Syllabus
-
Introduction: What is PBL? You’re not just consumers of information!
Logistics and Assignments: Lecture and Tutorial Sections, Cascade, BlackBoard, Policy Memo, Policy Briefing, and Participation
Articles for in-class exercise:
"The West is on Fire Again" Vox
"Wildfires force California to reckon with a not-so-new normal" Christian Science Monitor
"Three of California's Biggest Fires Ever are Burning Now" New York Times
-
Recap of Week 1 - What is PBL and how does this class work?
Defining the Problem: The case of maternal health and the closing of rural obstetric units
Reading (to be completed prior to the class meeting on August 27):
- Bardach and Patashnik, pp. 1-18
- Hung, P. et al. (2017). "State Variability in Access to Hospital-Based Obstetric Services in Rural U.S. Counties." University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
- Hung, P. et al. (2017). "Closure of Hospital Obstetric Services Disproportionately Affects Less-Populated Rural Counties." University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center.
-
Lecture does not meet this week because of the Labor Day holiday.
Your tutorial sections WILL meet this week.
Reading:
Re-read Bardach and Patashnik, pp. 1-18 and apply these lesson and techniques to your specific policy problem.
-
Constructing Alternatives
Reading (to be completed prior to the class meeting on September 10):
Bardach and Patashnik, pp. 18-26
Please Re-Read the Policy Briefs from Week 2:
- Hung, P. et al. (2017). "State Variability in Access to Hospital-Based Obstetric Services in Rural U.S. Counties." University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
- Hung, P. et al. (2017). "Closure of Hospital Obstetric Services Disproportionately Affects Less-Populated Rural Counties." University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center.
In addition, please read the following newspaper articles on rural OB units:
"Another Thing Disappearing from Rural America: Maternal Care." Pro Publica
"As rural OB units close, Northwest Iowa women travel farther to deliver." Sioux City Journal
"Rural maternity care falling short in South Dakota." Rapid City Journal
(During class we will have a research demonstration focusing on the use of Westlaw)
-
Research Skills Lecture Slides
*and*
Identifying and Understanding the Criteria for Evaluation: The Case of 340B
Reading:
Bardach and Patashnik, pp. 27-46
Conti and Bach, “Cost Consequences of the 340B Drug Discount Program.” JAMA, 309(19), 1995-1996
Scott, “The blockbuster fight over this obscure federal program explains America’s drug prices.” Vox, May 11, 2018.
Guerrero, “Drug discount program isn’t disposable.” Sacramento Bee, May 22, 2018.
***The first CATME survey will be available this week. The survey will be available beginning on the day your tutorial section meets. You will have four days to complete the survey (including the day your section meets). Please see the CATME email and instructions for specific dates and times for completing the survey.***
-
Re-read:
Rovner, "NYU's decision to make medical school tuition-free sparks multimillion-dollar debate." LA Times
Bardach and Patashnik, pp. 27-46
Conti and Bach, “Cost Consequences of the 340B Drug Discount Program.” JAMA, 309(19), 1995-1996
Scott, “The blockbuster fight over this obscure federal program explains America’s drug prices.” Vox, May 11, 2018.
Guerrero, “Drug discount program isn’t disposable.” Sacramento Bee, May 22, 2018.
-
Confronting Trade-offs
Reading:
Bardach and Patashnik, pp. 65-72
Hewitt and Longman, "The Case for Single-Price Health Care." Washington Monthly
Scott, "The 'pleasant ambiguity' of Medicare-for-all in 2018, explained." Vox
-
Limits of Reformism - The Case of the Affordable Care Act
Reading:
Patashnik and Zelizer, “The struggle to remake politics: Liberal reform and the limits of policy feedback in the contemporary American state.” Perspective on Politics, 11(4), 1071-1087
-
Telling Your Story: Revisiting the Policy Memo, Discussing Writing Styles, Identifying Your Audience, Clarifying Formatting, and Addressing Common Writing Challenges
Reading:
Bardach and Patashnik, pp. 72-82; 141-154
***The second CATME survey will be available this week. The survey will be available beginning on the day your tutorial section meets. You will have four days to complete the survey (including the day your section meets). Please see the CATME email and instructions for specific dates and times for completing the survey.***
-
The Policy Process in California -- Guest Speaker Avinash Kar from the Natural Resource Defense Council (NRDC). Mr. Kar will discuss the policy process in California, with a particular focus on environmental health and environmental legislation. Please use the link above to read more information about Mr. Kar, his background and work, and the work of the NRDC.
During the first half of class, we will review material from Week 9 on "Telling Your Story." Please review the readings from week 9 and if you have specific questions please email me or relay them to your tuturial section instructor.
-
Lecture will NOT meet this week. Professor Kelly will hold extended office hours in which your team can arrange to meet with Professor Kelly to discuss your policy memo draft.
Your tutorial sections WILL meet this week.
-
Topic: TBD
***Assignment Due: Policy memo draft due by 5pm the day after your tutorial section meets during the week of November 5. The draft should be at least 1250 words in length.*** (Remember to upload your team's policy memo draft to your section's Blackboard page)
-
No Lecture - Veterans Day
Tutorial sections WILL meet this week (except for those enrolled in a Monday tutoring section--your section WILL NOT meet this week)
***The third CATME survey will be available this week. The survey will be available beginning on the day your tutoring section meets. You will have four days to complete the survey (including the day your section meets). Please see the CATME email and instructions for specific dates and times for completing the survey.***
-
No Lecture or Tutorial Sections - Thanksgiving
Have a nice holiday!!
-
Policy Memo Discussion: Highlighting strengths and addressing common challenges
-
Wrap-up: How have we addressed chronic conditions?
***Policy Briefings will be given in your tutorial section during the week of December 3. Your professor will have a sign-up for specific times*** (Remember to upload any policy briefing material to your section's Blackboard page)
***Final Policy Memo Due by 9pm on Friday, December 7, 2018*** (Remember to upload your team's policy memo to your section's Blackboard page)
***The fourth (and final) CATME survey will be available this week. The survey will be available beginning on Friday, December 7. You will have until December 14 to complete the survey. Please see the CATME email and instructions for specific dates and times for completing the survey.***