About this course
Human behavior is at the core of many environmental challenges. And it’s also key to finding solutions. This self-paced course will introduce you to Behavior-Centered Design (BCD), an approach that blends principles of design thinking and behavioral science to develop innovative solutions to environmental challenges.
On your own time, you’ll explore the eight steps of Behavior-Centered Design through lessons and interactive activities, including framing an environmental challenge, gaining empathy with your target audience, connecting research data to behavioral insights, ideation and prototyping, testing and launching, and measuring the success of your behavioral intervention. You will also gain a basic understanding of the levers of behavior change such as such as emotional appeals, social influences, and choice architecture.
Skills you will gain
What you will learn
- Learn how to identify target behaviors and core actors for environmental challenges
- Understand key concepts of behavior-centered design and the six behavior levers
- Apply behavioral insights and principles to inform how to design and test solutions
- Use research data to create a prototype of a solution that can engage different stakeholders and communities
- Become familiar with next steps for testing, launching, and assessing a behavioral solution
- Understand how diversity, equity, and inclusion are important for each step of the behavior-centered design approach
- Learn how to identify target behaviors and core actors for environmental challenges
- Understand key concepts of behavior-centered design and the six behavior levers
- Apply behavioral insights and principles to inform how to design and test solutions
- Use research data to create a prototype of a solution that can engage different stakeholders and communities
- Become familiar with next steps for testing, launching, and assessing a behavioral solution
- Understand how diversity, equity, and inclusion are important for each step of the behavior-centered design approach
Completion requirements
- Complete ten modules
- Complete the course satisfaction survey
- Complete eight quizzes and one final assessment
- Complete ten modules
- Complete eight quizzes and one final assessment
- Complete the course satisfaction survey
Course modules
Discussion forums 3 activities
Module 1: Introduction and Welcome to the Course 1 activity
Module 2: Frame: Framing the Behavioral Challenge 2 activities, 1 quiz
Module 3: Empathize: Understanding the Motivations and Barriers of Core Actors 1 activity, 1 quiz
Module 4: Map: Making Connections Between Data and Behavioral Insights 2 activities, 1 quiz
Module 5: Ideate: Generating Behavioral Solution Ideas 1 activity, 1 quiz
Module 6: Prototype: Creating a Small-Scale Version of Your Solution 1 activity, 1 quiz
Module 7: Test: Testing and Gathering Feedback on Your Solution 2 activities, 1 quiz
Module 8: Launch: Launching Your Solution 1 activity, 1 quiz
Module 9: Assess: Evaluating Behavior Change 1 activity, 1 quiz
Module 10: Course Summary and next steps 2 activities, 1 quiz
FAQs
1. For whom is this training designed?
– Conservation and environmental practitioners
– Program designers and policy staff
– Current and future sustainability professionals
2. Are there any instructor-led sessions?
– This course is designed to be completely self-paced through e-learning modules.
– If you are interested in an instructor-led session, please check out Rare’s signature “Behavior-Centered Design for the Environment” offering on https://learn.rare.org.
3. Why would a BCD training help me?
– Behavior is at the root of both environmental problems and solutions
– Strategies that incorporate human behavior can achieve larger and lasting impact
– BCD holds the potential for unlocking fundraising opportunities
– The training provides a step-by-step process for identifying target behaviors and developing strategies to change them
4. How can I get in touch with the course instructors?
For any questions about the course, please contact Rare’s Center for Behavior & the Environment at behavior@rare.org.