How to Use Theory in Practice
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Certification Maintenance
What You'll Learn
- Understand the various aspects of context, professional style, and theory that shape planning outcomes.
- Learn about the use of planning theories in three case studies, addressing land-use entitlements, advocacy planning, and planning with immigrant populations.
- Examine the role of theory in practice and consider new uses of theory in practice.
More Course Details
Planning theories provide insight into how cities work, offer planning strategies, and help planners interpret their actions. This session shows how theories improve practice, not by being "truths" applied to messy planning situations, but by being tools a planner can apply when stuck.
While planning roles are prescribed by regulations and practices, there is always room for theories to help planners make critical judgments.
This course highlights three cases: a land-use entitlement decision in Hawthorne, California; an advocacy planning effort shaping a comprehensive plan in Portland, Oregon; and a city-sponsored "immigrant integration" plan that engaged refugee and immigrant communities in Clarkston, Georgia.
Learn about a framework to reflect on practice and consider new ways of engaging with theories. The framework recognizes traditional theories but is realistic about non-theoretical aspects such as precedent, serendipity, and instinct. Moreover, it draws attention to the role of context and the planner's personal commitments in shaping outcomes.
The speakers are planning scholars versed in theory and who had direct practice responsibilities in the case studies. Bridge the theory-practice gap and generate new ideas for practice and research.