NSF EESE Course

Emory IBS 500R: Current Topics in Bioscience
GSU LAW 7246: Health Law: Selected Topics
GT PUBP 8803: Biopolicy, Ethics, and Law
MSM: GEBS 752: Special Topics in Bioethics

Facilitators/Contact Information

Gillian Hue, PhD (Team A)	Edward Queen, PhD, JD (Team B)
ghue@emory.edu	equeen@emory.edu
404.727.9533	404.727.1240
Kathy Kinlaw, MDiv	Roberta Berry, JD, PhD
kkinlaw@emory.edu	robertaberry@gatech.edu
404.727.2201	404.385.1704

Class Meetings

Wednesdays, 5:15-8pm
Emory Ethics Center
1531 Dickey Drive
Atlanta, Georgia 30322

Course Objectives

1. Develop and apply Fractious Problem-Solving Skills (FPSS) (see Attachement 1)
2. Develop and apply Problem-Based Learning Skills (PBLS) (see Attachment 2)

Course Problems 

Students will work in teams (Team A and Team B), using FPSS and PBLS to analyze the fractious problems under study and to devise, present, and justify proposed policy resolutions for these fractious problems. The problems will be handed out on:

• Wed, August 25 (Practice Problem)
• Wed, September 8 (Problem 1)
• Wed, October 20 (Problem 2)

Course Materials

There are no required textbooks or assigned readings. Students will identify sources and conduct research independently and in collaboration with team members.

Course Requirements

(1) Please submit all course requirements by email to your team facilitator and cc Roberta Berry.

(2) FPSS Progress Reports (individual submissions)

Prepare and submit 2 FPSS Progress Reports (maximum 500 words each).

Your FPSS Progress Reports should describe and assess your efforts and your team’s efforts to apply the FPSS to the problem under study.

Due dates:

Wed, September 22, by 2pm (Problem 1)
Wed, November 10, by 2pm (Problem 2)

(3) PBLS Progress Reports (individual submissions)

 Prepare and submit 2 PBLS Progress Reports (maximum 500 words each).

Your PBLS Progress Reports should describe and assess your efforts and your team’s efforts to apply the PBLS to the problem under study.

Due dates:

Wed, September 22, by 2pm (Problem 1)
Wed, November 10, by 2pm (Problem 2)

(4) Slides and Presentations (team submissions/presentations)

Prepare team slides, including references, using the FPSS to analyze the problems and to devise, present, and justify proposed policy resolutions.

Slide submission due dates:

Wed, September 8, by 2pm (Practice Problem)
Wed, October 20, by 2pm (Problem 1)
*Wed, December 8, by 2pm (Problem 2)
          *tentative

Presentations (approx. 30 minutes slides, 20 minutes discussion) on:

Wed, September 8, 5:15-7pm (Practice Problem)
Wed, October 13, 5:15-7pm (Problem 1, Practice Session)
Wed, October 20, 5:15-7pm (Problem 1, Formal Presentation)
Wed, December 1, 5:15-7pm (Problem 2, Practice Session)
*Wed, December 8, 5:15-7pm (Problem 2, Formal Presentation)
          *tentative
Public presentations (1 per student: radio, classroom, public forum)
to be determined.
          *tentative

(5) Reports (team submissions, 30-50 pages of text)

Prepare team reports, including bibliography in proper form, using the FPSS to analyze the problems and to devise, present, and justify proposed policy resolutions.

Due dates:

Friday, October 22, by 5pm (Problem 1)
Friday, December 10, by 5pm (Problem 2)

(6) Complete three online ethics questionnaires or prepare and submit an alternative ethics essay homework assignment at the beginning and again at the end of the course.

Course Grade

(1) FPSS (individual) - 25%

FPSS Progress Reports and Facilitator Observations

(2) PBLS (individual) - 25%

PBLS Progress Reports and Facilitator Observations

(3) Team Slides and Presentations - 25%

Graded according to demonstrated FPSS used to analyze the problems and to devise, present, and justify proposed policy resolutions; clarity, comprehensiveness, accuracy

(4) Team Reports (including bibliography in proper form) - 25%

Graded according to demonstrated FPSS used to analyze the problems and to devise, present, and justify proposed policy resolutions; clarity, comprehensiveness, accuracy.

(5) Ethics Questionnaires or Alternative Homework Assignments - 0%

The contents of the questionnaires or alternative homework assignments will not affect your course grade.

(6) Attendance - Potential Impact

Attendance and participation is expected at class meetings and Team presentations. More than one unexcused absence may negatively affect your grade due to diminished skill development and diminished contributions to team presentations and reports.

Honor Codes

The honor codes of the four institutions apply to students from those institutions with respect to all aspects of this course.

Summary Schedule with Due Dates

Wed Aug 25	Joint Meeting	5:15-6:15	Room 102
	Team Meetings	6:15-8pm	Team Rooms
	Begin Practice Problem
Wed Sept 1	Team Meetings	5:15-8pm	Team Rooms
Wed Sept 8	Submit Practice Problem Slides	By 2pm	By email
	Practice Problem Presentation	5:15-7pm	Room 252
	Debrief Practice Problem Presentation		Team Rooms
	Begin Problem 1
Wed Sept 15	Team Meetings	5:15-8pm	Team Rooms
Wed Sept 22	Submit FPSS Progress Report	By 2pm	By email
	Submit PBLS Progress Report	By 2pm	By email
	Team Meetings	5:15-8pm	Team Rooms
Wed Sept 29	Team Meetings	5:15-8pm	Team Rooms
*Wed Oct 8	*Team Meetings on your own at a time, date, and place TBD by teams.
Wed Oct 13	Problem 1 Practice Session	5:15-7pm	Room 252
	Debrief Problem 1 Practice Session	7-8pm	Team Rooms
Wed Oct 20	Submit Problem 1 Slides	By 2pm	By email
	Problem 1 Formal Presentation	5:15-7pm	Room 252
	Debrief Problem 1 Formal Presentation	7-8pm	Team Rooms
	Begin Problem 2
Fri, Oct 22	Submit Problem 1 Team Report	By 5pm
Wed Oct 27	Team Meetings	5:15-8pm	Team Rooms
Wed Nov 3	Team Meetings	5:15-8pm	Team Rooms
Wed Nov 10	Submit FPSS Progress Report	By 2pm	By email
	Submit PBLS Progress Report	By 2pm	By email
	Team Meetings	5:15-8pm	Team Rooms
Wed Nov 17	Team Meetings	5:15-8pm	Team Rooms
*Wed Nov 24	*Team Meetings on your own at a time, date, and place TBD by teams.
Wed Dec 1	Problem 2 Practice Session	5:15-7pm	Room 252
	Debrief Problem 2 Practice Session	7-8pm	Team Rooms
*Wed Dec 8	*Tentative—time, place, and date may be changed.
	Submit Problem 2 Slides	By 2pm	By email
	Problem 2 Formal Presentation	5:15-7pm	Room 252
	Debrief Problem 2 Formal Presentation	5:15-8pm	Team Rooms
Fri Dec 10	Submit Problem 2 Team Report	By 5pm

Public presentations (1 per student: radio, classroom, public forum) to be determined.