Dr. Steven E. Galatas and Dr. Cindy Pressley

1
Teaching about Americas Financial Future
Assessment of Civic Engagement in the University
Core Curriculum

• Dr. Steven E. Galatas and Dr. Cindy Pressley
• Stephen F. Austin State University, Nacogdoches,
  Texas

2
Why the University Core Curriculum?

• Texas requires every student take 6 hours (2
  courses) of Political Science
• Wider audience than in major courses
• 3 hours at SFASU substantively cover public
  policy
• Interdisciplinary (Economics also participated,
  History is expected to join in Fall 2009)
• Texas mandates assessment of all core curriculum
  course
• SFASU chose a faculty lead process to define how
  assessment occurs
• SFASU focuses on writing assignments and imbedded
  course work, not standardized tests
• Tie into core curriculum assessment ongoing
  efforts at national debt/budget deficit literacy

3
Political Science Core Curriculum Assessment at
SFASU

• Defined by Texas Legislature
• Social Science Exemplary Educational Objectives
  (EEO)
• EEO 4 -- To develop and communicate alternative
  explanations or solutions for contemporary social
  issues
• EEO 10 -- To analyze, critically assess, and
  develop creative solutions to public policy
  problems
• Method of Assessment for PSC 142 involved in
  Fiscal Health of Our Democracy (FHOD)
• Writing Assignment
• Common grading rubric

4
FHOD Process at SFASU

• Pilot Project in Fall of 2009
• One section of PSC 142 (American Government
  Structure and Function)
• Use of materials provided by Public Agenda with
  supplemental materials
• Pre-survey, Educational Intervention, Post-Survey
• Writing Assignment
• Embedded project in all sections of PSC 142
• Faculty given freedom to add content to
  presentation
• Same assessment tools as Pilot Project

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FHOD Process

• Methods instruction
• Varied by professor
• Lecture
• You Tube Video Clips
• Example Nancy Pelosi's speech kills bailout
  bill - Republicans say - and stockmarket plunge
• http//www.youtube.com/watch?vjooUCZP3m6M
• Websites
• Example US Bureau of Labor Statistics
• http//www.bls.gov/
• Videos on the Federal Reserve System
• http//www.federalreserveeducation.org/fed101/inde
  x.htm?CFID2373195CFTOKEN25487268
• Debt clock
• http//www.brillig.com/debt_clock/

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FHOD Process

• Methods of evaluation (in addition to Core
  Curriculum Assessment)
• Writing assignments
• Example Manipulating the National Budget
• Objective questions
• MC Example The largest portion of the federal
  budget for limited income-persons is spent on
  (a) Medicaid (b) College scholarships (c) Job
  training programs (d) Temporary Assistance to
  Needy Families
• T/F Example The national public debt is
  currently 5 billion dollars.
• Research Paper
• Example Whether US economic policy is working
  and whether government spending should be
  curtailed

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Pre-Test, Post-Test SurveyHow worried are you
about the size of the national debt?

• Pilot Project Fall 2008

• Full Spring 2009

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Size of National Debt?

• Pilot Project Fall 2008

• Full Spring 2009

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Federal Budget Dedicated to SSI, Medicare, etc.?

• Pilot Project Fall 2008

• Full Spring 2009

10
Federal Budget Dedicated to Defense?

• Pilot Project Fall 2008

• Full Spring 2009

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Federal Budget Dedicated toInterest on Debt?

• Pilot Project Fall 2008

• Full Spring 2009

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Biggest Contributor to National Debt?

• Pilot Project Fall 2008

• Full Spring 2009

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Solutions to the National Debt?

• Pilot Project Fall 2008

• Full Spring 2009

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Lessons Learned from Spring 2009

• What students think they want to know
• Rhetorical issues
• Extent of government waste
• Role of pork barreling
• Balanced budget amendments
• Why the debt matters
• Making the size of the debt meaningful
• Affects personal loans (student loans, car loans)
• Job market and job security
• SSI and Medicare (Social responsibility across
  generations)

15
Lessons Learned from Spring 2009

• Accuracy of information
• Ensure instructors provide correct information
  (?)
• Need to update information given
• Ongoing financial instability
• Government deficit spending
• Need to overcome students predispositions
• Predispositions
• Republicans/Conservatives cut spending,
  entitlements
• Democrats /Liberals defense spending
• Libertarian dilemma
• Provide information in multiple formats
• More emphasis on facts related to budget and debt

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Lessons Learned from Spring 2009

• Potential topics to expand or incorporate
• Complexity of the problem
• Other actors in the system (President, Congress,
  etc.)
• Policy trade offs
• Links to social policy
• History of the regulatory environment for the
  financial system
• Differences between fiscal and monetary policy
• Role of federalism in tax policy
• Which level of government receives which taxes
• How programs are administered
• Emphasis on interdisciplinary connections
• Position of U.S. in global economy