Pedagogical Practice III

Tools for the

diagnosis stage
Mg. Danitza Salazar
 Class agenda
Brainstorm
01 Why do we have to evaluate the setting we are going to be working with?

02 Problems and analysis

03 Work group

04 PROBLEM TREE
Analyzing its causes and effects
 Why do we have to evaluate the setting
we are going to be working with?

● The problem analysis makes it possible to identify the central problem to be

addressed, its causes and consequences. In other words, determine the
situation that the service learning project is intended to change.

● Thematic: disciplinary content and knowledge of the academic unit, as well

as its relationship with the environment. For example: health, use of free
time, citizen participation, environment, education and work, local
community development, etc.

● Instrument → "PROBLEM TREE”

Problem and its analysis
PROBLEM

Discrepancy between a given situation and a

desired situation for your group of students as a
participant of the project.

● A problem does not exist by itself, but in

relation with people, groups and interests of
the same group.
● It is very important to consult with the
opinion of community partners or
community members to address issues that
are meaningful to all.
 Analysis of problems
Differentiation and association of
causes and effects
Analyze and structure the causes of the
problems that arise in the environment of the
institution, the community, or the place of the
solidarity project, taking a single central
problem as the axis.
Generally, this technique is considered as a
preliminary step for the application of design
and planning techniques.
It is usually necessary to have a global
overview, and then focus on each of the
problems as central or specific, in order to
assemble the basic structure of causes and
effects and their relationships with other
intervening factors.
In order to organize the discussion, participation and systematize the
analysis of problems and their hierarchy, the graphic expression of the
problem tree helps us.

1. Identify the main problems of the community or institution.

2. Select and adequately formulate (in a clear, precise and relevant
manner) the central problems that can be addressed by the service
learning project.
3. Select one of the problems as the most important and feasible for the
group to address.
4. Describe the causes and effects of the selected problem, elaborating a
logical scheme in the form of a problem tree.
Guidelines for you as teachers
● Write down the main problem of the situation being
analyzed and give it to the coordinator/teacher.

● The coordinator reads aloud the formulations of the

main problem and a brief consideration is given to each
one.

● A brief discussion of the problems formulated is carried

out in order to reach an agreement on the specific
problem that should be considered central or main.

● If there is no agreement on the problem: Choose the

best proposal assigning points according to the
coincidence of the group promoting the project and the
interests of the participants.
Analyzing causes and effects of the main problem
● A blank poster can be prepared, placing the
cardboard that expresses the main problem in
the center.

● Formulate, also, as problems, the direct,

essential and immediate causes that would
explain the main problem, using the problems
mentioned above, or the lists of problems
identified by the interviewees or community
institutions.

● The group is asked to write down the

essential, direct and immediate effects
generated by the central problem.
Analyzing causes and effects of the main problem

Once the different levels of causes and effects

of the central problem have been identified,
EFFECTS
the diagram of cause (roots) and effect
(branches) relationships obtained in the
situation under analysis is drawn,
PROBLEM summarizing each of the approaches and
levels identified, in order to verify their
validity and relevance.

CAUSES
Example
You problem tree
How do you imagine it?
Draw your own “problem tree” with your group.
Final questions and
comments
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