Teaching Public Policy Through Student Engagement
Friday, January 30, 2015
Session Feedback transcribed February 2, 2015
n = 13 responses
All responses from evaluation forms were transcribed exactly as written.
Not all respondents answered all questions.
1. Please rate the overall quality of the day’s work: My rating: _____ (1-10, with 10 being highest
quality)
8, 8, 9, 9, 9, 9, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10
mean = 9
median = 10
mode = 10
Comments:
 Most informative.
 I thought it was a very productive day, especially the after dinner discussion.
 Very clearly presented. Everyone was given the opportunity to express their point of view.
 I greatly enjoyed the guest speaker and all of the useful information to engage students as citizens.
 I thought Gerston’s presentation was great, but the day went too long.
 
 I have heard Dr. Gerston present before, and it is still worthwhile and relevant!
 The lecture by Dr. Gerston was very interesting.
 Starting earlier and getting done earlier might have helped. I thought the reading and panel was
interesting, but it could’ve been shorter.
2. What did you learn from discussions about Public Policy?
 What public policy is and what is isn’t. How it can be used in the classroom to promote critical
thinking and research.
 That more people need to be engaged in the process, which starts by defining what public policy is. I
think there could’ve been more said about how the process is itself is broken.
 How to discern the difference between policy and not.
 How to categorize qualifications for public policy.
 I learned the definition of Public Policy. I had it completely wrong before. The “quit” really helped.
 How simple it can be to teach these concepts.
 It was nice to get a concrete way to understand what public policy is and is not.
 I loved the discussions and hearing the different perspectives from other participants. I truly
appreciate Dr. Gerston’s format for presenting a topic that can be confusing and making it relatable,
especially in how it can be delivered to students.
 I developed a better understanding of public policy (as a definition). It allowed me to reflect on my
own classroom practices. I already implement many of the values and pedagogy discussed but there
are areas that I can improve and use some of the tools learned to do so.
 Thinking about it as a process and discussing the quiz questions the way we did was good. This
could’ve lasted longer. It was interesting and insightful discussion.
3. Please rate the quality of the dinner and discussion about Heal Up and Hair Over: A Wyoming
Civility Reader: My rating: _____ (1-10, with 10 being highest quality)
6, 7, 8, 8, 8, 9, 9, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10
mean = 9
median = 9
mode = 10
1
Comments
 Interesting – a very diverse discussion – excellent choice of reading.
 Fantastic. I would’ve liked more comments from the panelists but time really didn’t allow for that.
 Ruminated on respect – couldn’t get it together to spit it out, and was so excited when it finally came
up. The American foundations of rights & freedom of speech have become meaningless.
 I enjoyed the discussion. For future discussion, it would be great for some discussion to occur at the
small tables. This would provide for more participation. Also, I would like more time to discuss how
to implement these practices in the classroom.
 The comment on the agenda about not being able to accommodate special diets kept me from letting
anyone know about my special diet. I did not have much to eat.
 Great variety of ideas – I leave with much more to think about!
 Loved the forum discussion and the give and take. Sometimes we as educators only lead and it’s nice
to be put through our paces.
 The discussion was very different than I initially expected, but also very thought provoking and
provided great insight.
 I especially enjoyed the panel discussion after dinner. It was nice to hear the different perspectives
from the other members of the group.
 Dinner was good, discussion was too long, or too late in the evening.
4. What is one insight you gained from the dinner and discussion?
 How difficult it is.
 Civility is complicated! It was great to hear how other people are feeling as well.
 One must accept and respect another’s point of view.
 Clichés. Our true premise is – I respect your right to disagree, I value you as a human being. I can
stand beside you, disagree, and we can watch the sun come up and go down together.
 Insight – loved the idea of discussing how to teach civility.
 How fear rules most incivility.
 The definition of civility varies with each person but it is important to treat each other w/ kindness.
 Running scared = the anger and incivility we see today.
 Just really made me consider how one word could be seen so differently depending upon perspective.
 I enjoyed interacting with other members of the group during dinner and hearing their perspectives. I
found a lot of commonality even though we came from and work in diverse situations.
 I liked the idea of the local patron being scared. It is a good example of a significant proportion of
WY population. We talked about many students being or possibly being 1st generation college
students. Their parents’ worlds are changing and they are nervous about that change.
