Module 1: Definitions (Community, Community Dynamics, Community Action
& Applied Social Sciences)
1. Overview:
- This module introduces fundamental concepts related to community,
exploring its various definitions and components.
- It emphasizes the importance of understanding community dynamics, the
interactions within a community, and how these interactions shape
community life.
- The module also delves into the concept of community action and its role in
empowering individuals to contribute to community building.
2. Core Knowledge Points:
- Community: A dynamic social grouping defined by shared geographical
space, common political institutions, socio-economic activities, and cultural
values.
- Community Dynamics: The interplay of structures within a community, such
as social interactions, beliefs, practices, and socio-cultural, political, and
economic systems.
- Community Action: Activities aimed at empowering community members to
actively participate in the community development process.
- Applied Social Sciences: Disciplines like social work, counseling, journalism,
economics, political science, and psychology that apply social science
theories to real-world community issues.
3. Key Takeaways:
- Community is a complex and dynamic entity influenced by various factors,
including economic opportunities, social interactions, and cultural norms.
- Understanding community dynamics is crucial for addressing community
challenges and promoting positive change.
- Community action empowers individuals to become active participants in
community development, leading to a more just and equitable society.
Module 2: Factors Influencing the Dynamics of a Community and Community
Action and the Applied Social Sciences
1. Overview:
- This module explores the factors that influence community dynamics,
including economic, political, and socio-cultural influences.
- It emphasizes the interconnectedness of these factors and how they shape
community life.
- The module also examines the role of applied social sciences in addressing
community issues and empowering individuals for positive change.
2. Core Knowledge Points:
- Economy: Influences community dynamics by shaping wealth distribution,
job opportunities, and the overall standard of living.
- Politics: Provides the framework for governance, shaping community
policies and decision-making processes.
- Society and Culture: Shapes community values, beliefs, and practices,
influencing social interactions and individual behaviors.
- Applied Social Sciences: Disciplines that utilize social science theories to
analyze community problems and develop solutions, with professions like
social work, journalism, and counseling playing a vital role.
3. Key Takeaways:
- Community dynamics are influenced by a complex interplay of economic,
political, and socio-cultural factors.
- Applied social sciences provide essential tools for understanding and
addressing community issues.
- Individuals working in these fields play a vital role in promoting social
justice, addressing inequality, and fostering positive change in communities.
Module 3: Relating Community Dynamics and Action to the Student’s Future
Career Goals
1. Overview:
- This module focuses on how an understanding of community dynamics and
action can be relevant to a student's future career path.
- It explores how knowledge from social sciences can provide valuable
insights and skills for success in various professions.
2. Core Knowledge Points:
- Education: Understanding community dynamics is essential for educators to
effectively guide students towards becoming responsible and contributing
members of society.
- Tourism: A career in tourism requires knowledge of geography, history,
culture, and legal frameworks, all influenced by community dynamics.
- Law Enforcement: Police officers benefit from an understanding of human
behavior, community dynamics, and legal frameworks to effectively prevent
and address crime.
- Business: Understanding consumer needs, market dynamics, and ethical
business practices, all shaped by community dynamics, is crucial for
successful business ventures.
- Health Sciences: Healthcare professionals need to be sensitive to cultural
orientations, community dynamics, and health issues to effectively serve
their communities.
- Information Technology: IT professionals should be aware of the impact of
social media, community dynamics, and legal frameworks on their work.
3. Key Takeaways:
- Knowledge of community dynamics and action can be valuable in various
professions, equipping individuals with crucial skills and insights.
- Social sciences provide the foundation for understanding and addressing
complex community issues, leading to positive change and development.
Module 4: Community According to the Social Sciences’ Perspectives and
Community According to Institutional Perspectives
1. Overview:
- This module explores different perspectives on community, examining how
various social sciences and institutions define and understand its nature.
- It aims to provide students with a broader understanding of the
complexities of community life and the different lenses through which it can
be viewed.
2. Core Knowledge Points:
- Anthropological Perspective: Community is viewed as an organized social
structure that drives civilization, evolving through different stages of
development (Paleolithic, Mesolithic, Neolithic).
- Sociological Perspective: Focuses on analyzing the structure and function of
societies, including social stratification, social class, social mobility, and
gender equality movements.
- Political Science Perspective: Community is defined as a political system
with elements of population, territory, sovereignty, and government.
- Economic Perspectives: Views community as a dynamic system where
individuals work to meet their needs through production and exchange of
goods and services.
- Education Institution Perspectives: Emphasizes the role of education in
fostering individual potential and community development.
- Religious Perspectives: Community is seen as a group sharing a common
belief system and practices.
