The ACTIVE Framework: A Checklist for Building Healthy Learning Communities
Developed in April 2020 within the OpenSeriousGame ecosystem - republished from my pre-AI era work
A Simple Tool for Complex Communities
Learning communities are living systems—dynamic, evolving, and sometimes unpredictable. While their complexity can make them powerful engines of collective growth, it also makes them challenging to assess and guide. How do you know if your community is healthy? How do you identify what needs attention without getting lost in endless analysis?
The ACTIVE Framework emerged from practical experience building learning communities within the OpenSeriousGame movement. It offers a simple, memorable checklist for community health that anyone can apply—whether you’re launching a new community, troubleshooting an existing one, or planning strategic improvements.
What Makes ACTIVE Different
Unlike comprehensive community assessment tools that require extensive training or complex methodologies, ACTIVE is designed for practical, immediate use. It’s:
- Mnemonic: Easy to remember and apply
- Lightweight: Doesn’t require specialized expertise
- Values-based: Focuses on essential principles rather than metrics
- Action-oriented: Directly translates to improvement opportunities
- Universal: Applies across different types of learning communities
The Six Dimensions of ACTIVE
🧠 A - Actors of your own learning
🤝 C - Community
🔁 T - Transmission
🫂 I - Inclusion
💎 V - Virtue
🌟 E - Exemplarity
Each letter represents an essential dimension of community health that can be independently assessed and strengthened.
🧠 A — Actors of Your Own Learning (Apprenants)
Core Principle: Everyone in the community is an active learner—constantly growing knowledge, behaviors, and attitudes through reflection and practice.
What This Means: Learning communities thrive when members take ownership of their development rather than passively consuming content. This isn’t about formal education—it’s about cultivating learning mindset and reflective practice.
Assessment Questions:
- Are members actively reflecting on their experiences and seeking improvement?
- Do people share learning insights and challenges openly?
- Are events structured to support feedback and iteration?
- Is there evidence of behavior change and skill development?
- Do members help each other learn rather than just teaching?
Common Warning Signs:
- Members primarily consume content without contributing insights
- Little evidence of applied learning or behavior change
- Feedback is rare or superficial
- Same people always teaching, others always receiving
Pilot Actions to Strengthen:
- Embed reflection and debrief sessions in every community gathering
- Create peer learning partnerships or study groups
- Update learning resources based on participant feedback and insights
- Celebrate learning stories and growth examples
- Encourage “learning experiments” between sessions
Success Indicators:
- Members regularly share “what I learned” and “what I’m trying next”
- Content evolves based on community experience and feedback
- People seek out learning opportunities beyond formal events
- Peer mentoring and knowledge sharing happens naturally
🤝 C — Community (Communauté)
Core Principle: True community emerges from shared intent, mutual support, and collective contribution—not just similarity or proximity.
What This Means: Community is more than a group of people with common interests. It’s a living system where members feel belonging, share purpose, and actively contribute to collective success.
Assessment Questions:
- Is there a genuine sense of belonging and shared purpose?
- Do people collaborate on projects or initiatives together?
- Are community values clear and actively practiced?
- Do members support each other beyond formal learning events?
- Is there evidence of community identity and culture?
Common Warning Signs:
- High participation in events but little interaction between them
- Members don’t know each other’s names, roles, or interests
- No shared projects or collaborative initiatives
- People leave without saying goodbye or explaining why
Pilot Actions to Strengthen:
- Facilitate peer connection activities and relationship building
- Create collaborative projects that require multiple members
- Clarify and communicate shared values and collective goals
- Establish community rituals, traditions, or celebrations
- Enable informal communication and relationship building
Success Indicators:
- Members spontaneously help and support each other
- Collaborative projects emerge from community initiative
- Strong community identity and culture is evident
- People stay connected and engaged over time
🔁 T — Transmission (Transmission)
Core Principle: Effective transmission means equipping others to act and share knowledge—not just broadcasting information.
What This Means: In healthy learning communities, knowledge doesn’t just flow from experts to learners. It becomes viral—spreading peer-to-peer as each person becomes capable of teaching others what they’ve learned.
Assessment Questions:
- Are members passing knowledge forward to others?
- Is content designed for replication and reuse by community members?
- Do people feel qualified and motivated to share what they know?
- Are there clear pathways from learning to teaching?
- Is knowledge spreading beyond the original community boundaries?
