Course Description
This course is an introduction to the steps within a typical local government planning process and a description of the important techniques that are used at different stages of the planning process. Please note that the American Planning Association identifies and formally recognizes excellent planning projects on an annual basis -these plans may be referred to and serve as a benchmark for any plan or process - please see these here.
Course Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:
- Discuss the fundamental initial processes that planners utilize to develop and define issues, projects, problems, goals, objectives, and opportunities
- Discuss basic qualitative and quantitative research techniques utilized by planners
- Identify leading sources of information for planning
- Discuss common analysis methods
- Identify when and how such analysis methods are applied
- Recognize common analytical tools
- Discuss the basic methods by which alternative solutions are developed for a given project
- Recognize fundamental methods of evaluating and selecting appropriate alternatives
- Recognize why the implementation phase is important
- Identify specific strategies and methods that communities use to put a plan in effect
- Recognize the purpose of a policy evaluation
- Discuss the importance of the project definition and goals in the evaluation stage
- Define the basic means of policy evaluation
- Identify who might be involved in the evaluation
- Identify basic formats for public participation
- Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each form of public participation
- Recognize appropriate applications of public participation
The course contains numerous multiple choice exams, and interactive exercises, and is completed with a multiple choice final exam.
Approved States: CO