About this Presentation
The list of crises – heroin addiction, financial meltdown, runaway debt, obesity epidemic – not only grows, but each crisis suggests a world teetering on the brink of catastrophe. Little improvement is made, while any change only seems to exacerbate the issue with unintended – but predictable – consequences. While teaching two introductory statistics courses at University of Missouri-Kansas City, I have used Alan Barnard’s ProConCloud process as an entry point for students to not only do rapid research on a subject of interest to them, but also target research to answer specific questions raised by the process. The end product is a well written research paper averaging 12 pages, with the only rubric being “Am I Proud of My Paper When I Look in the Mirror?” In addition to a meaningful project to each student, this structured but natural process has allowed different points of view to be verbalized, leading to a classroom alive with polite discussion about topics that are typically “off-limits”. This webinar will discuss some of the assignments, things that worked well, things that didn’t, the affect rapid research can have on a project, and other issues.
What Will You Learn
To help you get the most value from this session, we’ve highlighted a few key points. These takeaways capture the main ideas and practical insights from the presentation, making it easier for you to review, reflect, and apply what you’ve learned.
The ProConCloud method can be more effective than the Evaporating Cloud in certain contexts, as it allows for a more explicit expression of emotions and motivations.
Authentic discussion, including expressions of anger and blame, can be productive in problem-solving.
The ProConCloud method can be used to understand the root cause of a problem, the motivations behind actions, and the potential consequences of different solutions.
Instructor(s)
