Step 1: Design
Find an issue that you care about.
"My Action Plan" | The very first step in starting your AP is filling out the "My Action Plan" section of your online AP profile. Started at Sc3, you were introduced to the Action Plan Concept, you should continue to design and build on this post-Sc3, but before school starts. Think of this section of the AP as your outline. In it, you'll want to consider who will be involved, the feasibility of the project (covered below), the timeline for the project, materials needed, and the AP's impact and focus.
WHAT TO CONSIDER
Category | In creating your AP, you’ll need to base it around one of the 21 Resource Group topics on the GSA website. They range from policy to energy to architecture. Each Resource Group hosts its own array of resources that you can draw from to either expand on an existing AP or to inspire a new one. To learn more about each topic, click here.
Geography | One of the hardest parts of taking action is deciding where your efforts should be focused. Think about issues that are immediate in your community, and that affect you personally. Also, consider the fact that location plays a major role in the success of an AP. For instance, having an AP aimed at installing public recycling bins might not be as effective if you live in a remote or rural area away from a major township or city. So make your project work with your surroundings for it to yield the best results.
Geography | One of the hardest parts of taking action is deciding where your efforts should be focused. Think about issues that are immediate in your community, and that affect you personally. Also, consider the fact that location plays a major role in the success of an AP. For instance, having an AP aimed at installing public recycling bins might not be as effective if you live in a remote or rural area away from a major township or city. So make your project work with your surroundings for it to yield the best results.
Feasibility | Another thing to remember is that you are going to be the one responsible for carrying out your Action Plan. That means that you need to be S.M.A.R.T. when designing it. Making an AP that is over ambitious can be just as bad as making one that is under ambitious. That's why it is so important that your AP is:
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Impact | Once you have found an issue you want to address, you have to think about how best to tackle the problem. To do this, it’s best to start by considering which people or groups of people your AP will benefit (schools, peers, community, etc). Think long and short term. Some APs will be small scale and others will be larger, but what remains the same is that they will all have an effect on your communities.
Allies | It’s important to ask yourself early on if you can do it alone or if you’ll need the assistance of your peers, teachers, school, or community to fulfill your action plan. Once you’ve considered who will benefit from your project, it will be easy for you to find those who might be willing to assist you along the way. Especially for medium- or large-scale APs, having others at the ready to help you can keep you on task and expand the resources immediately available to you when you implement your AP. Once you’ve enlisted the help of people you need for your project, define roles and responsibilities for everyone involved.
Your Action Plan Advisor (APA), will also be a useful ally and will provide you will a rich source of insight. APA’s have attended Sc3 at least once before and have successfully completed an Action Plan. Their role is to be a resource to you and to guide you through the progression of your AP. Their Role:
Allies | It’s important to ask yourself early on if you can do it alone or if you’ll need the assistance of your peers, teachers, school, or community to fulfill your action plan. Once you’ve considered who will benefit from your project, it will be easy for you to find those who might be willing to assist you along the way. Especially for medium- or large-scale APs, having others at the ready to help you can keep you on task and expand the resources immediately available to you when you implement your AP. Once you’ve enlisted the help of people you need for your project, define roles and responsibilities for everyone involved.
Your Action Plan Advisor (APA), will also be a useful ally and will provide you will a rich source of insight. APA’s have attended Sc3 at least once before and have successfully completed an Action Plan. Their role is to be a resource to you and to guide you through the progression of your AP. Their Role:
- Action Plan mentor
- Guide you
- Answer questions
- Remind you of your reflection due date
- Ensure your AP get’s published