Common Warning Signs:
- Knowledge stays with original creators or experts
- Content requires specific expertise that community members don’t develop
- Members feel unqualified to share or teach others
- No evidence of peer-to-peer knowledge transfer
Pilot Actions to Strengthen:
- Create transmission-friendly formats (guides, games, templates)
- Invite every participant to “pass it forward” after learning something
- Develop co-facilitation and peer teaching opportunities
- Document and share successful transmission stories
- Design content specifically for peer delivery
Success Indicators:
- Community members regularly facilitate sessions for others
- Content spreads to other communities or contexts
- People feel confident sharing their knowledge and experience
- Peer-to-peer teaching becomes normal and celebrated
🫂 I — Inclusion (Inclusion)
Core Principle: Inclusion ensures everyone can bring their whole self—their talents, ideas, and energy—to contribute meaningfully to the community.
What This Means: Inclusive communities create multiple pathways for participation and actively work to remove barriers that prevent people from contributing their best. This goes beyond diversity to focus on belonging and contribution.
Assessment Questions:
- Are there meaningful pathways for newcomers to join and contribute?
- Do different types of people find ways to add value?
- Is the community avoiding knowledge silos or exclusivity?
- Are communication styles and formats accessible to different preferences?
- Do people feel safe to be authentic and share vulnerabilities?
Common Warning Signs:
- Same types of people always participating or leading
- Newcomers struggle to find their place or contribution
- Exclusive language, inside jokes, or cultural barriers
- Limited formats or styles for participation
Pilot Actions to Strengthen:
- Use inclusive language and create open invitations
- Map accessibility barriers and contributor diversity
- Create multiple formats for participation (verbal, written, visual, hands-on)
- Establish mentorship or buddy systems for newcomers
- Regularly assess and address participation barriers
Success Indicators:
- Diverse types of people participate and contribute regularly
- Newcomers quickly find meaningful ways to add value
- Multiple communication styles and participation formats are available
- People feel comfortable being authentic and vulnerable
💎 V — Virtue (Vertu)
Core Principle: Every community activity should aim for positive outcome and measurable impact, even in small ways.
What This Means: Virtue isn’t about moral perfection—it’s about intentional positive impact. Healthy communities are clear about the good they’re trying to create and honest about measuring their progress.
Assessment Questions:
- Are community objectives explicit and clearly communicated?
- Do members understand the impact they’re trying to create?
- Is there evidence of positive outcomes for individuals and organizations?
- Are success stories documented and shared?
- Do activities align with stated values and purposes?
Common Warning Signs:
- Unclear or constantly changing objectives
- No measurement or documentation of impact
- Activities feel disconnected from stated purpose
- Members can’t articulate why the community matters
Pilot Actions to Strengthen:
- Define clear impact metrics for community activities
- Document and share success stories regularly
- Align all activities with explicit community values and objectives
- Create feedback loops to measure and improve impact
- Celebrate positive outcomes and learning from failures
Success Indicators:
- Clear connection between activities and intended outcomes
- Regular evidence of positive impact on members and organizations
- Strong alignment between values, activities, and results
- Continuous improvement based on impact measurement
🌟 E — Exemplarity (Exemplarité)
Core Principle: Model the change you want to see and facilitate others becoming models themselves.
What This Means: Exemplarity isn’t about perfection—it’s about walking the talk and helping others do the same. Healthy communities create leadership development pipelines where today’s learners become tomorrow’s examples.
Assessment Questions:
- Are community leaders and facilitators accessible examples of growth?
- Do leaders invite and support others to step into leadership roles?
- Is there evidence of leadership development and succession?
- Do people feel inspired by community examples without feeling intimidated?
- Are there multiple types of leadership and contribution models?
