Syllabus

PDF version of Winter '21 syllabus (official)

Outline of Topics and Tasks:

Session 1 (January 11): Introduction

Topics: 

• Introduction

  • • Student introductions

    • Round Table Introductions & Sharing Expectations

• Course Syllabus and Requirements 

  • • Course Plan

    • Evaluation

    • Take the 'political compass survey (https://politicalcompass.org/test). Do it quickly in given time and don't overthink ~ this is done as an ice breaker (for fun) ~ also skewed because it's American. 

• Creating Our “Small Group” Teams (5 groups of 6?)

• Defining Policy Analysis

• First look at Quebec Estates General Full Report 95-96 (skim)

Related Tasks:

• Task 1: What do we know about “Policy Analysis”?

Homework:

• Readings for class 2 on Perusall:

  • OECD literature review on policy analysis

  • "Policy and Politics in Canadian Schools" (5th edition)

• group of 2 or 3 for major project, what topic do you want to explore? think about it!

• Comments, any questions?

Session 2 (January 18): Getting Started

Topics: 

• Week 1 recap; Q&A

• OECD literature review on policy analysis (learning the language of policy studies)

• Policy and Politics in Canadian Schools; Quebec Estates General

• Policy What is it? & where it comes from

Related Tasks:

• Task 2:  Small groups discussion on weekly readings (Sam provides questions this week)

• Task 3: Detailed review of course expectations and brainstorming possible policy brief topics (brief presentations start week 8 ~ 15 min, Q&A)

• Task 4: Policy Brief  Planning (wk. 1) ~ Sam will review the steps involved in writing a policy brief; class will pick partners and topic for policy brief (45 min. approx.)

Homework:

• Readings for class 3 on Perusall & blog post on Mighty Network

• small group discussion 1 what is your role this week? ~ questions prepared by Sam. Starting this week one student per group is the discussion leader.

• Comments, any questions?

Session 3 (January 25)

Topics:

• Week 2 recap, Q&A

• Laying the Groundwork

• Using the checklist to write your policy brief (9 steps)

Related Tasks:

• Task 5: Small group discussion on weekly readings (questions provided by group leader) 

• Task 6: Large group professional conversations and sharing

• Task 7: Policy Brief  Planning (wk. 2) ~ Students will start working on policy brief with their partners. The focus will be to plan the process (begin with the end in mind). Who's doing what? when? etc. (45 min. approx.)

Homework:

• Readings for class 4 on Perusall and blog post on Mighty Network

• small group discussion 2 ~ what is your role this week? who's the group leader preparing the discussion questions? don't forget to rotate the group roles weekly!

• Comments, any questions?

Session 4 (February 1)

Topics:

• Week 3 recap, Q&A

• Taking the first step (defining the problem)

• Review of what we've learned so far

Related Tasks:

• Task 8: Small group discussion on weekly readings (questions provided by group leader). remember to rotate the group roles weekly 

• Task 9: Large group professional conversations and sharing

• Task 10 Policy Brief  Planning (wk. 3) ~ with your partner define your policy brief problem (step 1), be clear and specific (45 min. approx.)

Homework:

• Readings for class 5 on Perusall

• Comments, any questions?

• small group discussion 3 what is your role this week?

Session 5 (February 8): ......

Topics:

• Week 4 recap, Q&A

• Establishing driving values

• Make the case (assemble the evidence)

Related Tasks:

• Task 11: Small group discussion on weekly readings (questions provided by group leader). remember to rotate the group roles weekly 

• Task 12: Large group professional conversations and sharing

• Task 13: Policy Brief  Planning (wk. 4) ~ establish your driving values and make the case for your policy brief ~ keep writing clear so everyone understands, avoid jargon  (45 min. approx.)

Homework:

• Readings for class 6 on Perusall

• small group discussion 4 what is your role this week?

• Comments, any questions?

Session 6 (February 15): ......

Topics:

• Week 5 recap, Q&A

• Developing alternatives

• Weigh the options (evaluate the alternatives)

Related Tasks:

• Task 14: Small group discussion on weekly readings (questions provided by group leader). remember to rotate the group roles weekly 

• Task 15: Large group professional conversations and sharing

• Task 16: Policy Brief  Planning (wk. 5) ~ continue working on brief, work on alternative and make sure you know what could go wrong or right (45 min. approx.)

Homework:

• Readings for class 7 on Perusall

• small group discussion 5 what is your role this week?

• Comments, any questions?

Session 7 (February 22): ......

Topics:

• Week 6 recap, Q&A

• Make recommendations

• Persuade your audience

Related Tasks:

• Task 17:  Small group discussion on weekly readings (questions provided by group leader). remember to rotate the group roles weekly 

• Task 18: Large group professional conversations and sharing

• Task 19: Policy Brief  Planning (wk. 6) ~ this is your last week to work on brief before spring break; make sure you focus on your policy brief recommendations; also important to think about how you will persuade your audience (other professionals, parents, etc.)

Homework:

• Readings for class 8 on Perusall (see below)

  • from weeks 8 to 12, there will be a short reading from Sam and 1 or 2  short readings assigned by the students for the PD workshop  (detailed instruction provided in the about page of the class website): 

    • short readings to be added by students presently in weeks 8 to 12

    • please send to Sam ASAP so your classmates have plenty of time to review the material before class

• small group discussion 5 what is your role this week?

• Comments, any questions?

***Spring Break: March 1st to 5th, 2021***

Sessions 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 

• student led PD workshop on policy topic (approximately 45 minutes)

• one or two short readings assigned by students, Sam will upload on Perusall

Session 8 (March 8): 

• Readings for class 8 on Perusall ~ Implement the solution (ch. 10). Presentation resources and links will be provided below:

Session 9 (March 15): 

• Readings for class 9 on Perusall ~ Monitor Outputs (ch. 11)

Session 10 (March 22): 

• Readings for class 10 on Perusall ~ Evaluate Outcomes (ch. 12)

Session 11 (March 29): 

• Readings for class 11 on Perusall 

No class on April 5, due to Easter Monday 

Session 12 (Monday, April 12): 

• Readings for class 12 on Perusall 

Session 13 (Thursday, April 15): 

• Brief Presentation (15 min. including Q&A)

• Readings for class 13 on Perusall : Concluding Remarks (ch. 13) and wrap up. Goodbyes