Browse Content: Tool

Mind Maps are non-linear organizations of ideas using keywords and images. Elements of the maps can be ‘linked’ with others to clarify relationships, obstacles, and paths. More recently, software has been developed to create Mind Maps digitally.

A blog is a type of website usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or media. When blogs focus on communities and planning they can be powerful tools for up-to-date information sharing.

A word cloud is a graphic way to show the prominence of particular words from a text, meeting summary or some other summary of a discussion.

INDEX is a powerful, interactive GIS-based planning support system that measures existing conditions, evaluates alternative plans, and supports implementation of adopted plans.

Community Needs Assessment techniques identify and prioritize specific problems within communities that need to be addressed. This generally entails the collection of first-hand information from relevant sources in the local community.

A number of websites and software programs offer online survey capabilities, which allow communities or organizations to collect and analyze data more efficiently and cost-effectively than is possible with mail and phone surveys.

Mobile Polling allows audiences to provide live feedback and vote on choices via their cell phones. Polling can be conducted live during a meeting format, as with keypads, or among dispersed respondents.

Graffiti Walls (or "Idea Walls") are public spaces for citizens to brainstorm graphically. They provide an informal place to help community members generate ideas or suggestions and respond to the ideas of others.

Community Storybooks are powerful tools for community decision making, documenting in words and images what matters most to residents. They offer a snapshot of local character, values and sacred places, captured through a participatory process.

Mass-Observation is a process used to capture “the true nature” of a place by sending individuals out to observe and record everyday activity. This data can uncover meaning in unusual places and serve to depict the real character of a community.