an exercise in hard choicessm · litsa varonis, the university of akron september 15, 2005. dr....
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An Exercise in Hard ChoicesSM
Scott Bryan, St. Clair County RESA, MIRuth E. Friedman, Beachwood Public Schools, OH
Terry Harrington, St. Clair County RESA, MIJohn Hirschbuhl, The University of Akron
Andrea Snell, The University of AkronLitsa Varonis, The University of Akron
September 15, 2005
An Exercise in Hard ChoicesBackground
The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget (www.crfb.org) An Exercise in Hard ChoicesSM
Administered to citizens face-to-face as a public education program.
An Exercise in Hard ChoicesBackground
Carol Cox Wait,Former President and FounderLeon Panetta and Bill Frenzel,
Co-chairs
Aims of the Exercise
1.To educate citizens about the budget and the decision making-process of Congress.
2.To inform legislators about the thinking of American citizens on budget issues.
Aims of the Exercise
On January 26, 2004, an On January 26, 2004, an editorial in the editorial in the Washington Washington PostPost suggested Congress suggested Congress would benefit from participating would benefit from participating in the Exercise!in the Exercise!
Traditional Face-to-face Delivery
Participants meet at a common location and time for 3-4 hours.
Traditional Face-to-face Delivery
An onsite moderator assists. A demographic questionnaire is used to optimize group diversity.Groups negotiate to consensus.The pencil-and-paper scorecard can be a challenge!
A Need for Electronic EnhancementSince 1983, more than 15,000 individuals have participated in the traditional Exercise.
Electronic delivery could extend the Exercise to diverse populations and educational settings.
A Need for Electronic Enhancement
In 2002, the U.S. Dept. of Education awarded a congressional-directed grant to UA to design, develop, and pilot electronic versions of An Exercise in Hard ChoicesSM for the CRFB.
A Need for Electronic Enhancement
Year 1 was dedicated to development and initial pilots.Year 2 was dedicated to
controlled pilots. Year 3 has been dedicated to
outreach over Internet2.
Electronic Delivery Methods
Synchronous site-to-site using Polycom video-conferencing.Synchronous computer-to-
computer using a Macromedia Flash Communications server.Asynchronous using WebCT.
Electronic Delivery Methods
An electronic scorecard can facilitate all delivery methods.
A Comparison of Methods
NoNoNoYesAsynchNoNoYesYesPC-to-PCNoYesYesYesSite-to-siteYesYesYesYesTraditional
Moderator in same location
Face-to-face
Real timeGroupsVersion
Electronic Scorecard
Electronic Scorecard
ColdFusion, HTML, and SQL server.Decisions input online; calculations are automatic.Impact of decisions viewed at any time.
Polycom Site-to-site Delivery
Polycom Site-to-site Delivery
Common place and time.Off-site moderator .Enabled by Polycom video-conferencing.Video and audio contact with the moderator and each other.
FlashCom PC-to-PC Delivery
FlashCom PC-to-PC Delivery
FlashCom PC-to-PC Delivery
Common time but not a common location.Macromedia Flash Communications server.Synchronous video, audio, and written communication.
WebCT Asynchronous Delivery
WebCT Asynchronous Delivery
Ideal for educational environment where participants have high incentive. Progress easily monitored.More time to read, reflect, and research issues.Groups negotiate decisions by posting to threaded discussion.
Objectives of Threaded Discussion
To develop “social presence”among participants separated in space.
To create forum for continued reflective discussion of issues raised in class or by readings.
Objectives of Threaded Discussion
To motivate participants to integrate personal experience, anecdotes, and knowledge of the world in supporting their views.
To encourage participants to examine values and beliefs in the context of differing viewpoints.
WebCT Student Responses“I did not know what the material meant, so I would ask a group member by posting to threaded discussion and they would respond to help me out…I can now say I know the difference one vote can make.” --K.C.
WebCT Student Responses“With postings instead of live discussion, everyone can think out exactly what they want to post and articulate it accordingly…Hard Choices was a way not only of learning about politics, but also living them.” --L.H.
WebCT Student Responses
“Hard Choices was…beneficial because it brought together people from different backgrounds, both politically and socially, for a common cause.” –B.I.
Sample Completed ScorecardGoal and Spending
Sample Completed ScorecardGoal and Spending
This group’s goal was to cut the deficit aggressively. Meanwhile, the group increased spending by $79 billion.
Sample Completed ScorecardRevenue and Deficit/Surplus
Sample Completed ScorecardRevenue and Deficit/Surplus
The group also increased revenue by $67 billion.The net effect was to increase the baseline deficit by $12 billion.
Sample Completed ScorecardRevenue and Deficit/Surplus
These choices increased interest spending on the debt by $3 billion, and……grew the final projected deficit by $15 billion in 2009.
Rep. Ralph Regula Student Congressional Council
Rep. Ralph Regula Student Congressional Council
High School Interest and Intentions% agreeing or strongly agreeing85% This exercise has helped me realize the importance of compromise in the federal budget.
