The case study for this unit is presented in a problem-based learning format.
Your role in this exercise is to assume the role of Jerry Feldman, Director of Field Services of the Human Services Coordination Team, State Social Services Department. Your agency's mission is to facilitate the efforts of community organizations to work both independently and with state and federal agencies in the provision of social services. At this moment, you are faced with a problem in the the Northeast Regional Office. The Regional Director, Arthur Harris, has requested a meeting with you and Francis Carpenter. Arthur is a young, white male and has only recently been promoted to a supervisory role. Francis, who previously worked with Arthur as a peer, is now his subordinate. She is an older, black female and the unit's inner city specialist. Conflict between Arthur and Francis has escalated to the point that Arthur is attempting to draw you into the conflict to serve as a mediator.
To become familiar the situation, select the link "1. Start here -the situation." The series of slides present the current meeting between Jerry, Arthur, and Francis. Click anywhere on the slide to go to the next slide. On the left hand corner of each slide, there are three buttons. The first button will take you to the previous slide. The homepage icon will take one to the first slide.
1. Start here - the situation
Now that you are familiar with the situation, record your first
impressions. Select the link
"2.
Download and fill out this form." List your answers to the following
questions: What do I you currently know? What do I need to know in order
to clarify the situation? How would I normally get this information?
2. Download and fill out this form
Now select the link "3. Use these information resources." Some of the information that you have listed as necessary to clarify the situation might be found at the Human Services Coordination Team website, at Jerry Feldman's web site (i.e. your virtual office), or by directly e-mailing specific questions to Francis or Arthur.
3. Use these information resources
Before you run out of time, post on the bulletin board under Assignment # 12 two attachments. The first attached file should be your "First impressions of the situation" from Step 2. The second attached file should be a one page essay "Recommendations for resolving the conflict". These files must be attached by 10 PM Wednesday evening.
4. Post on the bulletin board by 10 PM Wednesday evening
- "First impressions of the situation"
- "Recommendations for resolving the conflict"
After Wednesday night's class, return to the bulletin board and write a short reflective essay before the next class. Reflect upon what you have learned or failed to learn and how well or poorly you learned using the problem based learning format. Open your Assignment # 12 posting, select the reply button and fill the message box with your reflective essay. This will tie your reflective essay to your original posting for Assignment # 12 and will facilitate my evaluation of your work. Please have your reflective essay posted before the next class
5. After Wednesday's class, post your reflective essay on the bulletin board.
Before writing your reflective essay, read your colleagues' "Recommendations for resolving the conflict." Examine and evaluate the similarities and differences across the analyses offered by your colleagues.
- What are the differences among your colleagues' analyses of this situation?
- Are there differences in identifying the core problems?
- Are there differences in the perceived causes of the conflict?
- Are there differences in the assumptions about who is primarily responsible for the conflict?
- Are there differences in the type and severity of recommendations for resolving the conflict?
- Why do your colleagues have different recommendations for solving this conflict?
- How would you explain these differences among your colleagues? (Age, type of work experience, political ideology, race, gender, or what.?)
- Are there any common elements across your colleagues' analyses of this situation?
- If yes, please explain what they are and why you think there is agreement of these issues.
- Finally, evaluate what you have learned from this case study and provide me with some feedback on this type of online problem based learning.
last revised by dhostet@siue.edu
April 16, 2003