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Educational Program
The Responcity Program teaches fundamental values of the common good, and then puts them into practice.
Students learn to identify a problem they care about in their own community. After working together to propose and implement a solution, they become certified City Solutionaries.
Our Programs
Responcity Annual and Semester Programs
Responcity Afterschool Program
Responcity Connect
Program Implementation
- The four pillars that serve as the foundation of human society are the common good, the public sector, the city, and responsibility (personal and public).
- Civics is so much more than rights. The traditional civics class focuses on defining my rights as a citizen. The Responcity approach inspires students to also consider their duties. They ask, what is my responsibility to society and to the common good?
- By learning the value-based language of the four pillars, students are inspired to work together to become City Solutionaries, to make their cities better places for all.
- Using the PBL pedagogy, students work together in problem-solving teams. They identify municipal problems that they care about and that need improvement. For some students, this may be the first time they have ever looked beyond their personal lives and considered problems that affect the common good.
- With the guidance of their teacher, each team researches their chosen issue and defines their work process. Students consider: What problems need to be solved in our city? What are possible solutions? Who are the decision-makers we need to persuade? What are the steps we need to take to reach a productive solution? They define their City Solution project and are on their way to becoming City Solutionaries.
- Through the Responcity app, they collaborate with other teams, get feedback, and document the process so they will have a record of the entire length of the experience.
- Working on their chosen problems, students form groups, delegate the duties among members, and build a timeline. Teams work with a mentor to formulate possible solutions. Along the way, students might redefine the solution to best meet the common good. In doing so, they develop lifelong skills, such as flexibility, teamwork, and persistence.
- Students prepare a high-level presentation of the City Solutionary experience for three forums: the class (real-time and through the Responcity app), the municipal leaders, and the entire community at the Community Change Celebration. Students will hone their organizational, thinking, and public speaking skills.
- They work with municipal authorities to implement approved projects and conduct a pilot program when relevant. This process inspires and empowers students to develop long-term responsibility for building their communities.
- They conduct a reflective evaluation. The skills learned and City Solutions are tracked through the app, enabling global measurement and collaboration.
Responcity Annual Program Timeline
Based on 34 class meetings in a typical US school year, one class meeting of 45-60 minutes per week.
Teacher Training Conferences
Responcity offers a meaningful yet rapid learning process for professional development. Teachers will acquire the most advanced tools available in the field of education today for supporting students in creative problem solving. The program will be led by an internationally renowned team of experts in the field of PBL. The Responcity app gives teachers a comprehensive round-the-clock support envelope throughout the entire process, for achieving 100% success.
UNIT 1 | THE COMMON GOOD
7 lessons: focus on the common good, preliminary acquaintance with the Responcity program and app.
PBL Stage:
Problem-solving process – preliminary steps
Students divide into groups. They study problems in their city, perform a deep research process and work with protocols.
UNIT 2 | THE PUBLIC SECTOR
6 lessons: students gain understanding about the public/private sectors and the common good.
PBL Stage:
Preparation for meeting with the local authority
Students suggest problems and issues, formulate questions, list local authority representatives they would like to meet (based on the issues raised). Emphasis is on student responsibility and learning through the process.
Meeting with a local authority/entity
Identify relevant entities to help solve problems raised.
UNIT 3 | THE CITY
8 lessons: the city, city economy, local government, sustainability, resilience, and development.
PBL Stage:
Problem-solving process – planning & action
Divide into work teams. Focus on task, formulate a work plan.
Follow work plan, meet with contact people/partners.
Problem-solving process – recalibration
Joint work among groups, overcome obstacles, tweak work plan if needed.
UNIT 4 | PUBLIC RESPONSIBILITY
6 lessons: responsibility, the different types of responsibility, public responsibility and responsibility in the public sector.
PBL Stage:
Continue problem-solving process
PRESENTATION TO MAYOR
Prepare final presentation
Protocol for building and presenting an engaging, focused presentation. City Solutionaries receive a certificate signed by the mayor.
Evaluation
Self, peer, and teacher