PolicyOptions.org | Local Pilot Project Initiative
Conference Call Agenda
February 9th @ 2 pm & February 11th @ 3 pm
hosted by Robert Hackett, Bonner Foundation — rhackett@bonner.org
Sunday, February 8, 2009

Goals for this call
1. Learn how:
✓ Issue brief topics are being identified
✓ Issue briefs are being incorporated into courses or internships
✓ Students are being supported during the research process
✓ The PolicyOptions wiki is or could be used for collaborative research
✓ the national network might provide additional help
2. Determine key implementation/research issues that should be addressed in
future conference calls or through other means
Sunday, February 8, 2009

Conference Call Agenda
• Quick introductions
• Quick update on recent & upcoming activities
- Wiki updates
- Grantee meeting April 18-20 in Princeton, NJ
• Discussion
- Determining issue brief topics
- Fitting issue briefs into courses/internships
- Supporting student research
- Using the wiki for collaboration
Sunday, February 8, 2009

See policyoptions.pbwiki.com/Local-PolicyOptions-Pilot-Projects
Participating Campuses 18 pilot projects in 15 states
Sunday, February 8, 2009

Update — Wiki
Sections of the wiki have been
improving slowly...
Sunday, February 8, 2009

How to Use This Wiki
• Screencasts and simple
explanations
• What else would be helpful?
Sunday, February 8, 2009

Research Guide
• Research Guide being revised
• We need contributions to this
from everyone
• We especially need examples
Sunday, February 8, 2009

Faculty Guide
• Your course implementation
profiles will inform this guide
Sunday, February 8, 2009

Information Sources
• We are building a reference
library for future researchers
• Organized by location, sub-
divided by issue area
• Your students should add to
this as they do their research
Sunday, February 8, 2009

Update — Grantee Meeting April 18 - 20 @ ETS in Princeton
Sunday, February 8, 2009

Discussion
Sunday, February 8, 2009

Determining topic(s)
• Who has chosen your initial
issue brief topic(s)?
• Does it matter?
• What are the challenges your
facing with topic selection?
• What advice would you give
others?
Sunday, February 8, 2009

Course Fit
• Is the issue brief research
assignment the major focus of
the course or just one
assignment?
• Is the course a public policy
course?
• Does it matter?
• What advice would you give
others?
Sunday, February 8, 2009

Supporting Research
• How did you explain the
PolicyOptions project to your
students?
• What instructional &/or support
material have you provided
your students to help them
research the issue brief itself?
• What questions do you have?
• What advice would you give
others?
Sunday, February 8, 2009

Using the Wiki
• Have you tried the wiki yet?
• Have you considered having
students begin drafting their
issue briefs on the wiki?
• We will likely have common
topics across multiple
campuses/communities, so we
might think about ways to
encourage collaboration.
Sunday, February 8, 2009

Key Questions to Pursue ? Topis for calls/emails/guides
Sunday, February 8, 2009