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On-line Professional Development

AFOA 7 - An Introduction to Comprehensive Community Planning in First Nations

This course focuses on best practices and case studies in Comprehensive Community Planning (CCP) and covers the history and evolution of CCP; exploring indigenous principles; and current models and insights from First Nations who have completed CCP.

The cost for this course is:

Members: $650 (plus GST)

Non-members: $760 (plus GST)

For course start dates and to register, click on Register for courses.

Course Description

Introduction to Comprehensive Community Planning is designed to provide people working with First Nations of varying professional backgrounds with a basic understanding of and appreciation for comprehensive community planning.  Course participants will be introduced to the history of comprehensive community planning, explore indigenous principles and sustainability, and engage in a thorough review of four planning models.  More specifically, the following general planning stages will be examined along with case study examples: (1) Pre-Planning (2) Planning (3) Implementation (4) Monitoring and Evaluation.

Course Learning Objectives

Upon completion of the course, you will be able to:

Lesson 1 - Overview of Introduction to Comprehensive Community Planning

  • Understand the following: What is planning? What is strategic planning? What is comprehensive community planning?;
  • Understand why have First Nations undertaken comprehensive community planning?;
  • Understand what is distinct about comprehensive community planning in a First Nations context;
  • Have a general knowledge of the brief history of comprehensive community planning.

Lesson 2 - Overview of Current Comprehensive Community Planning Models

  • Understand comprehensive planning as a process of discovery;
  • Understand and describe the importance (i.e., essential nature) of community participation;
  • Understand the following four 'templates' or 'models';

    o   Indian & Northern Affairs Canada—Comprehensive Community Planning, Sharing the Story

    o   Indian & Northern Affairs Canada—Comprehensive Community Planning in British Columbia

    o   First Nations Community Planning Model—Cities & Environment Unit, Department of Urban and Rural Planning at Dalhousie University

    o   Bopp, M. & Bopp, J. (2006), Recreating the World

  • Know the 4 Planning Stages: (1) Pre-Planning (2) Planning (3) Implementation (4) Monitoring & Evaluation.

Lesson 3 – Stage One: Pre-Planning

  • Identify and know the actions and activities which occur during the Pre-Planning stage;
  • Understand that variations in actions and activities exist across planning models.

Lesson 4 – Stage Two: Planning

  • Identify and know the actions and activities which occur during the Planning stage;
  • Understand that variations in actions and activities exist across planning models.

Lesson 5 – Stage Three: Implementation

  • Identify and know the actions and activities which occur during the Implementation stage;
  • Understand that variations in actions and activities exist across planning models.

Lesson 6 – Stage Four: Evaluation & Monitoring

  • Understand why we evaluate and monitor;
  • Know how to identify frameworks for monitoring and evaluation;
  • Understand the timing and frequency of monitoring and evaluation activities.

Lesson 7 – Exploring Indigenous Principles

  • Appreciate the reasons for drawing upon indigenous principles;
  • Have an understanding of some indigenous principles - spirituality, culture, interconnectedness, sustainability - as they relate to comprehensive community planning;

Lesson 8 – An Introduction to Sustainability

  • Understand sustainability as a principle of First Nations comprehensive community planning;
  • Understand sustainability as a principle that can be applied to several categories: (1) process or program (2) environment or bio-system (3) social and cultural (4) economic and political.

Lesson 9 – Recommended Skill Areas

  • Understand and identify skill areas

    o   Assessing professional development & training needs

    o   Understand assessing and matching skills of community members with planning work required as part of comprehensive community planning

    o   Engaging public participation (including presentation, communication & interpersonal skills)

    o   General research, analysis and synthesis

    o   Theoretical/philosophical training in indigenous principles

Lesson 10 – Lessons Learned

  • Examine the implications of the lessons learned by First Nations that have participated in comprehensive community planning;
  • Reflect upon the objectives of this course and what has been learned.
Course Completion and grading

This online course is comprised of ten lessons.  Each lesson includes objectives, an overview and a reading list.  Two assignments have been designed for this course which you can work on as you proceed through the lessons.
 

Lesson Topic Assignments
1 Introduction to Comprehensive Community Planning for First Nations
2 Overview of Current Comprehensive Community Planning Models
3 Stage One: Pre-Planning
4 Stage Two: Planning
5 Stage Three: Implementation Assignment 1
6 Stage Four: Monitoring & Evaluation
7 Exploring Indigenous Principles  
8 An Introduction to Sustainability
9 Recommended Skill Areas
10 Lessons Learned Assignment 2
Course Assignments and Grading

Students are evaluated in this course as follow:

Participation 25%

Assignment 1 25%

Assignment 2 50%

Participation

It is 25% of the student’s course grade.

  • Group Discussion. Most lessons include one or more discussion activities where you will engage in an online discussion with your fellow course participants in the “Discussions” area.  The course instructor will read the online discussions, provide support and determine your participation mark.  The following criteria will be considered to determine your participation mark: (1) the quality of your online postings (2) the frequency (i.e., number of times) of your postings.  For each lesson where there are discussion topics, you should attempt to contribute at least two (2) substantial postings and include responses which contribute to the other course participants