Wk 1

In class
(Topics, activities, quizzes, etc.)

Outside class
(Projects, due dates, readings)

Tu Aug 27  

Welcome; overview, course goals; policies; expectations 
Meet  teaching team; meet classmates
Assessment survey (how we learn what you know already)
What "policy issues" are + other key terms; 
What trends are, their importance 
Intro to first project, solo Policy Issue Brief ("IB1" )

Read carefully at this site (click above):
- Syllabus (goals, policies, etc.)
- Project Instructions
Review the text:
- Taking Sides (TS) .  -Bring photocopy of recent ID photo (drivers licence, PSU ID, etc.) for teaching team's use. 

Th Aug 29

Project, Part A: Stakeholders -what, who,how?
Group exercise: stakeholders define a problem
Information literacy: what, why, how

Study carefully Pattee's Information Literacy @
http://www.libraries.psu.edu/crsweb/infolit/
andyou/infoyou.htm  Read: Project Instructions

Wk 2

Outside class

Tu Sep 3

Get issue topic assignment: IB1
Part A Stakeholders (steps w/ illustration): 
- narrow the topic to single issue
-state as problem, preliminarily (e.g., Which of  several    possible problems? Who "has" this problem?)
- identify 2 main stakeholders, pro&con, + their web sites
- learn their positions on the issue
- learn their resources (budget, personnel, alliances)
- learn actions they've taken to affect policy  

Start Part A
-narrow topic (discuss w/ others) 
-do process steps reviewed in class

Prepare for first quiz, Thursday

Th Sep 5

Work on Part A, due Tuesday 
 

Wk 3

Tu Sep10 

Due:  Part A, at start of class
 Peer review of drafts, & re-writing
 Part B: Policy Background (illustration)
-document how & when the issue emerged
-outline the sequence of key developments, especially government actions (chronology)
-identify quantitative trends showing how changes in costs, access, & quality help define the issue; 
-trends: sources of data; examples

Start: Part B
-read IB1 instructions for Part B

Th Sep12

Note taking: lecture vs. text vs. WWW
Theft, or "plagiarism": what it is, how to avoid it;  risks in doing it. Introduction to Controversial Issue # 1

Read: TS, Issue # 1: "Will managed care improve health care in the US?"  (quiz Tuesday 29 Jan)

Wk 4

Tu Sep 17

Quiz  & discussion on issue #1 Managed care 
-Trends in managed care (costs, etc.)
Part A graded, returned; most common problems discussed

Meet w/  Writing coach or TA to understand
- readers' comments
- revision & re-submission process
- improving search & writing strategies

Th  Sep 19

Due:  Part B;  peer review of drafts
Part C: Definition (steps w/ illustration)
-Restate, or redefine the issue, if needed
-Learn for whom, why & how is this problematic
-Describe the extent of the problem
-Specify why this is a "public" policy issue

Read "Instructions" Part C 
Start Part C

Tu Sep 24  

Intro to issue #2,  Rationing: definitions, types. Rationing: -Medicare -Medicaid -UK -Oregon

Th Sep 26

Part Bs returned: results reviewed .                     Introduce Part D: Monitor issue's development                                                                Part E: Executive- Summary.
Part F: Bibliography              

Continue work on Part C. Part C due tomorrow at noon, but may be submitted earlier
Prepare to start parts D, E, F as soon as C is completed.

Tu Oct 1

Quiz  & discuss issue #2 Elder health care limits + rationing; Rationing exercise in groups 

Continue work on Part D, E, F

Th Oct 3

Due: Parts D, E & F  Peer review in class 

   Part C~ returned .                            

Outside class

Tu Oct 8 

Parts D, E, & F returned; review final details: see "Format Checklist" in IB Instructions.
Intro issue 4: Should [MD residents] unionize?

Prepare final submission of IB1~4pm Th      Respond to all comments on drafts           Prepare: cover sheet, title page, contents

Th Oct10

Due: IB1, all drafts + final revisions @ 4pm or earlier. Late penalty: 15% /day 

IB1s will not be returned (you should keep a copy). But students may review work.

Outside class

Th Oct 17

Begin brief oral reports + "Q&A" on IB1s (10-15 min each, 2-3 per session)                                                Intro to IB2 and teamwork 
- Tms & topic assignments;  - Tms: what, why, how?
- Exercise: "Survivor" (Are two heads better than one?)
- Tm learning cycle; effective meetings; agendas;               Review of questions, Part A

Tu Oct 22

Quiz & discussion: "Should doctors-in-training be unionized?"
Informal team progress reports;  Tm meetings in class (last 15 min);  10 Tips for Better Teams
Continue IB1 oral reports

Teams: work on IB2, Part A.

Outside class

Due: IB2, Part C (note switch from IB1 sequence!)
-formal team progress reports; peer assessment
 Review of questions in part B

Start: IB2, Part B
Teams, work on IB2, Part B .              -tm mtgs w/ instructors at separate location, to be designated  (Important, all team members must attend)

Tu  Oct 29 

Assessment & return of Part C drafts
-Resolving team conflicts
-Editing: how 5 people can write a document 

Outside class

Th Oct 31  

Due: Part B 
Formal team progress reports;
Review of questions in Part C .
Intro to issue #4: Employer-based health insurance.

Start: IB2, Part A
Read: TS, Issue #4: "Should health insurance be based on employment?"  

Tu Nov 5

Quiz; discuss issue #4 Employer-based insurance;
Tips on completing teamwork on Part C

Outside class

Th Nov 7  

Due: Part A
Peer assessment of teams' drafts
Formal team progress reports
Review of guidelines on trends, exec summary, and bibliography 
Part X:   Policy recommendation
Examples of policy recommendations

  Start: Parts D,E,F, & X

Tu Nov 12  

Assessment & return of  Part A;
Review: checklist for format details.

Tms work on D,E,F,X

Outside class

Th Nov 14

Due: Parts D, E, F & X
Guidelines for oral presentations

Start: Tm prep for oral presentations 
Plan oral presentations

Tu  Nov 19

Parts D,E,F reviewed & returned to tms
Instructions on oral presentations. 
- Team decisions on oral presentations (who does what?) Introduction to Issue #8 Body Parts Markets?

Preparing for oral presentations
Rehearsal schedules
Mock presentations w/ feedback from other teams 

Outside class

Th Nov 21

Continue rehearsal of teams' oral presentations
Quiz: Issue #8 Should there be a market in body parts?"  

In class

Outside class

Tms 4,5,6: re-assess w/ perspective of first presentations

Tms’ oral presentations: Tms 4, 5, 6.
Qs from teams 1, 2, 3, etc

No oral presentations after today

In class

Outside class

Tu Dec10 

Th Dec 12

Confidential assessment of learning  in entire course
Summary and "commencement"