an exercise in hard choicessm · litsa varonis, the university of akron september 15, 2005. dr....

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

Dr. John HirschbuhlPrincipal Investigator

The University of Akronjhirsch@uakron.edu

330-972-6507

Litsa VaronisCo-Principal InvestigatorThe University of Akron

varonis@uakron.edu330.972.2541

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

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

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, x236ref@bw.beachwood.k12.oh.us

Voices from the TrenchesMr. Scott Bryan, Dir. Info. Tech.

X366 sbryan@sccresa.orgMr. Terry Harrington, Dir. Ed. Tech.

X281 tharrington@sccresa.orgSt. Clair Cnty Reg. Ed. Serv. Agncy499 Range Road, P.O. Box 1500

Marysville, MI 48040810-364-8990

Dr. Andrea SnellAssociate Prof. of Psychology

The University of Akronasnell@uakron.edu

330.972.6711

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 20009crfb@newamerica.net

202.986.6599