills they developed in
Step Two.
Introduce the criteria-based decision-making
grid on the board or on a projector.
Write the possible strategies along the top row of
the grid.
As a class, decide on criteria for choosing a strategy
that students will focus on. Some considerations
when identifying criteria for selection of a strategy:
R EA LI STI C | will students be able to carry out the strategy given the available resources?
PR ECEDEN T | how have others used this
strategy before, and how well did it work?
R ELEVA N CE | how much does the strategy
actually address the project goal?
SI M PLI CI TY | how easy or difficult will the
strategy be to carry out?
I M PA CT | how likely is it that the strategy will
have a lasting impact?
OPPOSI TI ON | how much opposition
will you likely get from other people
or organizations?
4† USE THE STRATE G Y SE LE C TIO N G RID
TO AP P LY THE SE
C R ITE RIA.
Have students write the criteria down the left side
of the grid. Then have students apply the criteria by
rating each strategy against each criterion.
Tally the results using the Strategy Selection Grid.
After students have ranked each strategy against
the criteria, one strategy may stand out, but
there could be others in close competition. If one
strategy does not emerge, students may need
to establish additional criteria to apply to each
possible strategy.
5† USE THE STRATE G Y(IE S) TO C OMP LE TE
THE P RO JE C T G O AL STATE ME NT.
When students have identified their strategy(ies),
post the completed Project Goal and Strategy
statement after you are finished. You now have a
course of action in mind. This means you are
ready to move on to Step Five.