DES303

Introduction to Community Development

Social Sciences
300 level
126 pages
10 units

This course provides learners with fundamental knowledge and practical skills for community development. It explores concepts, theories, and participatory approaches. Students will learn to analyze community needs, design impactful projects, and implement solutions aligned with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The course emphasizes ethical considerations, collaboration, and monitoring and evaluation techniques. It aims to foster social responsibility and contribute to societal well-being in the Nigerian context.

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About this course

Difficulty: Intermediate
Study hours: 52 hours
Maths: None
Content: Theoretical, practical, case study
Practical work: Yes

How it is assessed

Tutor marked assignments
Practical evaluation

What you'll read

The real module and unit structure of DES303, taken from the course material NOUN publishes.

Module 1 · INTRODUCTION TO COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

Module 2 · INTRODUCTION TO ISSUES AND TRENDS IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

Module 3 · COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION

One paragraph, so you can see how it reads

DES303 · Unit 1: Definition of Community Development

A community is a group of people sharing a common space, time, social organization, and often, values and interests. This shared space can be physical or virtual, and the group's identity can be fluid and evolving.

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What you should be able to do

Understand fundamental concepts and theories of community development
Analyze and address community needs through assessment techniques
Design, plan, and implement impactful community projects
Monitor and evaluate community projects effectively
Explore ethical considerations in community development

What it prepares you for

Careers

Community Development Officer
Social Worker
Project Manager
NGO Coordinator
Development Consultant

Where it is applied

Government
Non-profit
International Development
Social Services
Community Planning

Where it gets hard

The units students slow down on, and what makes each one heavy.

MODULE ONE: INTRODUCTION TO COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Unit 2: Introduction to Basic Theories and Concepts of Community Development
Understanding the nuances of consensus, pluralist, and structuralist theories requires critical thinking and application to real-world scenarios.
Module 3:COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION
Unit 2: Introduction to Community Needs Assessment and Ethics in Community Development
Requires understanding of diverse data collection methods and ethical considerations in community engagement.

A suggested way through it

Suggested

13 weeks, about 52 hours in total. Yours will differ.

Week 1MODULE ONE: INTRODUCTION TO COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
- Unit 1: Definition of Community Development · 4 hours
  Define community development from various perspectives. Identify key features of communities. Distinguish between assumptions and fallacies. Explain the origins of community development.
Week 2MODULE ONE: INTRODUCTION TO COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
- Unit 2: Introduction to Basic Theories and Concepts of Community Development · 4 hours
  Define key terms related to community development theories. Identify different perspectives: consensus, pluralist, structuralist. Discuss the impact of paradigms on social policy. Apply theories to case studies in Nigeria.
Week 3MODULE ONE: INTRODUCTION TO COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
- Unit 3: Introduction to Approaches to Community Development and Volunteerism · 4 hours
  Define and differentiate between approaches to community development. Analyze strengths and limitations of different approaches. Discuss top-down, bottom-up, participatory, and integrated approaches. Define volunteerism in community development.
Week 4MODULE ONE: INTRODUCTION TO COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
- Unit 4: Introduction to Key Principles and Values of Community Development. · 4 hours
  Define key principles and values of community development. Explain the importance of principles in guiding efforts. Analyze how principles apply to real-world scenarios in Nigeria. Reflect on your role in upholding values.
Week 5MODULE TWO: INTRODUCTION TO ISSUES AND TRENDS IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
- Unit 1: Overview of Current trends in Community Development · 4 hours
  Identify roles of key players in community development globally and in Nigeria. Understand how public policies influence practices. Appreciate roles of government, NGOs, and community organizations. Identify trends and actors in Nigeria.
Week 6MODULE TWO: INTRODUCTION TO ISSUES AND TRENDS IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
- Unit 2: The Landscape of Community Development in Nigeria & Development Agencies in Nigeria · 4 hours
  Understand the evolution of community development approaches in Nigeria. Identify key players in Nigeria. Understand how policies shape project focus. Recognize actors from government to NGOs.
Week 7MODULE TWO: INTRODUCTION TO ISSUES AND TRENDS IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
- Unit 3: Introduction to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) & Development Agencies in Nigeria · 4 hours
  Understand the concept of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Identify the 17 SDGs and their objectives. Recognize Nigeria's Alignment with the SDGs. Recognize trends, opportunities, and challenges in aligning community development with the SDGs.
Week 8Module 3:COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION
- Unit 1: Introduction to Basic Elements of Community Project Planning, Design and Implementation · 4 hours
  Understand the importance of community project planning and design. Identify the key elements of community project planning and design. Explain diverse approaches to community project planning design and implementation..
Week 9Module 3:COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION
- Unit 2: Introduction to Community Needs Assessment and Ethics in Community Development · 4 hours
  Define a community needs assessment.. Understand ethics in community development. Understand the importance of ethics and needs assessment in community development..
Week 10Module 3:COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION
- Unit 3: Introduction to Monitoring and Evaluation of Community Projects · 4 hours
  Understand Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) definitions and their distinctions.. Explain the importance of M & E in the context of community development.. Explain different techniques of evaluation..
Week 11MODULE ONE: INTRODUCTION TO COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
- Module 1 Review · 4 hours
  Review key concepts from Module 1. Discuss case studies. Prepare for assignments.
Week 12MODULE TWO: INTRODUCTION TO ISSUES AND TRENDS IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
- Module 2 Review · 4 hours
  Review key concepts from Module 2. Discuss case studies. Prepare for assignments.
Week 13Module 3:COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION
- Module 3 Review · 4 hours
  Review key concepts from Module 3. Discuss case studies. Prepare for assignments.

Preparing for the exam

What to do

Create concept maps linking theories from Units 2-4 in Module 1
Practice applying VMOSA framework to sample projects from Module 3
Review case studies from Units 1-3 in Module 2 and identify key success factors
Focus on ethical considerations in needs assessment from Unit 2 Module 3
Practice writing project proposals incorporating SDGs from Unit 3 Module 2

Questions students ask about this course

What is DES303 about?

How many units does DES303 have?

DES303, Introduction to Community Development, has 10 units across 3 modules, over 126 pages of course material. You can read it one unit at a time.

Is DES303 hard?

DES303 is rated intermediate level, with no mathematical content. It is mostly theoretical, practical and case study work, and it has a practical component.

How long does DES303 take to study?

About 52 hours of study, spread across its 10 units.

How is DES303 assessed?

DES303 is assessed by tutor marked assignments and practical evaluation.

What can I do with DES303?

Community Development Officer, Social Worker, Project Manager, NGO Coordinator and Development Consultant.