Developing a think tank for learners is an opportunity that inspiring change makers will want to take up. It provides opportunities for students to know others and brainstorm on improving the world. In a think tank, students are able to develop critical thinking skills, work on problems creatively and produce real collaboration. If you start a student-based think tank, to tackle challenges within your school, in the locality or on beyond borders, what you are doing is providing them with an structured environment for researching, ideating and even executing their ideas. Here is how to create a think tank that is impactful and sustainable at your school.
Clarify the Purpose and Vision
You will want to begin your process by deciding why you want a think tank to begin with. Is it to improve school policy, address local issues, or is it to explore large issues like sustainability or technology? A clearly defined mission will help you enlist the right members but it will also channel the direction of your discussions. Think tanks live off of purpose. So, you will want to write a mission statement and supporting vision that documents your beliefs and aspirations as an organization. This adds structure and helps you have focused meetings while giving students the opportunity to sincerely engage from the start.
Recruit Diverse and Committed Members
Invite students from diverse backgrounds, interests, and grades since diversity enhances creativity and brings diverse perspectives to approaching problems. Look for students who are interested in common themes such as leadership, research, collaboration, etc. Advertise your idea through school announcements, club announcements, posters, social media, and other club engagements and activities. Conducting interviews or open meetings can help you sift through members who will be truly dedicated to your mission or vision. Initially strive to assemble a small to medium-sized team of very dedicated and committed participating students so you can eventually manage their participation and involvement.
Get Support from a Teacher or Advisor
To have a faculty mentor adds integrity and support. A faculty mentor, such as a teacher, counselor, or administrator, can assist in the logistical support needed, support with communication with the school, and the governance of project planning. The mentor will be able to provide insight on how to accomplish your goals in a way that stays do-able, sustainable and has a positive impact as they will have a load of experiences to draw on. Approach someone who values student voice and will be willing to be more than a title but will be an active participant in supporting you! By having an advisor, they can help you obtain meeting or presentation space, point you to resources or experts related to specific issues and provide guidance if you require support on public presentations or fund-raising.
Create a Clear Organizational Structure
Identify roles to allow for proper management of the team. Possible roles include: president, secretary, head of research, head of outreach, etc. Establishing a structure helps avoid confusion, encourages accountability, and fosters leadership abilities! Write a simple constitution or charter that specifies how decisions are made, how often the team meets, and how new members can join the organization (see Appendix 1 for a sample constitution). Set clear expectations around attendance, participation, and deadlines. Establishing formal structure keeps it professional and focused as your think tank grows and takes on more ambitious projects.
Set a Consistent Meeting Schedule
Select regular times to meet, weekly or every two weeks. Consistency offers ways to build momentum, habits, and commitment. Find a time that works well for the majority of your group, likely after school hours or during a free block. Determine if your meetings will be in person or virtual. Use Google Calendar or a group chat to remind members of meetings. Keeping the schedule shows you mean business, keeps the progress going steady, and helps prevent large gaps that cause people to lose interest or forget what to do.
Choose Key Topics and Focus Areas
Don't try to tackle all issues. Choose 1-3 issues each term that are hot, relevant, interesting and manageable. Decide together using a vote or brainstorm session. You may look at mental health, reducing plastic waste in school, or improving student feedback systems. By defining certain issues, it gives you all the chance to research them in depth and take action meaningfully. Have small teams dedicated to each issue. Ensure everyone has a voice in defining the direction so that there is shared ownership and passion around each topic.
Do Thorough Research and Data Gathering
Promote finding pertinent evidence as much as possible during the scoping and literature review phases; and when developing a research plan use cited work. Focus on using credible sources, such as academic sites that provide peer-reviewed articles, government-issued reports, reports from professional organizations (Best Practices, National Association of Manufacturers - NAM), or recognized experts who may have had many years of experience and practice blogs/reports. If the group is looking at school-related issues, the group can create a survey for students, teachers, or their classes, and analyze the survey results themselves as supportive data to "evidence." The group should present their findings and data in the simplest way possible because, ultimately, it will be a "team effort" to reflect on what they have learned prior to brainstorming potential solutions.
Host Structured Brainstorming Sessions
Transform research into opportunities via interactive sessions: using whiteboards, post-it notes, or sites (digital platforms) can lead to an engaging and meaningful brainstorming exercise. Make sure that every person has an opportunity to speak up - no idea is too crazy for the moment! You can utilize formats such as What? So What? Now What? or SWOT Analysis to lead the thinking process. Once ideas have been gathered, organize them into practical and worthwhile categories. Sessions should be lively and inclusive, because that is where ideas are formed and innovation begins.
Turn Ideas into Actionable Plans
Once you come up with good ideas, you need to create a step-by-step plan of action. Determine what actions need to be taken, who is going to do them, time frame for each action, and what resources are needed. Be clear about who is holding what responsibilities and set deadlines. When working on plans, break down large goals into smaller activities that can be tracked. You should also share these plans with your team and faculty advisor to get additional insights. Use available tools to organize your work, like Trello or Notion for example. Planning is where ideas become real and the level of organization determines if they can be achieved, and in a sustainable manner!
10. Present and Implement Your Solutions
Finally, share your creative work with the audience it was intended for. This may be school leaders, other students, or the general public in your community. Use various methods such as presentations, reports, or social media campaigns in order to practice sharing. Be willing to ask for feedback, and be flexible in changing your project if needed. Once it has been approved by your audience, engage with school authorities and/or partners in order to begin the implementation of your plan. Whether it is a new recycling policy or the introduction of a peer-supported program, implementing your ideas will be the capstone experience of a think tank.
Creating a student think tank allows young leaders to critically think ahead, work together, and make a real impact in their environments. It is much more than talking. It is researching, planning, and taking action. Whether you're solving problems in your school or exploring related global themes, think tanks can provide opportunities for innovation and action. If you do it well, it is much more than a club. A good think tank will become a leadership laboratory and be the catalyst for student-driven change, growth, and action.
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