Common Warning Signs:
- Leadership concentrated in few people who don’t develop others
- No clear pathway for members to take on leadership roles
- Examples feel unattainable or disconnected from member reality
- Leadership burn-out without succession planning
Pilot Actions to Strengthen:
- Rotate facilitation roles and leadership opportunities
- Include “next steps” calls to action in every community gathering
- Create mentorship relationships between experienced and emerging leaders
- Document and share leadership development stories
- Establish multiple types of leadership and contribution roles
Success Indicators:
- Regular rotation of leadership and facilitation roles
- Clear pathway for leadership development and advancement
- Multiple examples of different leadership styles and approaches
- Sustainable leadership pipeline that prevents burn-out
Using ACTIVE in Practice
Community Health Assessment
Process:
- Individual Assessment: Each dimension rated 1-5 with specific evidence
- Group Discussion: Compare perspectives and identify patterns
- Priority Setting: Choose 1-2 dimensions for focused improvement
- Action Planning: Design specific interventions for selected areas
Assessment Template:
| Dimension | Current Rating (1-5) | Evidence/Examples | Priority for Improvement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Actors (Learning) | ___ | High/Medium/Low | |
| Community (Belonging) | ___ | High/Medium/Low | |
| Transmission (Sharing) | ___ | High/Medium/Low | |
| Inclusion (Diversity) | ___ | High/Medium/Low | |
| Virtue (Impact) | ___ | High/Medium/Low | |
| Exemplarity (Leadership) | ___ | High/Medium/Low |
Strategic Planning Sessions
Framework Questions:
- Which ACTIVE dimension represents our strongest foundation?
- Which dimension, if strengthened, would have the most positive impact?
- What’s one micro-action we can take this week for our priority dimension?
- How will we know if our interventions are working?
Regular Health Check-Ins
Monthly Community Pulse:
- Quick survey asking members to rate each ACTIVE dimension
- Brief discussion of results and improvement opportunities
- Celebration of progress and success stories
- Identification of emerging challenges or opportunities
Retrospective and Reflection
After Major Events or Initiatives:
- Which ACTIVE dimensions were strongest during this period?
- Which dimensions need more attention moving forward?
- What specific actions improved or challenged each dimension?
- How can we apply these learnings to future activities?
Integration with Other Frameworks
Relationship to OSG Method
ACTIVE complements the OSG three-pillar framework:
| OSG Pillar | ACTIVE Dimensions | Integration Point |
|---|---|---|
| Value of Transmissions | Virtue + Actors | Impact measurement and learning outcomes |
| Transmitting Power | Transmission + Exemplarity | Peer teaching and leadership development |
| Transmissible Content | Community + Inclusion | Collaborative content creation and accessibility |
Compatibility with Other Approaches
ACTIVE works well alongside:
- Open Space Technology: Use ACTIVE to assess and strengthen communities that emerge from OST events
- Communities of Practice: Apply ACTIVE dimensions to evaluate and develop CoP health
- Agile/Scrum Teams: Adapt ACTIVE for continuous improvement and team health assessment
- Learning Organizations: Use ACTIVE to evaluate learning culture and capability development
Implementation Guide
Phase 1: Introduction and Baseline (Month 1)
Objectives:
- Introduce ACTIVE framework to community
- Establish baseline assessment
- Build shared understanding of each dimension
Activities Checklist:
- Present ACTIVE framework to community members
- Conduct initial assessment using rating template
- Facilitate discussion of results and insights
- Identify priority dimensions for improvement
- Establish regular check-in rhythm
Phase 2: Focused Improvement (Months 2-4)
Objectives:
- Implement targeted improvements for priority dimensions
- Build ACTIVE thinking into regular community practices
- Measure progress and iterate approaches
Activities Checklist:
- Design specific interventions for priority dimensions
- Integrate ACTIVE assessment into regular community meetings
- Experiment with new practices and approaches
- Document lessons learned and successful practices
- Adjust interventions based on feedback and results
Phase 3: Integration and Sustainability (Months 5-6)
Objectives:
- Embed ACTIVE principles in community culture
- Develop member capability to use framework independently
- Create sustainable improvement cycles
Activities Checklist:
- Train multiple community members to facilitate ACTIVE assessments
- Integrate ACTIVE thinking into community decision-making processes
- Establish regular community health review cycles
- Document and share successful community development practices
- Plan for ongoing evolution and improvement
Common Implementation Challenges
Challenge: “Too Many Things to Focus On”
Solution: Start with one dimension that feels most urgent or achievable. ACTIVE is designed for gradual improvement, not comprehensive overhaul.
Challenge: “We’re Already Doing All This”
Solution: Use ACTIVE to identify subtle improvements and blind spots. Even strong communities can benefit from systematic reflection and enhancement.
Challenge: “Our Community is Too Small/Large for This”
Solution: Adapt the framework to your context. Small communities might focus on 2-3 dimensions; large communities might assess different sub-groups separately.
Challenge: “Leadership Resistance to Assessment”
Solution: Start with informal use and demonstrate value through small improvements. Focus on learning and growth rather than evaluation or judgment.
