Millions of children die each year due to easily preventable diseases. Hundreds of millions of people earn less than $2 a day. Billions of animals spend most of their life in pain. Many of us want to help but don’t know how. Can one person make a difference that’s not just a drop in the bucket?
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Millions of children die each year due to easily preventable diseases. Hundreds of millions of people earn less than $2 a day. Billions of animals spend most of their life in pain. Many of us want to help but don’t know how. Can one person make a difference that’s not just a drop in the bucket?
Millions of children die each year due to easily preventable diseases. Hundreds of millions of people earn less than $2 a day. Billions of animals spend most of their life in pain. Many of us want to help but don’t know how. Can one person make a difference that’s not just a drop in the bucket?
This interdisciplinary course will provide you with a collection of practical tools from economics, public health, behavioral science, ethics, exact sciences, and more to help you achieve a positive and significant impact. From the small decisions we make every day, through the initiatives we choose to support, to our most significant life choices, such as what career to pursue, relying on existing evidence and well established tools in decision making can help you drive a change you believe in.
In this course, the first of two parts of the Making a Difference program, you will learn some of the most foundational ideas and tools for achieving a positive impact. In parallel, each lesson will introduce you to a new cause area with plenty of concrete and actionable opportunities for making a difference.
This course focuses on the foundations of cost-effectiveness, measurement, and evaluation, key questions around who to extend our compassion and concern towards, and the opportunities with the strongest evidence for impact.
The second course in this program, Making a Difference Ⅱ: High Stakes, builds on the ideas presented in this course and explores tools for prioritization and assessment when there’s limited information and the stakes are extremely high - including risks to the survival and prosperity of human civilization.
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Learning objectives
- Analytical tools for evaluating what works and what doesn’t.
- Frameworks for prioritizing different options for making a difference.
- Techniques for critical thinking, decision-making, and research.
- Concrete opportunities in promising cause areas you can contribute to.
- Ethical and philosophical considerations when trying to improve the world.
- Insights from philosophy, medicine, economics, psychology, statistics and more.
- Analytical tools for evaluating what works and what doesn’t.
- Frameworks for prioritizing different options for making a difference.
- Techniques for critical thinking, decision-making, and research.
- Concrete opportunities in promising cause areas you can contribute to.
- Ethical and philosophical considerations when trying to improve the world.
- Insights from philosophy, medicine, economics, psychology, statistics and more.
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Activities
Review critical thinking skills
Show steps
Solidify your critical thinking skills to better grasp the nuances and complexities of the course material.
Browse courses on
Critical Thinking
Show steps
-
Read or skim literature on critical thinking
-
Take practice tests and quizzes
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Complete logic puzzles
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Analyze real-world scenarios
Learn about the Foundations of Economics
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Establish a strong foundation in economics to better understand the course's concepts and theories.
Browse courses on
Economics
Show steps
-
Find online courses or tutorials on economics
-
Watch videos and read articles about economic principles
-
Solve practice problems and exercises
Review: 'Thinking, Fast and Slow' by Daniel Kahneman
Show steps
Gain insights into the cognitive biases and heuristics that influence our decision-making.
View
Noise: A Flaw in Human Judgment
on Amazon
Show steps
-
Read the book and take notes
-
Summarize key concepts and theories
-
Identify examples of cognitive biases in everyday life
Six other activities
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Practice Cost-Benefit Analysis Exercises
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Develop your problem-solving skills by applying cost-benefit analysis to different scenarios.
Browse courses on
Cost-Benefit Analysis
Show steps
-
Find online exercises or practice problems on cost-benefit analysis
-
Identify the relevant costs and benefits in each scenario
-
Calculate the net benefit or cost-effectiveness
-
Make recommendations based on your analysis
Join a Study Group
Show steps
Enhance your understanding and retention by discussing course concepts with peers.
Show steps
-
Form a study group with classmates
-
Regularly meet to review materials, discuss concepts, and work through problems
-
Facilitate discussions and share insights
Create Infographics on Course Topics
Show steps
Solidify your understanding by creating visual representations of key course concepts.