3. Key Takeaways:
- Community is a multifaceted concept, understood differently by various
social sciences and institutions.
- Each perspective offers valuable insights into the complexities of
community life, highlighting its social, economic, political, and cultural
dimensions.
Module 5: Civil Society Perspectives of Community
1. Overview:
- This module explores the perspectives of civil society organizations (CSOs)
on community development.
- It examines the roles of CSOs in addressing social issues, promoting
community empowerment, and advocating for change.
2. Core Knowledge Points:
- Civil Society: The third sector of society, distinct from government and
business, consisting of non-governmental organizations, community groups,
and other associations that promote public interest.
- People’s Organizations: Bona fide associations of citizens with
demonstrated capacity to promote public interest, with identifiable
leadership, membership, and structure.
- Advocacy: Activities by individuals or groups aiming to influence decisions
within political, economic, and social institutions.
- Activism: Acts of actively engaging in a cause to address issues and effect
change in society.
- International CSOs: Organizations operating at national and international
levels, like World Vision, Greenpeace International, and Zonta Club,
promoting community development and addressing global challenges.
- Local CSOs: Organizations working at the grassroots level, such as the
Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP), Legal Network for Truthful
Elections (LENTE), and Gawad Kalinga.
3. Key Takeaways:
- Civil society plays a vital role in community development, providing
alternative perspectives, promoting citizen participation, and advocating for
social justice.
- CSOs operate at various levels, from international organizations to local
groups, working to address diverse community needs.
Module 6: Perspectives on Community at the Local and Grassroots Levels
1. Overview:
- This module delves into the perspectives on community at the local and
grassroots levels, examining how these communities view and address social
challenges.
- It highlights the importance of local and grassroots initiatives in promoting
community development and empowering citizens.
2. Core Knowledge Points:
- Local and Grassroots Levels: The lowest levels of political and social
organizations, closer to the general population, playing crucial roles in
community development.
- Local Youth and Child Welfare Programs: Initiatives like scholarship
programs and Bahay Pag-asa, focusing on supporting the well-being and
development of children and youth.
- Local Environmental Programs: Programs like Greenheart Savers, promoting
environmental awareness, sustainable practices, and community
participation in environmental conservation.
- Local Peace and Order Programs: Initiatives like the Anti-Drug Abuse
Council of Pasig (ADCOP) and Project Tagamasid ng Pasig, working to address
crime and drug abuse through community engagement and collaboration.
3. Key Takeaways:
- Local and grassroots levels are essential for understanding and addressing
community issues effectively.
- Citizen participation and collaboration are crucial for successful community
development initiatives.
- Local programs play a significant role in supporting youth and children,
promoting environmental sustainability, and improving community safety.
Module 7: Community Structures: Social, Cultural, Economic, and Political
Structures
1. Overview:
- This module examines the four main structures that comprise a community:
social, cultural, economic, and political.
- It explains how these structures interact with one another, shaping
community dynamics and influencing individual experiences.
2. Core Knowledge Points:
- Social Structure: Consists of social groups like families, neighborhoods,
peers, and groups with shared interests, shaping social interactions and
networks.
- Cultural Structure: Includes values, beliefs, practices, traditions, and
customs that define a community's identity and guide behavior.
- Economic Structure: Encompasses the production, distribution, and
consumption of goods and services, regulating resource allocation and
influencing economic opportunities.
- Political Structure: Provides the framework for governance, establishing
rules, enforcing laws, and representing the community's interests.
3. Key Takeaways:
- Community structures are interconnected, and their interactions shape
community dynamics, creating stability or instability.
- Understanding these structures is crucial for analyzing social issues,
promoting positive change, and ensuring community well-being.
Module 8: Dynamics and Processes: Power and Leadership
1. Overview:
- This module examines the dynamics of power and leadership within
communities.
- It explores different sources of power, leadership styles, and the importance
of inclusive leadership in fostering community development.
2. Core Knowledge Points:
- Power: The ability to influence individuals and institutions, shaping
community processes.
- Leadership: The process of directing and guiding a group towards goals.
- Leadership Styles: Different approaches to leadership, such as autocratic,
democratic, and laissez-faire.
- Inclusivity: The practice of engaging individuals in the planning and
decision-making process, promoting shared ownership and accountability.
3. Key Takeaways:
- Power is an integral part of community dynamics, and its use can either
promote stability or create conflict.
- Effective leadership is crucial for community development, requiring skills
in communication, collaboration, and inclusivity.
- Individuals can contribute to their communities regardless of their formal
leadership positions, by actively engaging in social, economic, and political
processes.