Measurement and Success Indicators
Quantitative Indicators
Participation Metrics:
- Member retention and engagement rates
- Participation diversity across different activities
- Leadership role rotation and development
- Peer-to-peer teaching and knowledge sharing frequency
Impact Metrics:
- Learning outcome achievement rates
- Application of community learning in work/life contexts
- Community-generated content and resources
- External recognition and replication of community practices
Qualitative Indicators
Community Health Signs:
- Spontaneous collaboration and mutual support
- Authentic sharing of challenges and vulnerabilities
- Innovation and adaptation in community practices
- Positive energy and enthusiasm in community interactions
Cultural Development:
- Shared language and understanding of community values
- Stories and examples that reinforce positive behaviors
- Peer recognition and celebration of contributions
- Sustainable leadership pipeline and succession planning
Tools and Resources
Assessment Templates
Individual ACTIVE Assessment
For each dimension, rate your perception (1-5) and provide specific examples:
🧠 ACTORS (Learning Mindset): ___/5
Evidence: ________________________________
🤝 COMMUNITY (Belonging): ___/5
Evidence: ________________________________
🔁 TRANSMISSION (Knowledge Sharing): ___/5
Evidence: ________________________________
🫂 INCLUSION (Participation): ___/5
Evidence: ________________________________
💎 VIRTUE (Positive Impact): ___/5
Evidence: ________________________________
🌟 EXEMPLARITY (Leadership): ___/5
Evidence: ________________________________
Priority for improvement: _______________
Specific action I can take: _____________
Group Discussion Guide
- Share individual ratings (without judgment or debate)
- Identify patterns across individual assessments
- Discuss evidence and examples for each dimension
- Choose priorities for collective improvement focus
- Design actions for next 30-60 days
- Plan follow-up assessment and review
Implementation Checklists
Monthly Community Health Check
- Quick ACTIVE assessment survey sent to all members
- Results compiled and shared with community
- Brief discussion of trends and patterns
- Identification of improvement opportunities
- Celebration of progress and successes
Quarterly Strategic Review
- Comprehensive ACTIVE assessment with all dimensions
- Analysis of progress against previous assessments
- Strategic discussion of community direction and priorities
- Planning of major improvements or initiatives
- Documentation of lessons learned and best practices
Call to Action
For Community Leaders and Facilitators
Immediate Steps:
- Introduce ACTIVE framework to your community
- Conduct baseline assessment with core members
- Identify one dimension for 30-day improvement focus
- Share results and learnings with the broader community
Strategic Development:
- Build ACTIVE thinking into regular community practices
- Train multiple members to facilitate ACTIVE assessments
- Use ACTIVE dimensions to guide major community decisions
- Share your experiences with other community builders
For Community Members
Personal Application:
- Use ACTIVE to assess communities you participate in
- Identify ways you can contribute to each dimension
- Share the framework with other community builders
- Practice ACTIVE principles in your daily interactions
Community Contribution:
- Volunteer to help with ACTIVE assessments and improvements
- Share examples and stories that demonstrate ACTIVE dimensions
- Support others in developing leadership and facilitation skills
- Help create inclusive and accessible community practices
For Organizations Supporting Communities
System Level:
- Apply ACTIVE assessment to multiple communities within your organization
- Provide training and resources for community health development
- Recognize and celebrate communities that demonstrate ACTIVE principles
- Support research and development of community building practices
Conclusion: Simple Tools for Complex Systems
The ACTIVE framework demonstrates that simple tools can effectively support complex community development. By focusing on six essential dimensions—learning, community, transmission, inclusion, virtue, and exemplarity—we can assess, understand, and strengthen the learning communities that drive collective growth and innovation.
This framework isn’t about perfection—it’s about intentional progress. Every community will have strengths and growth areas across the ACTIVE dimensions. The goal is to build awareness, focus improvement efforts, and create sustainable development practices.
In an era where learning communities are increasingly vital for organizational success and individual development, ACTIVE provides an accessible way to ensure these communities remain healthy, inclusive, and impactful over time.
The framework’s simplicity is its strength. By making community assessment and development accessible to anyone, ACTIVE democratizes the ability to build and sustain thriving learning ecosystems—one dimension at a time.
Original framework documentation: Adopter une démarche ACTIVE
This framework is part of a broader collection of systems thinking methodologies. Explore more at quach.fr/frameworks