Photo Credit: John Morrison
Getting a Course Started
Getting an adaptive management course up and running at a university or other academic institution can be a daunting task. Experienced CCNet coaches have developed useful tips to get you started, a detailed comparison of various course formats to help you design the right type of course for your circumstances, and a sample suite of resources just for you. Scroll down to find links for the following:
- General helpful resources
- 1 to 3-Day Pilot Training/Workshop
- 5-Day Training/Workshop
- 10-Day Training/Workshop
- Semester-Long Module
General helpful resources
Here are some documents that might come in handy when preparing a course:
- Tips for Starting a Course – a running list of tips from university course instructors
- Menu of Course Formats – great for comparing course formats!
- Conservation Standards 4.0 – the official overview – not detailed, but an excellent overview
- Full set of Basic Conservation Standards PowerPoint Presentations (English & French)
- Links to Online Self-Paced Training Videos – these can be combined with live instruction
- Foundations of Success Training Manual – Conservation Standards Steps 1 & 2
- Table of Conservation Standards Courses – from around the world, some old, most ongoing
- Peer-reviewed Literature Featuring the Conservation Standards
- Information on example or case study project(s) (needs to be provided by you and/or partners)
1 to 3-Day Pilot Training/Workshop
University Examples: Duke, Yale, Univ of California Santa Barbara
Duration: 1 to 3 full, consecutive days
Content Covered: Parts of Steps 1 & 2 of the Open Standards (OS)
Practical Component: Limited practice of Steps 1 & 2 or Practice on a few tools (e.g., Conceptual models and Results chains) on a simple project
Learning Objectives:
- Understanding of OS broadly
- Some experience applying (some) tools for Steps 1 & 2
- Where to find more information
- Awareness of Miradi and its functionality
Ideal for:
- Introducing students and faculty to OS
- A starting point for establishing a more complete course
- Students traveling from various regions
Not ideal for: Anyone wanting a deeper understanding of the OS and the skill set needed to apply the OS on their own
Student Deliverables: none
Miradi Use: Interested participants can volunteer to navigate Miradi during group work
Approximate Time Requirements (for coaches already familiar with the OS):
- Prep: 2 day
- Course Delivery: 1-3 days
- Follow up: 0.5 days
- Coaching Assistance: not essential
Number of European Credits (ECTs (1 = 28 hrs): 4-6
Likelihood of accreditation: not likely
Student Testimonial: “I came to the Nicholas School to get applicable skills and the workshop provided a great introduction to the Open Standards framework and the Miradi software. I applied critical thinking in this workshop more than in most courses I have taken thus far.” -Anonymous, Nicholas School for the Environment, Duke University
5-Day Training/Workshop
University Examples: Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development, Monterey Institute of International Studies, Univ of Maine, Tropical Andes Alliance
Duration: 5 full days, Full instruction with some time for practice
Content Covered: Steps 1 & 2 of the Open Standards (OS)
Practical Component: Practice of Steps 1 & 2 on a simple, real-world project project, using Miradi
Learning Objectives:
- Understanding of OS broadly
- Some experience applying Steps 1 & 2
- Where to find more information
- Awareness of Miradi and its functionality
Ideal for:
- Students with limited time (e.g., those with full-time employment)
- Inviting guest instructors, participants, and project reps
- Students traveling from various regions
Not ideal for: Anyone wanting a deeper understanding of the OS and the skill set needed to apply the OS on their own
Student Deliverables: Some components of a draft management plan and final presentation or Written review/critique of existing an management plan
Miradi Use: Some participants rotate practice with Miradi throughout course as part of group work
Approximate Time Requirements (for coaches already familiar with the OS):
- Prep: 3 days
- Course Delivery: 5 days
- Follow up: 2 days
- Coaching Assistance: ideal, but not essential
Number of European Credits (ECTs (1 = 28 hrs): 4-6
Likelihood of accreditation: likely (e.g. Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development)
Student Testimonial: “In international development and conservation work you rely on strategic planning. I often come across the open standard approach and miradi software I learned during my studies and can apply this structured thinking at my work.” – Katrin Toepfer about the OS course at the University for Sustainable Development Eberswalde. She now works at GIZ (German Federal Enterprise for International Cooperation)
10-Day Intensive Workshop
University Examples: Organization for Tropical Studies, Smithsonian-Mason
Duration:
- 10 full days
- Full instruction with ample time for practice and interaction with project team
