AESOPACSP Conference

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Find it athttp//webpolis.info
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This is the story of the development of its
interactive applications and its expansion into
a consortium of communities utilizing online
resources for better decision-making by local
communities.
WebPolis
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How we make decisions
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Learning to make decisionsProblem-based
learning (PBL)
In Problem Based Learning (PBL) environments,
students act as professionals and confront
problems as they occur - with fuzzy edges,
insufficient information, and a need to determine
the best solution possible by a given date. This
is the manner in which engineers, doctors, and,
yes, even teachers, approach problem solving,
unlike many classrooms where teachers are the
"sage on the stage."
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Learning to make decisionsusing the Rivertown
Simulation
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• Rivertown sets up the environment

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• Rivertown sets up the environment
• BUGLE newspaper sets out an issue

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• Rivertown sets up the environment
• 2. BUGLE newspaper sets out an issue
• 3. Online textbook gives topic information

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1. Rivertown sets up the environment 2. BUGLE
newspaper sets out an issue 3. Online textbook
gives topic information 4. External links
Internet resources
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• Rivertown sets up the environment
• BUGLE newspaper sets out an issue
• Online textbook gives topic information
• External links Internet resources
• External consultants outside discussants

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• Rivertown sets up the environment
• BUGLE newspaper sets out an issue
• Online textbook gives topic information
• External links Internet resources
• External consultants outside discussants
• Fictional characters provide controlled
  perspectives stimulate discussion

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The characters of Rivertown
Ima Uptight,Resident
Delores Lemma,Council Rep.
Burnham Daniel,City Planner
Clara Story,Local Historian
Nipsy More,Merchant
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• Rivertown sets up the environment
• BUGLE newspaper sets out an issue
• Online textbook gives topic information
• External links Internet resources
• External consultants outside discussants
• Fictional characters provide controlled
  perspectives stimulate discussion
• Bank manager controls economic aspects

Norman Tyler,Bank Manager
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1. Rivertown sets up the environment 2. BUGLE
newspaper sets out an issue 3. Online textbook
gives topic information 4. External links
Internet resources 5. External consultants
outside discussants 6. Fictional characters
provide controlled perspectives stimulate
discussion 7. Bank manager controls economic
aspects 8. Polls of fictional residents
evaluates activities
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Decision-makingand local government
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Online services

• Promotion of City
• Meeting Schedules
• Master Plan
• Code of Ordinances
• Permit Information
• Job Opportunities
• Hyperlinks to e-mail contacts

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Over one-half of the American population is now
online.
Those who traditionally have used it least
people of lower income, the less educated, the
elderlyrecently have become the fastest
adopters. U.S. Census Bureaus Current
Population Survey
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Topic InformationWeb Pages
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Loans/grantsSearch Engine
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Consensus BuilderApplication
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Local Economic DevelopmentApplication
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Land Suitability AnalysisApplication
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Summary
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Benefits to users

• The WebPolis project offers many benefits to its
  user communities. They include
• Extensive online resources available to local
  governments and residents.
• Brings leading edge technologies to local
  government at minimal cost.
• Online resources are shared between member
  communities.
• Residents have a stronger voice in community
  issues.
• Access to resources is user-friendly.
• Applications are maintained and updated by
  Consortium staff.
• Creates partnerships for funding.

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Other benefits to users

• Use of a generic community online newsletter
  format
• A series of online survey formats for
  community surveys
• E-mail addresses for all users (subject to
  user approval)
• Daily online checks of seniors and shut-ins
• Incubator for locally owned online businesses
• Online writing of local history by senior
  citizens
• Regular online mentoring of school children by
  local volunteers
• Current census data available for all user
  communities

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WebPolis ConsortiumPartner Organizations in
Michigan
Michigan Society of Planning (APA) Heart
of Michigan Planning Group (A 13-county
consortium) Washtenaw County Administrators
Office City of Ypsilanti Community Outreach
Partnership Centers City of Albion Albion
Economic Development Corporation Albion
College Eastern Michigan University Institute
for Geospatial Research and Education Urban and
Regional Planning Program
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15 years of classroom experimentation
Back to the classroom,Fall semester 2003
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A new approachThe