Projects
Overview
Research-driven instructional design
Creating an organization to create learning experiences that are fun, engaging and grounded in science.
Training program
We believe that people learn best when they are actively engaged in solving problems they find interesting, relevant and somewhat challenging, are sharing ideas with others, and are having fun.
So we design active, fun and engaging learning experiences that put people in situations where they can practice solving the kinds of problems they might face in a community crisis.
We believe that people learn best when they are actively engaged in solving problems they find interesting, relevant and somewhat challenging, are sharing ideas with others, and are having fun.
So we design active, fun and engaging learning experiences that put people in situations where they can practice solving the kinds of problems they might face in a community crisis.
The focus of our training program is currently on developing a Wildfire learning experience to help community members
- understand what risks they face from wildfire
- develop a mental framework for how they would respond in an actual crisis
- motivate them to prepare
- discover what they can accomplish when they work together
Our next step will be to work with community partners to make it easy for them to adapt our learning experience to the needs of their communities and deliver it effectively.
Our next step will be to work with community partners to make it easy for them to adapt our learning experience to the needs of their communities and deliver it effectively.
Training highlights
Project
Board Game
Our shortest learning experience, designed to be a quick and fun activity that provokes individual households to THINK about wildfire preparation.
- For 1 or more household members
- 10-15 minute
- One game facilitator
- Available in English and Spanish
LEARN MORE about the Board Game →
Volunteer
Communication Tools Analyst
Help us find a communication tool that will let us manage live training events.
Details
START
As soon as possible
DURATION
1-3 months
DESCRIPTION
We need a simple and easy-to-use communication platform that supports fun and engaging interaction between participants during training events. Can you help us research existing tools used in gaming, simulation and/or communication and determine if they can be adapted to meet our needs?
Research program
We don’t believe in guessing.
Our research program is aimed at ensuring that our learning experiences are grounded in solid theoretical foundations, and use
reliable methods of evaluation.
We don’t believe in guessing.
Our research program is aimed at ensuring that our learning experiences are grounded in solid theoretical foundations, and use
reliable methods of evaluation.
Our present research efforts are narrowly focused on providing our Wildfire learning experience with
- science-backed learning priorities and instructional techniques
- methods for measuring learning outcomes without disrupting participant experience
In the longer term, we seek to promote intersectional research in grassroots crisis response, improvised leadership, and experiential learning, fostering intellectual connections and making our own contributions in these growing areas of research.
In the longer term, we seek to promote intersectional research in grassroots crisis response, improvised leadership, and experiential learning, fostering intellectual connections and making our own contributions in these growing areas of research.
Research highlights
Project
Research Roundtables
Understanding crisis, collective action, and improvised leadership draws on many scientific fields. We are leading a series of roundtable discussions that bring together diverse groups of researchers and practitioners to exchange ideas and share insights.
LEARN MORE about Roundtables →
Volunteer
Impact researcher
Help us to answer the question: Does playing our Wildfire Board Game actually change what participants do when they get home?
Details
- Played by 4+ neighboring households
- 3 one-hour modules
- One game facilitator with assistants
- Available in English
Further learning objectives:
- Community impact of personal decisions
- Benefits of collaborative actions on households and their neighborhood
- Strengthen neighborhood connections.
- Emergency planning for each household and the neighborhood
Other activities
While we are primarily focused on the Wildfire project, we also keep other activities moving forward. These are concentrated around three strategic goals:
- Having an immediate impact by sharing the knowledge and insights we find
- Growing our team through networking and volunteer recruiting
- Growing our future through fundraising and exacting planning
While we are primarily focused on the Wildfire project, we also keep other activities moving forward. These are concentrated around three strategic goals:
- Having an immediate impact by sharing the knowledge and insights we find
- Growing our team through networking and volunteer recruiting
- Growing our future through fundraising and exacting planning
Highlights
Volunteer
Grant Writer
Help us to find and apply for grants, so we can turn a generous world into a resilient one.
Details
START
As soon as possible
DURATION
Occasional or ongoing
DESCRIPTION
We need to secure funding for the development and testing of our new wildfire training experience. We are aiming for grants in the $5K-$100K range, focusing on corporate and community-based funders with interests in community resilience and/or wildfire preparedness.
From our blog
Help us to measure impact: Researcher needed!
We’re looking for a highly motivated researcher to design and implement a study to evaluate the short-term impact of our wildfire learning experiences.
“It’s been mobbed!”
Most disaster preparedness educators have a fantasy about people lining up to learn about disaster preparedness. It’s our reality. …
New dawn. New year. New chapter!
This morning, dawn painted the sky of this first business day of the new year with promise. On this first business day of the new year, we painted...
From our blog
Help us to measure impact: Researcher needed!
We’re looking for a highly motivated researcher to design and implement a study to evaluate the short-term impact of our wildfire learning experiences.
“It’s been mobbed!”
Most disaster preparedness educators have a fantasy about people lining up to learn about disaster preparedness. It’s our reality. …
New dawn. New year. New chapter!
This morning, dawn painted the sky of this first business day of the new year with promise. On this first business day of the new year, we painted...
“They always say time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself.“
— Andy Warhol