This text is intended as a basis for community development educators to increase their understanding of the elements of community development, assess systematically the strengths and weaknesses of a community development situation, examine one approach to community development education and the principles from which it grew, and gain confidence in their ability to practice community development education. It is based upon the assumptions that community development is the organized action of groups of people to bring about social and economic change, that community development is group behavior that can be learned, and that thoughtful study of the community development process by the group in which it occurs can lead to improving its effectiveness. The booklet includes discussion of attitudes, values, and perceptions found in all communities that influence how decisions are made. The decision-making, problem-solving structure and process that exist in a community are examined. Tasks involved in problem definition, goal-setting, and solution-finding are presented. Finally, the role of the educator as a temporary community member, consultant, process technician, and facilitator are considered. An annotated bibliography identifies sources of information and concepts. (NEC)