EASEBRAIN ACADEMY — OFFLINE MISSION PACK See the whole system https://easebrain.live/curriculum/map-the-system CHALLENGE Choose a manageable school or community problem. Map its stakeholders and causes, then write a one-page problem brief with measurable success criteria. LEARNING OBJECTIVES Explain a causal chain and one feedback loop. Identify an unintended cost and a measurable success criterion. LEARN & APPLY 1. Separate a symptom from a cause A symptom is what you notice. A cause is a possible explanation that needs evidence. A full rubbish bin might reflect collection timing, bin capacity or sorting behaviour. Avoid jumping straight to a favourite technology. Practice: List the symptom and three possible causes. 2. Include missing perspectives Ask who benefits, who does the work and who bears a cost. Discovery should be voluntary, respectful and supervised. Use a facilitator-provided scenario if field access is not available. Practice: Map at least four stakeholders and one potentially excluded perspective. 3. Define success before building A problem brief states who has the problem, the evidence, the constraints and what improvement would look like. A measurable criterion makes later testing possible. Practice: Write a brief and two success criteria with units or observable behaviours. WORKED EXAMPLE Extra bins may reduce overflow but increase collection work. If staff cannot collect them, uncollected bins can worsen the original problem. 'Bins bought' measures an activity; 'overflow events per week' measures an outcome. YOUR PRACTICE QUESTION Who could bear a hidden cost in the extra-bin proposal? Write your answer before reading the explanation below. EXPLANATION Caretakers may need more time and equipment. Include their perspective and test collection capacity before deciding that more bins solve the problem. STRETCH Add one excluded stakeholder and test whether their needs change the success criteria. A supplied scenario is a complete alternative to field interviews. PRACTICAL: Why more bins may not solve waste Suggested time: 50–60 minutes Illustrated crew scenario (fictional learning example) Let’s buy more bins for the club space. Who empties them, where does the waste go, and what happens when collection stops? PREDICT: Which could improve an outcome more: buying a bin or changing how it gets emptied? What would decide? STARTER: Fictional system: learners create waste; vendors choose packaging; cleaners empty bins; caretaker schedules pickup; recycler accepts only sorted material. Starting chain: more waste → fuller bins → litter. Complete the missing relationships. 1. Map relationships Draw the five actors and at least four arrows. Label each arrow with a mechanism, not just a line: e.g. missed pickup increases stored waste. 2. Find a loop and burden Trace a feedback loop, such as litter reducing care for the space and leading to more litter. Label this as a hypothesis to check. Identify whose work a proposed change increases. 3. Choose a small test Compare two interventions using the decision lab. Define an outcome measure, a baseline and a fair test period. Track overflow incidents, not only bins purchased. COMPARE AFTER TRYING: A pickup rota could reduce overflow without more bins, but only if someone can perform the work. The Builder adds a collection-capacity assumption and checks with the caretaker before recommending a change. The causal map is a model to test, not proof. SELF-CHECK Four arrows explain how one factor influences another. My map includes a feedback loop and an overlooked burden. My success measure records an outcome and baseline. TRANSFER: Pickup becomes unavailable for a week. Adapt the intervention and explain its new limits. WORKBOOK TEMPLATE Actor | Need | Influence | Burden Arrow | Mechanism | Evidence or assumption Feedback loop: Option A / B: Outcome measure | Baseline | Test period: EVIDENCE CRITERIA Evidence-based problem brief Stakeholders and trade-offs identified Clear, feasible success criteria Deliverable: Problem brief, stakeholder map and success criteria SESSION PLAN (adapt with your facilitator) Recall & plan: 30 minutes Model & discuss: 45 minutes Guided practice: 75 minutes Build & test: 120 minutes Feedback & revise: 60 minutes Reflect & next step: 30 minutes RESOURCES EntreComp entrepreneurship framework — https://joint-research-centre.ec.europa.eu/scientific-activities/key-competences-lifelong-learning/entrecomp-entrepreneurship-competence-framework_en KICD Basic Education Curriculum Framework — https://kicd.ac.ke/curriculum-reform/basic-education-curriculum-framework/ AI DISCLOSURE TEMPLATE Tool/version; date; task; information shared; claims checked and sources; what I changed; what I can explain myself. No AI or equipment purchase is required. Keep personal information out of project evidence.