75% I enjoyed this exercise.
75% I found this exercise beneficial.
High School Interest and Intentions% agreeing or strongly agreeing59% I am now more interested in economic issues than before.56% I am now more interested in political news than before.50% I am now more likely to read news about the economy than before.
Results of Year 2 Research
All groups who experienced the Exercise demonstrate significantly more knowledge of the budget and budget process.All groups who experienced the Exercise demonstrate significantly more interest in the budget process and politics.
Results of Year 2 Research
Participants also expressed satisfaction with the use of the technology.
C22. I find politics dull C25. I have little interest in the economy.
Pre-test
Post-test
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C9 When negotiating with others to reach a final decision,
I avoid confrontations about differences of opinions.
Examples of Results
Year 3: 2004-5 Grant Year
The Exercise aligns with national education standards in Social Science and Technology.
National technology standards exist for teachers & administrators as well as students.
Year 3: 2004-5 Grant Year
We have provided Internet2 access to two high schools in Ohio and have also linked to high schools in Michigan, Maryland, and Pennsylvania to pilot the Exercise with high school populations.
Year 3: 2004-5 Grant Year
Year 3: 2004-5 Grant Year
Preliminary analysis of results affirms that the Exercise is effective in all delivery methods.
2005 Budget Options—Goal
Set A Fiscal Framework
2005 Budget Options—OutlaysNational SecurityIncome SupportGeneral GovernmentSocial SecurityMedicareMedicaid and State Children’s Health Insurance ProgramHealth Insurance Coverage
2005 Budget Options—Revenues
Options include:
Continuing tax cuts or letting them expire as scheduled.Sin taxes.
FacilitatingDemographic questionnaire—distribute in advance.Assigning participants to small groups—ensure diversity.Engagement: Friday night at the Movies.Reviewing Budget Facts; weaving in current events.
FacilitatingExplaining decisions: goal; spending; revenue.Letting them loose to deliberate; moderating as needed.Administering survey.Final roundup: review results, invite reflection and comments.
Video Scenes
http://video.uakron.edu:81/ramgen/hard_choices/hard_choices_overview.rm
The Past: 2003 Visit to D.C. for CRFB Roundtable
Rep. Regula (OH) with UA students
The Past: 2003 Visit to D.C. for CRFB Roundtable
Rep. Regula and Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert.
The Future: Greater Outreach?
UA continues to partner with the CRFB to update, distribute, and run the Exercise.
Maya MacGuineas, President, CRFB
The Future: Greater Outreach?
We have aligned the Exercisewith national education standards in language arts and mathematics as well as in social studies and technology.
The Future: Greater Outreach?We are hoping for continued appropriations to extend our work to more high schools over Internet2.Some groups have expressed interest in similar budget exercises that could work at state, local, and university levels
Voices from the TrenchesBeachwood City Schools
Dr. Ruth E. FriedmanDirector of Curriculum, Instruction
and Operations24601 Fairmount Blvd.Beachwood, OH 44122
216-464-2600, [email protected]
Voices from the TrenchesMr. Scott Bryan, Dir. Info. Tech.
X366 [email protected]. Terry Harrington, Dir. Ed. Tech.
X281 [email protected]. Clair Cnty Reg. Ed. Serv. Agncy499 Range Road, P.O. Box 1500
Marysville, MI 48040810-364-8990
Year 3: Polycom vs. TraditionalInterest in Federal Budget
This exercise has motivated me to find out more about the federal budget process.I plan to talk to people who know more about the federal budget.
Year 3: Polycom vs. TraditionalInterest in Federal Budget
I would like to find out more about how our government makes spending decisions.I am interested in how the federal budget works.
Year 3: Polycom vs. TraditionalInterest in Federal Budget
I would like to learn more about the federal budget.
I plan to read up on the federal budget process.
Year 3: Polycom vs. TraditionalEngagement & Spillover
I was a very active group member.I am interested in economic issues.I would like to discuss political issues with friends.
Year 3: Polycom vs. TraditionalEngagement & Spillover
When negotiating with others to reach a final decision, I think it is necessary to make some concessions to people with different opinions.When negotiating with others to reach a final decision, I avoid confrontations about differences of opinion.
Acknowledgements
Many thanks to members of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, especially Maya MacGuineas, Carol Cox Wait, and Susan Tanaka, and to Congressman Ralph Regula.
Acknowledgements
At UA, the team that has worked on electronic versions of An Exercise in Hard ChoicesSM also includes Steve Allen, Chris Collins, Mike Giannone, John Kelley, Patrick Kenimond, Sayee Rajamany, Mano Ramakrishnan, and Patrick Tabatcher.
AcknowledgementsWe salute Dr. Richard Rose, U Maryland, for his support and leadership.We are very grateful for the cooperation and helpful feedback from the students who were pilot participants in the electronic versions of the Exercise.
Contact Our PartnerThe Committee for a
Responsible Federal BudgetMaya MacGuineas, President1630 Connecticut Ave., NW
Washington DC [email protected]
202.986.6599