Teaching Online Political Teaching Online Political ScienceScienceFrank FullerFrank Fuller

How to Improve on Teaching Political How to Improve on Teaching Political ScienceScience

How do we improve on online political science How do we improve on online political science courses? courses?

Biglan’s taxonomy of disciplines: “soft-applied” Biglan’s taxonomy of disciplines: “soft-applied” science, within social sciences.science, within social sciences.

Political science is about understanding concepts; Political science is about understanding concepts; models can help visualize these.models can help visualize these.

http://www.nvc.vt.edu/toalg/Website/Lecturing1Oct03.jpg

Political Science is coming to the Political Science is coming to the Forefront of TechnologyForefront of Technology

There has been much research documenting teaching political science There has been much research documenting teaching political science online. online.

Lofgren: group assignments online, 24-hour access, continuous interaction, Lofgren: group assignments online, 24-hour access, continuous interaction, add changes, etc., constant feedback from professors and students to add changes, etc., constant feedback from professors and students to revamp projects. Political science tech: more advanced, and online courses revamp projects. Political science tech: more advanced, and online courses are typical today. Technology can improve instructional quality (2008). are typical today. Technology can improve instructional quality (2008).

http://www.princeton.edu/~rvdb/JAVA/election2006/Election2006CD.png

Online Instruction is QuantitativeOnline Instruction is Quantitative

Databases are readily available; Databases are readily available; having social science data handy having social science data handy helps in doing research. Univ. of helps in doing research. Univ. of Michigan: home to National Election Michigan: home to National Election Studies.Studies.

http://www.electionstudies.org/

Great for Modeling and ForecastingGreat for Modeling and Forecasting Geographic Geographic Information SystemsInformation Systems =Excellent =Excellent Mapping ToolMapping Tool Forecast election Forecast election results effectively.results effectively. Abundant Data sets Abundant Data sets available.available.

http://www.midmogis.org/website/MidMoGIS/maphtm/viewer.asp

http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=pr1ZdfEZ874nj4KRoxUTUXA

Poll Election result PollyVote (Rep. two-party) Damped Polls Experts IEM

9/3/2007 46.60 48.23 48.5 48.00 48.9 47.59/4/2007 46.60 48.23 48.5 48.00 48.9 47.59/5/2007 46.60 48.23 48.5 48.00 48.9 47.59/6/2007 46.60 48.23 48.5 48.00 48.9 47.59/7/2007 46.60 48.23 48.5 48.00 48.9 47.59/8/2007 46.60 48.23 48.5 48.00 48.9 47.59/9/2007 46.60 48.22 48.5 48.00 48.9 47.59/10/2007 46.60 48.22 48.5 48.00 48.9 47.59/11/2007 46.60 48.22 48.5 48.00 48.8 47.59/12/2007 46.60 48.23 48.5 48.00 48.9 47.59/13/2007 46.60 48.23 48.5 48.00 48.9 47.5

Quantitative Instructional ProgramsQuantitative Instructional Programs Political science has become more quantitative in recent years. Political science has become more quantitative in recent years. Robinson (2007): Statistical modeling and mathematically-oriented Robinson (2007): Statistical modeling and mathematically-oriented research growing, as in American Political Science Review articles, the research growing, as in American Political Science Review articles, the field standard. Political Science based on probability, getting close to the field standard. Political Science based on probability, getting close to the mean, but not an exact science; models help clarify info.mean, but not an exact science; models help clarify info. Better utilization of online tools helps in studying global politics and Better utilization of online tools helps in studying global politics and various political systems.various political systems.

http://www.atpm.com/7.04/images/spss-workspace.gifhttp://www.atpm.com/7.04/images/spss-workspace.gif

Saves Time and TediousnessSaves Time and Tediousness

Bornstein: Reduces time Bornstein: Reduces time to insert data, allows to insert data, allows computer modeling computer modeling more efficiently than by more efficiently than by hand (1996). hand (1996).

http://www.sciencemag.org/products/bt-statsw.dtl

Political Science is Seeing and HearingPolitical Science is Seeing and Hearing

Political science: great for interactive Political science: great for interactive learning. learning.

Teaching a live feed of Washington Teaching a live feed of Washington DC and showing policy in action is DC and showing policy in action is quite effective.quite effective.

