A Unique Approach to Problem Solving Skills with the Public Policy Analyst Tech Ed 2010 Conference April 13, :30—11:30 a.m. A Unique Approach to Problem Solving Skills with the Public Policy Analyst Tech Ed 2010 Conference April 13, :30—11:30 a.m.

A Unique Approach to Problem Solving Skills with the Public Policy Analyst Presenter: James J. Carroll, Ph.D. Research Associate Professor Syracuse University Maxwell School A Unique Approach to Problem Solving Skills with the Public Policy Analyst Presenter: James J. Carroll, Ph.D. Research Associate Professor Syracuse University Maxwell School

What does a good car mechanic have in common with a good physician? What does a good car mechanic have in common with a good physician?

Good car mechanics and good physicians have to be good Good car mechanics and good physicians have to be good Problem Solvers

The PPA Process: 1.Define the ProblemDefine the Problem 2.Gather EvidenceGather Evidence 3.Identify CausesIdentify Causes 4.Evaluate Existing PoliciesEvaluate Existing Policies 5.Develop SolutionsDevelop Solutions 6.Select Best SolutionsSelect Best Solutions The PPA Process: 1.Define the ProblemDefine the Problem 2.Gather EvidenceGather Evidence 3.Identify CausesIdentify Causes 4.Evaluate Existing PoliciesEvaluate Existing Policies 5.Develop SolutionsDevelop Solutions 6.Select Best SolutionsSelect Best Solutions

What Do These have in Common? e Global Warming STD Acid Rain Racism Teenage Obesity Poverty Terrorism Child Abuse HIV Aids Gun Violence Hunger Pollution Illiteracy Crime

What Do They have in Common? e They are all Social Problems that your students can analyze and solve using the Public Policy Analyst

The Public Policy Analyst The Public Policy Analyst (PPA): The Public Policy Analyst The Public Policy Analyst (PPA): A Problem-Based Learning Tool Developed by Jim Carroll, Ph.D. Syracuse University Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs A Problem-Based Learning Tool Developed by Jim Carroll, Ph.D. Syracuse University Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs

Are Any of You Public Policy Makers?

Public Policy is… Any government action legislative, executive, judicial

Faculty Create Rules (public policies: legislative), Enforce Rules (executive), and Interpret Rules (judicial)

Which students do you mainly teach?  Graduate Students  Undergraduate Students  High School Students (9-12)  Elementary Students (K-8)

Have You Ever Used Problem-Based Learning? Yes No

Workshop Overview Overview of Problem-Based Learning Overview of The Public Policy Analyst Using the PPA to Analyze a problem Examples of WebQuests Using the PPA

“The principal idea behind PBL is that the starting point for learning should be a problem, a query, or a puzzle that the learner wishes to solve.” Boud, D. (1985) PBL in Perspective. In “PBL in Education for the Professions,” D. Boud (ed); p. 13 “The principal idea behind PBL is that the starting point for learning should be a problem, a query, or a puzzle that the learner wishes to solve.” Boud, D. (1985) PBL in Perspective. In “PBL in Education for the Professions,” D. Boud (ed); p. 13

“ True learning is based on discovery guided by mentoring rather than the transmission of knowledge.” John Dewey “ True learning is based on discovery guided by mentoring rather than the transmission of knowledge.” John Dewey

What are the Common Features of PBL? Learning is initiated by a problem Problems are based on complex, real-world situations All information to solve the problem is not initially given Students find and use appropriate resources Students work in groups Learning is active, integrated and engaged.

The PPA is a PBL tool used in… Project TIPS ( ): a $7M+ USDOE Technology Challenge Grant (Bronx) Project CRITICAL( ): a $3M Gifted Education Grant in Harlem Project CHARACTER: a $3M Character Ed. grant in Harlem *2002—06) and a $3M grant in Yonkers(2008— present) The PPA is a PBL tool used in… Project TIPS ( ): a $7M+ USDOE Technology Challenge Grant (Bronx) Project CRITICAL( ): a $3M Gifted Education Grant in Harlem Project CHARACTER: a $3M Character Ed. grant in Harlem *2002—06) and a $3M grant in Yonkers(2008— present)