Content Covered: Steps 1 & 2 of the Open Standards (OS)
Practical Component: Practice of Steps 1 & 2 on a more complex, real-world project with interaction with project team and use of Miradi
Learning Objectives:
- Understanding of OS broadly
- Experience applying Steps 1 & 2
- Where to find more information
- Skilled use of Miradi
Ideal for:
- Integration into Summer or Winter terms
- Inviting guest instructors, participants, and project reps
Not ideal for: Students with full time employment
Student Deliverables: Final presentation covering Steps 1 & 2
Miradi Use: All participants rotate practice with Miradi throughout course as part of group work
Ideal Group to Coach Ratio (up to 6 students per group):
Approximate Time Requirements (for coaches already familiar with the OS):
- Prep: 3 days
- Course Delivery: 10 days
- Follow up: 2 days
- Coaching Assistance: essential
Number of European Credits (ECTs (1 = 28 hrs): 4-6
Likelihood of accreditation: Possible (e.g., Smithsonian-Mason)
Student Testimonial: “Taking this course with FOS & OTS was an awesome learning experience. Working with a local conservation organization and other students from around the world made this one of the best courses I have taken!” – Rebecca Aicher, Ph.D. Candidate in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California – Irvine (OTS course participant)
“This course was a perfect complement to the education I receive at my university and the experiences I’ve had in my dissertation research. It really felt like I was ‘filling in the gaps’ in my head about how to do conservation well.” – Matt Muir, Ph.D. Candidate in Ecology, Graduate Group in Ecology, University of California – Davis (OTS course participant)
Contact us for more Information
Semester-Long Module
University Examples: University of Maryland, Virginia Tech, Univ of Florida, Univ of California Davis
Duration:
- 12-14 weeks of once, weekly sessions
- Full instruction, full practice and interaction with project team
Content Covered:
- Steps 1 & 2 of the Open Standards (OS)
- Fundraising and Workplanning
Practical Component: Practice of Steps 1 & 2 on a more complex, real-world project with interaction with project team and use of Miradi
Learning Objectives:
- Understanding of OS broadly
- Experience and skills applying Steps 1 & 2
- Where to find more information
- Skilled use of Miradi
Ideal for:
- Integration into graduate program
- Universities interested in building in-house capacity to deliver the course (faculty training)
Not ideal for:
- Universities with no local or in-house instructors
- Students coming from various regions
Student Deliverables: Draft management plan and final presentation covering Steps 1 & 2
Miradi Use: All participants rotate practice with Miradi throughout course as part of group work
Ideal Group to Coach Ratio (up to 6 students per group):
Approximate Time Requirements (for coaches already familiar with the OS):
- Prep: 4 days
- Course Delivery: 14 days
- Follow up: 3 days
- Coaching Assistance: essential
Number of European Credits (ECTs (1 = 28 hrs): 4-6
Likelihood of accreditation: Possible (UMD is close, but no faculty on record)
Student Testimonial: “I think that a lot of us do parts of this process innately but it can be overwhelming when starting a new project on where to begin and I liked that the course provided clear stepping stones in how to achieve a desired outcome…” – Anonymous, University of MD CONS Program
Syllabus for Semester-long Course on Conservation Standards Steps 1&2 (Virginia Tech)
Syllabus for Semester-long Course on Conservation Standards Steps 1&2 (University of Wisconsin)
Detailed Class Schedule for Semester-long Course on Conservation Standards Steps 1&2 (University of Wisconsin)
Coaches Resource Library
CCNet maintains a variety of resources to support Coaches in the presentation and use of the Conservation Standards. Most of the resources are found in multiple languages in the Coaches Notebook that is part of CCNet New Coach Trainings. In addition, in our Resource Library you can find a wealth of support materials shared by Coaches and Conservation Standards practitioners.
Photo Credit: Ashleigh Baker
Our Collaborators
Every organization, agency, project, and individual has its own preferred set of terms. There is no right answer – the most important thing is that the members of your project team and the people with whom you work have a clear and common understanding of whatever terms you choose to use.
Photo Credit: Chris Scarffe
Download CS
The Conservation Standards is the product of inputs, field tests, and discussions among members of the Conservation Measures Partnership (CMP), which has final editorial authority over the Conservation Standards. Substantial input was also provided by members of the Conservation Coaches Network (CCNet) and other CMP partners.
Photo Credit: Felix Cybulla
Contact CCNet
To inquire about supporting CCNet or for general inquiries, please contact:
John Morrison - CCNet Global Coordinator john.morrison@wwfus.org
Cristina Lasch - CCNet Technical Coordinator clasch@tnc.org
Photo Credit: Diane Detoeuf
