Taking Action on Public Policy
                                  By:  Kyle Stumpf

Project at a Glance :

This project introduces public policy initiatives and the process of how a bill becomes a law. Students will work in groups to craft solutions to problems facing Americans. They will design a bill that reforms an issue in American society and pitch out to lawmakers. (High School AP Government: 2-3 weeks) 
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Driving Question:

How can we reform a national issue to improve the lives of people in Michigan?            

Standards:

• Skills4Success: Ethical Citizenship, Flexibility and Adaptability, Critical Thinking and Problem Solving, and Collaboration
• CON 3, 3A4, & 3B

Team / Culture Building:

• Group will be based on interests or passions and different skill sets that are brought to the table.
• Culture building will involve completing various puzzles and a scavenger hunt.​​​

Entry Event:

• ​Bring in stakeholders (virtually or in person), maybe community members to hear about how their lives could be improved?

Stakeholders:

• Community Members
• Lawmakers
• Bureaucrats who enforce laws
• Future generations​

Empathy Building:

• Empathy Map
• Pains and Gains protocol

Inquiry / Need to Knows:

• Public Policy.  How does it happen?  How does a bill become a law? (Schoolhouse Rock/SNL videos to demonstrate)  
• Stakeholder Map​
• Innovators Compass
• Research online or in person
• Interviews (In-person, phone, Zoom, Skype, etc.)​

Incubation:

• Students will use Jamboard to document their progress through using the following protocols:
• Pluses and Deltaspluses___deltas.pdf 

• Telling a Toddler
• Brainfiring
• Think/Pair/Share
• Idea Quota - 100 Ideas
• The Rule of Thirds
• 3-12-3 Protocol​

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Solution Building:

• After generating solution ideas students will explore what solutions already exist and why they haven't worked.
• Followed by the NUF and $100 test to determine the best solution/s.

Critique and Revision: 

• Individual Elevator Pitches
• Check ins with groups
• Check ins with teacher​

Authentic Audience:

•  Lawmakers such as:  George Hartwell, Roger Victory, Luke Meerman, etc.

Final Presentation:

• Pitchouts on Legislator Lobby Day.
• Tangible final product.  Law that will improve lives of Americans.
• Students will have a choice of what final product will look like.  

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Project Template:
Click here for teacher's full plan.

​Reflection and Feedback:
Rubric

• NUF test plus one thing I liked and one thing I would change about my project.
• Students compile reflections and share out with group members.

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Click here for the  teacher's Journey through PBL on Padlet.

Meet the Educator:

Kyle Stumpf teaches  AP Government and U.S. Government teacher at Jenison HIgh School.  

     "I love the collaboration and exploration of ideas that can lead to new solutions to problems. Our students are the change that is coming in the future and their problem solving abilities will shape the world to come."