Congressional Debates on $700 million bailout

Interactive LearningInteractive Learning

Linser: Learning by doing is great for Linser: Learning by doing is great for political science; role-playing online can political science; role-playing online can help us understand political processes help us understand political processes (2004), i.e. Civilization, etc. (2004), i.e. Civilization, etc.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civilization_(computer_gamehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civilization_(computer_game) )

Interdisciplinary WorkInterdisciplinary Work

Atwater: more interdisciplinary work may improve Atwater: more interdisciplinary work may improve political science worldwide (2008). political science worldwide (2008).

Political Science----Economics----Philosophy----Conflict Political Science----Economics----Philosophy----Conflict Resolution-----Psychology----Sociology---History----and More!Resolution-----Psychology----Sociology---History----and More!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/79822180@N00/2861795085/http://www.flickr.com/photos/79822180@N00/2861795085/

Political Science in the FuturePolitical Science in the Future Improving Social Science Models, building on available data, Interactivity, Improving Social Science Models, building on available data, Interactivity,

role-playing, learning by doing, and finally cross-disciplinary work show the role-playing, learning by doing, and finally cross-disciplinary work show the relevancy of political science as an important subject worthy of study. relevancy of political science as an important subject worthy of study.

More research is still needed to examine better methods of online political More research is still needed to examine better methods of online political science learning, but by addressing it and experimenting with technology, science learning, but by addressing it and experimenting with technology, we are on the right path. we are on the right path.

http://www.davidstuff.com/geo/geomenu.htm http://www.davidstuff.com/geo/geomenu.htm

SourcesSources Atwater, M. .M. (1996). Social Constructivism: Infusion into the Multicultural Science Atwater, M. .M. (1996). Social Constructivism: Infusion into the Multicultural Science

Education Research Agenda. Education Research Agenda. Journal of Research in Science TeachingJournal of Research in Science Teaching. 33(8), 821-837.. 33(8), 821-837. Bornstein, David. (1996). Statistical Software. Some of the Problems in South Africa. Bornstein, David. (1996). Statistical Software. Some of the Problems in South Africa.

ScienceScience. http://www.sciencemag.org/products/bt-statsw.dtl Last retrieved: Oct. 10, . http://www.sciencemag.org/products/bt-statsw.dtl Last retrieved: Oct. 10, 2008.2008.

Roni Linser. (2004). Predictive Power of Role-play Simulations in Political Science: Roni Linser. (2004). Predictive Power of Role-play Simulations in Political Science: Experience of an E-Learning Tool. Presented at the International Conference on Experience of an E-Learning Tool. Presented at the International Conference on Politics and Information Systems, Technologies and Applications (PISTA), Orlando, Politics and Information Systems, Technologies and Applications (PISTA), Orlando, USA, July 21-25 2004.  USA, July 21-25 2004. 

Lofgren, Hans. (2008). Designing for Policy Studies Online. Lofgren, Hans. (2008). Designing for Policy Studies Online. Deakin Studies Online: Deakin Studies Online: Contemporary Online Teaching CasesContemporary Online Teaching Cases. . http://www.deakin.edu.au/itl/teach-learn/cases/files/participants/lofgren.htm# Last http://www.deakin.edu.au/itl/teach-learn/cases/files/participants/lofgren.htm# Last retrieved: Nov. 3, 2008. retrieved: Nov. 3, 2008.

Robinson, William C. (2007). IS 531: Political Science. Social Science Information: Robinson, William C. (2007). IS 531: Political Science. Social Science Information: Political Science Lecture Notes. http://web.utk.edu/~wrobinso/531_lec_pol.html Last Political Science Lecture Notes. http://web.utk.edu/~wrobinso/531_lec_pol.html Last retrieved: Nov. 3, 2008.retrieved: Nov. 3, 2008.

Smith, Glenn Gordon, Ana T. Torres-Ayala and Allen J. Heindel. (2008). Disciplinary Smith, Glenn Gordon, Ana T. Torres-Ayala and Allen J. Heindel. (2008). Disciplinary Differences in E-learning Instructional Design: The Case of Mathematics. Journal of Differences in E-learning Instructional Design: The Case of Mathematics. Journal of Distance Education, 22(3), 63-88.Distance Education, 22(3), 63-88.