Planit-NW The Need / Rationale

In 2001, pixelfountain approached the NWRA with the opportunity to develop a learning-simulation to educate decision makers about the importance of sustainable development.

The Regional Assembly and Government Office for the North West were keen to find an interesting way to promote sustainable development and the regional framework (AfS) and saw the benefit of our approach. From this fortuitous beginning emerged the widely praised Planit-NW. After the development phase, the North West Development Agency joined the partnership and helped fund the delivery of 42 workshops to the Local Strategic Partnerships of the North West.

The Solution

Planit-nw is a learning-simulation that raises awareness about sustainable development. The core learning-simulation (computer based resource management game) is a sophisticated model of a virtual community. The simulation allows a group of decision makers to develop strategies and improve problem solving skills. The simulation is used with a workshop setting and requires 8 sub teams to consider reports, make purchases and review objectives. These are graphically represented on dynamic screens and allow the delegates to get immediate feedback on what they have done.

3D Dynamic main menu

The workshop setting encourages collaboration, improves team working and allows coaching from experts. In addition to the learning-simulation, other non-computer based activities encourage the delegates to consider local issues and how best problems can be solved (Action Planning).

"Government Office for the North West has actively supported the development and use of this training tool. It clearly demonstrates the added value in systematically considering the wider economic, environmental and social implications of the activities we undertake and influence through partnership working. Planit North West is used as part of our internal training programme to equip our staff with the skills they need to meet the challenges of the future and I would highly recommend its use to any organisation or partnership." - Neil Cumberlidge, Director Environment and Rural Group, Government Office for the North West (GONW

Applications

Planit-nw can also be tailored to specific local targets (see Planit-Sefton and Planit South Yorkshire) .

More Information

Planit-nw Microsite

Factsheet

Evaluation Report

Planit-NW on other sites: Securing the Regions’ Futures (Page 27 & 41 or search for Planit) ODPM - The Local Area Agreement Toolkit (Page 13 or search for Pixel) Academy for Sustainable Communities (Page 19, 20 & 38 or search for Pixel) Smart Growth (Page 16 or search for Pixel) Government News Network Action for Sustainability NWDA Elevate Eureka Claren Project (RE|VOLT) Lancashire Environment Partnership

Press: Planit Press Cuttings Press Releases