The PPA is a PBL tool used in… Scaling-Up Project CRITICAL(2008- Present): a $3M Gifted Education Grant in Harlem Project HISTORY: a $1.8M USED Teaching American History Grant for Central NY Numerous NYSED Learning with Technology Grants in NYS (2002—present) The PPA is a PBL tool used in… Scaling-Up Project CRITICAL(2008- Present): a $3M Gifted Education Grant in Harlem Project HISTORY: a $1.8M USED Teaching American History Grant for Central NY Numerous NYSED Learning with Technology Grants in NYS (2002—present)

Let’s use the PPA to analyze a problem in most colleges: Grade Inflation Let’s use the PPA to analyze a problem in most colleges: Grade Inflation

The PPA Process:  Define the Problem  Gather the Evidence  Identify the Causes  Evaluate Existing Policies  Develop Policy Solutions  Select the Best Solution

Colleges award too many “A’s”  Strongly agree  Agree  Uncertain  Disagree  Strongly disagree

As faculty members at your college, you feel that too many students receive PPA Step #1:Define the ProblemDefine the Problem You feel that Your College has Grade Inflation! “A’s” today compared to years ago.

Let’s share some definitions of the problem from our groups Let’s share some definitions of the problem from our groups PPA Step #1:Define the ProblemDefine the Problem

PPA Step #2: Gather EvidenceGather Evidence What type of evidence can you gather to support your social problem that your college has grade inflation! Go to Step #2 PPA Step #2: Gather EvidenceGather Evidence What type of evidence can you gather to support your social problem that your college has grade inflation! Go to Step #2

PPA Step #2: Gather EvidenceGather Evidence Let’s share some evidence of the problem from our groups PPA Step #2: Gather EvidenceGather Evidence Let’s share some evidence of the problem from our groups

PPA Step #3: Identify CausesIdentify Causes What are the causes or factors that contribute to Grade Inflation at Your College? Go to Step #3 PPA Step #3: Identify CausesIdentify Causes What are the causes or factors that contribute to Grade Inflation at Your College? Go to Step #3

PPA Step #3: Identify Causes Let’s share some causes or contributory factors of the problem from our groups PPA Step #3: Identify Causes Let’s share some causes or contributory factors of the problem from our groups

PPA Step #4:Evaluate Existing PolicyEvaluate Existing Policy Princeton recently enacted a policy to confront its grade inflation problem. PPA Step #4:Evaluate Existing PolicyEvaluate Existing Policy Princeton recently enacted a policy to confront its grade inflation problem.

PPA Step #4: Evaluate Existing PolicyEvaluate Existing Policy Since Your College does not have an existing policy, let’s evaluate Princeton’s in this video clip PPA Step #4: Evaluate Existing PolicyEvaluate Existing Policy Since Your College does not have an existing policy, let’s evaluate Princeton’s in this video clip

PPA Step #4: Evaluate Existing Policy Let’s share some evaluations of the existing policy from our groups PPA Step #4: Evaluate Existing Policy Let’s share some evaluations of the existing policy from our groups

PPA Step #5: Develop SolutionsDevelop Solutions State 3 public policy solutions for Your College’s Grade Inflation problem PPA Step #5: Develop SolutionsDevelop Solutions State 3 public policy solutions for Your College’s Grade Inflation problem

#6: Select Best SolutionSelect Best Solution Select the best public policy solution for your college’s Grade Inflation problem based on feasibility and effectiveness #6: Select Best SolutionSelect Best Solution Select the best public policy solution for your college’s Grade Inflation problem based on feasibility and effectiveness Taking away his car is a policy with high effectiveness (for it solves the parking problem), but low feasibility for him

EFFECTIVENESS HIGHMEDIUMLOW HIGH MEDIUM LOW FEASIBILITYFEASIBILITY

Project TIPS teachers use the PPA with their students through incorporating it into WebQuests WebQuests Project TIPS teachers use the PPA with their students through incorporating it into WebQuests WebQuests

Any Questions? Jim Carroll, Ph.D. Syracuse University Any Questions? Jim Carroll, Ph.D. Syracuse University