Virtual Study Circles
Building Models for
Case-based, Online Learning
iCommons Working Group • 5 February 2002 • David Eddy Spicer • KSG Case Program
Copyright © 2001 by the President and Fellows of Harvard College
The Course
NPS-401 Philanthropy: Policy & Practices
Christine Letts, Assoc. Dir.,Hauser Center
& Peter Frumkin,Ass’t. Prof., KSG,
– Monday & Wednesday, 90 minutes
– One or more cases per class & readings
(40 cases/24 sessions)
– Lectures, case discussions, guest speakers
– Assessment:
Participation (40%), Mid-term paper (20%), Final paper (40%)
Copyright © 2001 by the President and Fellows of Harvard College
The Course
Students
Mid-career
MPP 1&2
GSE
Other Hvd
Fletcher
• I was a lawyer, practicing in the private, government, and non-profit sectors, over the course of
a twenty year career.
• I recruited and trained volunteers, hired, trained, and supervised five staff members who …
ensured that the program would continue after I left it for KSG. (It did. About 400 volunteers
and students still participate.)
• In New Zealand I was involved in indigenous peoples’ issues ranging from the establishment
of new tribal structures to negotiating with the government to resolve historical grievances.
• For the last sixteen years, I’ve been doing journalism in [South America] and teaching
reporting, but also working with international NGOs documenting attacks against Freedom of
Expression
Copyright © 2001 by the President and Fellows of Harvard College
The Concept
Online case discussion as “seed crystal”
• Extend and deepen discussion at crucial
points during the semester (student-tostudent)
• Enrich discussion with practitioner
perspectives by tapping Hauser Center
networks (student-to-practitioner)
Copyright © 2001 by the President and Fellows of Harvard College
The Plan
Faculty
sponsor
5
Advisors
Case A
Guide
5 Virtual
Study Circles
Case B
26
Students
Case C
online discussion
VSC I:
Foundation Management and Decision Making - Mar. 5th
VSC II:
International Philanthropy - Apr. 2nd
VSC III:
Evaluating Philanthropic Initiatives - Apr. 23rd
VSC Participants
Copyright © 2001 by the President and Fellows of Harvard College
The Key Question
• How do we use the structure to guide
discussion?
– Scheduled Asynchronous (Concord Consortium)
• Sequence of Questions
• Articulated Roles
–
–
–
–
Reporter
Filter
Surveyor
Reflections
Copyright © 2001 by the President and Fellows of Harvard College
VSC II
International Philanthropy
VSC II: Assignment
VSC II: Discussion
Copyright © 2001 by the President and Fellows of Harvard College
Puzzles
• “Computational” literacy
• Syncopated Asynchronous
– “traditional” course rhythm
– Advisors’ work & life schedules
– VSC rhythm
• Open vs. bounded
• Entry and exit points
Copyright © 2001 by the President and Fellows of Harvard College
Beyond the Course
• VSC: one tool in a toolkit of online case
teaching
• Integrate with KSG course pages
• Refining assessment
Copyright © 2001 by the President and Fellows of Harvard College
Virtual Study Circles
http://www.ksg.harvard.edu/case/vsc/
Building Models for
Case-based, Online Learning
iCommons • 5 February 2002 • David Eddy Spicer • KSG Case Program
<david_eddy_spicer@harvard.edu>
Copyright © 2001 by the President and Fellows of Harvard College