Events Projects Competencies

Events | Projects | Competencies

Events

Overview:

  • Events are live, face-to-face, and “residential.”

Frequency:

  • One event is offered each quarter. Future opportunities may exist at multiple hubs within a quarter.

Format:

  • Typically spans a weekend plus an extra day on either side.

Components:

  • Includes presentations, activities, group projects, discussions, breakout groups, debates, reflection times, project syncing, rituals, celebrations, and meals.

Purpose:

  • Events inspire, create solidarity, synchronize cohorts, and generate co-projects.

  • Some events may include a “community day” where locals are invited for public presentations and mingling with BAM fellows and staff.

Pre/Post Work:

  • Light pre- or post-event work (e.g., reading a book) is usually required, totaling approximately 40 hours of learning.

Future Flexibility:

  • Fellows may eventually identify alternatives to official BAM events (e.g., conferences, design weeks).

  • Senior fellows might plan events as part of their projects.

Attendance:

  • Full attendance at an event is required to complete a module. Eight events are required for graduation.

Projects

Definition:

  • A project is an embedded, contextual instance of civic biodesign. It can be an interdisciplinary study, an invention/solution, a pilot program, or another form embodying civic biodesign. It may also be a defined stage of a larger project.

Structure:

  • Projects can be done solo or in groups and usually involve individuals from a fellow’s civic network.

Role of a Coach:

  • Coaches help design the project and oversee its progress through weekly, monthly, and quarterly contact cycles.

    • Weekly: Minor reporting via any medium.

    • Monthly: Moderate reporting via phone, teleconference, or face-to-face meetings.

    • Quarterly: Heavy reporting and/or summative assessment via teleconference or face-to-face meetings.

Expectations:

  • Failures, delays, and reroutes are anticipated. A project may fail in real-world outcomes but still be considered a successful BAM project.

  • Summative evaluations include a 360 assessment (self-assessment, network-assessment, and Coach-assessment).

Documentation:

  • The process must be documented according to BAM protocol.

Completion:

  • While multiple projects may be conducted at once, typically one project is completed per quarter. Eight projects are required for graduation.

Competencies

Requirements:

  • Each fellow must complete nine competencies per module.

Definition:

  • A competency is a clearly defined area of learning that can be demonstrated. Examples include:

    • Understanding soil mycology at a collegiate level.

    • Demonstrating kindness and self-regulation in meetings.

    • Using a conical extruder to produce industry-grade plastic products.

Structure:

  • Competencies are of modest size, typically involving 10-20 hours of work.

  • BAM maintains a competency library with over 72 competencies, which can be rated, improved, or retired.

  • Fellows select competencies in consultation with their coaches, ensuring relevance to their project and developmental edge.

  • Certain competencies are required, especially in Module 1, where six are dictated.

Customization:

  • Each competency has standard outputs (demonstrations of proficiency) and inputs (resources to achieve proficiency), both of which are customizable.

New Competencies:

  • New competencies may and should be developed, requiring double verification from the fellow’s coach and the curriculum committee.

Evaluation:

  • Competencies are evaluated by a Subject Matter Expert (SME), a coach, or someone in the fellow’s civic network, depending on the competency’s characteristics.

Future Integration:

  • Select courses from affiliates may substitute for clusters of competencies.

Categorization:

  • Competencies are #tagged with sub-categorizations, including:

    • Discipline

    • Industry

    • System

    • Domain (knowledge, character, skill)

    • Assessor (coach, SME, network)

    • CBD: Civic, biodesign, ethics/values

    • Relationship: Self, community, world

    • Mission Value: Emergent, whole-system, regenerative, immersive, embedded

    • Topic(s)

Completion:

  • Completion of nine competencies aligned with a project results in the completion of the module.

By following this structure, fellows will gain a comprehensive education in Civic Biodesign through immersive events, practical projects, and targeted competencies.