5. Based on today’s discussions what is one thing you will try in your class(es) right away?
 Take parts of the topic segments and try to put them into practice.
 Engaging in more controversial discussions.
 Continue to listen to all opinions.
 Using the readings.
 I’m not in the classroom, but I’d love to use Heal Up and Hair Over.
 I will encourage my district to offer Project Citizen as an elective class.
 Doing public policy in a classroom setting.
 The forum discussion and the readings from the book in [sic] civics.
 There are readings in the reader that I will most likely use in class. Mostly the discussions reinforce
many of the practices I already use in the classroom.
 I think just starting the discussion of local politics and seeing if kids do have any type of issues with
the local gov’t.
2
6. Is there anything else you want meeting planners to know?
 Excellent day!
 Great job!
 I’m loving this – wonderful reinforcement for what & how I teach.
 Nine is too late to end! Teachers get up early.
 Dinner was fabulous. I love the Visual Arts Building and I am inspired to implement these ideas.
 Mr. Gerston is an excellent speaker/presenter. We could have spent the rest of the evening just
talking and sharing with him and it would have been time well spent. Excellent choice.
Saturday, January 31, 2015
Session Feedback transcribed February 2, 2015
n = 9 responses
All responses from evaluation forms were transcribed exactly as written.
Not all respondents answered all questions.
1. Please rate the overall quality of the day’s work: My rating: _____ (1-10, with 10 being highest
quality)
7, 9, 9, 9, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10
mean = 9
median = 10
mode = 10
Comments:
 Quality information, a little disjointed at times, but good.
 It was generally interesting. The morning portion could have been more compact. I felt like I got the
concept fairly early.
 Excellent way to have students to become active learners.
 Very good way to have students become better learners.
 Ms. Strand simplified the process and took most of my initial fears away.
 Thank you for presenting such an important topic.
 Truly enjoyed & appreciated the presentations and the prep that went into them.
 I really enjoyed the presentation and work that Project Citizen and the project presentation gives to
the students and the learning environment.
 It was a great day! I loved seeing Project Citizen in action.
2. What is one insight you gained from the day’s work?
 Just the over-all process and implementation of PJC.
 I gained a better understanding of how to implement Project Citizen into the classroom.
 How to help students to see how citizenship has both privilege and responsibility.
 Assist students to see how citizenship works.
 I learned how to narrow down a topic of policy to make it feasible. Also, how to determine which
entity to approach with their problem.
 I did not know about “We the People.”
 How powerful this tool can be in building the foundation of citizen involvement within the country.
 The panel discussion at the end of the day was informative.
3. Based on today’s discussions what is one thing you will try in your class(es)?
 Just ready to try it again. The first time wasn’t good. I was lost, but feel better about it now.
 I will probably implement some aspect of this within my class this semester. In terms of focusing on
public policy and developing a plan of action.
 Incorporate the 1st segment of Public Policy and Project Citizen – Public policy: what it is and what it
is not.
 Retired.
3





Create a discussion opportunity for my students in which they can voice their concerns about public
policy issues.
I would like to try “We the People” and Project Citizen.
Looking for ways to disseminate & integrate into community.
I will try to implement the idea of Project Citizen in my class and use it with my civics unit.
No classroom to try it in. 
4. What do you see as the next steps for creating more opportunities of a similar kind in the future for
teachers and students?
 Having summer institutes and a formal mailing list will help.
 Try to hold this workshop at a central location.
 Retired.
 Allow Project Citizen to be offered as a semester long social studies credit or elective credit in the
high school.
 Communication to all teachers advertising and surveys to see what the teachers want.
 More exposure will grow the program to include more schools. Logistically it will be challenging but
it is worth a look from student activism.
 I think, as we discussed at the end of the day, just getting the word out is a huge issue.
5. Is there anything else you want meeting planners to know?
 Really glad I came, the small group was nice. Thank you.
 Thank you. I enjoyed the discussions and connection with other social studies educators.
 I will keep in touch with Dawn, a wonderful resource.
 Retired.
 I thoroughly enjoyed this opportunity!
 More of the prep work and maybe a research portion. I understand time was restricted and it was a
day and a half. Well done.
4