Show steps
-
Identify key course topics and concepts
-
Gather relevant data and information
-
Use graphic design tools or online platforms to create infographics
-
Share your infographics with classmates or online
Volunteer at a Non-Profit Organization
Show steps
Gain practical experience in applying your knowledge and skills to real-world challenges.
Show steps
-
Identify non-profit organizations that align with your interests
-
Contact the organizations and inquire about volunteer opportunities
-
Attend training or orientation sessions
-
Participate in volunteer activities that relate to the course content
Develop a Proposal for a Social Impact Initiative
Show steps
Apply your knowledge to a real-world problem by developing a detailed plan for a social impact initiative.
Show steps
-
Identify a social issue that you are passionate about
-
Research and gather data on the issue
-
Develop a comprehensive proposal outlining your initiative
-
Present your proposal to potential stakeholders or investors
Participate in a Case Study Competition
Show steps
Challenge yourself and apply your knowledge in a competitive setting, showcasing your problem-solving and analytical skills.
Show steps
-
Identify and register for relevant case study competitions
-
Form a team or work individually on a case study
-
Analyze the case study, conduct research, and develop a solution
-
Prepare and present your findings to a panel of judges
Review critical thinking skills
Show steps
Solidify your critical thinking skills to better grasp the nuances and complexities of the course material.
Browse courses on
Critical Thinking
Show steps
- Read or skim literature on critical thinking
- Take practice tests and quizzes
- Complete logic puzzles
- Analyze real-world scenarios
Learn about the Foundations of Economics
Show steps
Establish a strong foundation in economics to better understand the course's concepts and theories.
Browse courses on
Economics
Show steps
- Find online courses or tutorials on economics
- Watch videos and read articles about economic principles
- Solve practice problems and exercises
Review: 'Thinking, Fast and Slow' by Daniel Kahneman
Show steps
Gain insights into the cognitive biases and heuristics that influence our decision-making.
View
Noise: A Flaw in Human Judgment
on Amazon
Show steps
- Read the book and take notes
- Summarize key concepts and theories
- Identify examples of cognitive biases in everyday life
Practice Cost-Benefit Analysis Exercises
Show steps
Develop your problem-solving skills by applying cost-benefit analysis to different scenarios.
Browse courses on
Cost-Benefit Analysis
Show steps
- Find online exercises or practice problems on cost-benefit analysis
- Identify the relevant costs and benefits in each scenario
- Calculate the net benefit or cost-effectiveness
- Make recommendations based on your analysis
Join a Study Group
Show steps
Enhance your understanding and retention by discussing course concepts with peers.
Show steps
- Form a study group with classmates
- Regularly meet to review materials, discuss concepts, and work through problems
- Facilitate discussions and share insights
Create Infographics on Course Topics
Show steps
Solidify your understanding by creating visual representations of key course concepts.
Show steps
- Identify key course topics and concepts
- Gather relevant data and information
- Use graphic design tools or online platforms to create infographics
- Share your infographics with classmates or online
Volunteer at a Non-Profit Organization
Show steps
Gain practical experience in applying your knowledge and skills to real-world challenges.
Show steps
- Identify non-profit organizations that align with your interests
- Contact the organizations and inquire about volunteer opportunities
- Attend training or orientation sessions
- Participate in volunteer activities that relate to the course content
Develop a Proposal for a Social Impact Initiative
Show steps
Apply your knowledge to a real-world problem by developing a detailed plan for a social impact initiative.
Show steps
- Identify a social issue that you are passionate about
- Research and gather data on the issue
- Develop a comprehensive proposal outlining your initiative
- Present your proposal to potential stakeholders or investors
Participate in a Case Study Competition
Show steps
Challenge yourself and apply your knowledge in a competitive setting, showcasing your problem-solving and analytical skills.
Show steps
- Identify and register for relevant case study competitions
- Form a team or work individually on a case study
- Analyze the case study, conduct research, and develop a solution
- Prepare and present your findings to a panel of judges
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