Active Learning Consultants, Richard Bernato Ed.D.

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Active Learning Consultants offers a series of experiential publications that embrace our core belief; that none of us is as smart as all of us, unless we are smart together. This reflects Confucius' saying that " I do, and I understand."

Classroom simulations / experiential learning strategies like Cutthroat, Ups And Downs, International Cutthroat, Which Way USA, and Decision - Iraq, a Simulation of President George W. Bush's Decision to Invade Iraq, are a growing collection of publications ALC offers schools.

TEACHER'S GUIDE, WHICHWAY USA
ACTIVE LEARNING CONSULTANTS OVERVIEW

WHICH WAY USA! is a simulation that will involve your students in seriously studying the future and in identifying the choices and the consequences of those choices our country will take to create the future they want. They will begin as research teams who will learn futures forecasting techniques from you. This will lead them to presenting their positions and recommendations to THE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE FOR THE FUTURE in the form of "which way video productions " where they will present a scenario, offer choices, and present their projected consequence of the choice the audience made. This will culminate in a series of mini debates as the Committee " chooses " America's future.

Specifically, students will;

identify key issues the United States will face in the 21 st century;

use a variety of sources to gather information and opinions about what decisions our country will face;

recognize and analyze a decision making model that enables them to identify the values and feelings of the decision makers;

practice and apply futures forecasting techniques to the key issues;

role play parts of investigators, politicians, business leaders, educators, environmentalists, senior citizens, technologists, scientists, manufacturers, and workers in contributing to the decisions before them;

formulate and argue positions for debate before the COMMITTEE FOR THE FUTURE ;

create WHICH WAY VIDEOS to demonstrate the kinds of futures available to our country to real audiences and lead them in making their best choices for America.

National Council of Social Studies Standards

Active Learning believes that WHICHWAY USA is capable of helping students meet all of the national standards in social studies. However below find those standards that are particularly appropriate.

I. Time, Continuity, and Change: Social studies programs should include experiences that provide for the study of the ways human beings view themselves in and over time.

V. Individuals, Groups, and Institutions: Social studies programs should include experiences that provide for the study of interactions among individuals, groups, and institutions.

VI. Power, Authority, and Governance: Social studies programs should include experiences that provide for the study of how people create and change structures of power, authority, and governance.

X. Civics, Ideals, and Practices: Social studies programs should include experiences that provide for the study of the ideals, principles, and practices of citizenship in a democratic republic.

RATIONALE

“Study the future?” I can barely teach them the past and present! We can't learn about events and issues that haven't happened and maybe never will!

Not so, someone once said that there are three kinds of people when it comes to the future, those who:

wonder whether they can create their own future;

wonder what will happen; and ...

wonder what happened!

WHICH WAY USA? subscribes to the first point of view. The choices we make today add up to the future we face tomorrow. Smart choices, grounded in sound information, energized by creative, future based thinking, and anchored by clear and reasoned decision making about what we think is best for our country must be thoughtfully decided now, not later.

In other words, we make our own bed. And as educators, we can create futures' based thinkers who will see the need, more than ever before, to learn about their past and their present, “lest we be condemned to repeat it.”

HOW WHICH WAY USA WORKS

WHICH WAY USA takes students to where we all are, the present part of our century. It is a natural time for all learners of any age to consider what their own, their nation's, and their world's future will be like. WHICH WAY USA will concentrate on our own nation but can easily be adapted for any variation.

Students, placed in the role of researchers and decision makers will choose a topic. You will group the students according to suggestions found below. Before you turn them loose on research, you will train your students in specific futures forecasting techniques like futures wheels, and cross impact charts. These skills will help them zero in on the probable and the preferable futures that lie before decision makers.

Once the students have identified the possible and preferable outcomes to the choice related to their topic, they will produce WHICH WAY videos, dramatic presentations, or stories. These will be interactive products. In other words, students will offer a scenario about their topic and a problem related to it. Their scenario will offer two to three choices. The participants, i.e. the Congress to whom they present the scenarios, or other participating classes, will after analysis, choose one of the options. Your students will then present the " outcome " they project to the option chosen. Students can then react to their forecast.

This teacher's guide will contain detailed plans and suggestions, as well as a well-structured timeline that will enable you to complete WHICH WAY USA successfully. It will also contain the following handouts that you will need to reproduce in advance.

STUDENT GUIDES FUTURES WHEELS

CROSS IMPACT MATRICES

WHICH WAY VIDEO PRODUCTION WHICH WAY GUIDE

FUTURE ISSUES SHEETS

Teacher's Guide, Student Guide, Background Information, Handouts, Debriefing materials, all included in packet.

For more information, contact us at richber1@optonline.net

	identify key issues the United States will face in the 21 st century;
	use a variety of sources to gather information and opinions about what decisions our country will face;
	recognize and analyze a decision making model that enables them to identify the values and feelings of the decision makers;
	practice and apply futures forecasting techniques to the key issues;
	role play parts of investigators, politicians, business leaders, educators, environmentalists, senior citizens, technologists, scientists, manufacturers, and workers in contributing to the decisions before them;
	formulate and argue positions for debate before the COMMITTEE FOR THE FUTURE ;
	create WHICH WAY VIDEOS to demonstrate the kinds of futures available to our country to real audiences and lead them in making their best choices for America.

	STUDENT GUIDES FUTURES WHEELS
	CROSS IMPACT MATRICES
	WHICH WAY VIDEO PRODUCTION WHICH WAY GUIDE
	FUTURE ISSUES SHEETS