Unit Introduction and What You Will Learn
Week eight marks the end of this class and also the MSW program. The content is asynchronous. Final grades are due to the instructor by next Wednesday, 7/23. Students will read content about systems thinking and future planning. There are forums where you can respond to questions from the textbook and practice diagramming systems. An online quiz will provide a space for students to demonstrate their learning from the coursework. Student also have a forum to share their future directions and key learning from the program.
The learning objectives for this week include:
- Apply systems thinking to analyze complex policy problems and visualize interrelated components through diagramming techniques.
- Critically evaluate the benefits and limitations of tools such as problem trees, influence diagrams, and causal loops in policy analysis.
- Utilize forecasting methods to assess future outcomes and unintended consequences of social policy interventions.
- Demonstrate integrative learning by reflecting on personal and professional growth across the MSW program and articulating future goals as practitioners.
- Synthesize key insights from Rebooting Policy Analysis and relate them to real-world practice contexts.
- Assess understanding of course content through a comprehensive take-home exam focused on applied policy analysis.
Unit Assignments
Read
- Linquiti (2022) Chapter 12: Incorporating Systems Thinking in Policy Analysis
- Linquiti (2022) Chapter 13: Using Policy Analysis to Visualize the Future
A-01 Weekly Online Discussion Forum
The expectation is that each of your replies will be substantive and provide meaningful perspectives, contributing to the forum’s conversation and scholarship. They can be related to the prompts or building on conversations shared by peers. There are five forums for this week, and you are expected to make at least four replies across any of the forums. These forums include the following:
- Students reflect on their personal and professional growth, future aspirations, and any concerns as they transition into practice in the Future Directions and Key Learning forum.
- In the Diagramming a System with Systems Theory, students explore how visualizing systems can enhance understanding of policy and practice.
- The Linquiti (2022) Textbook Review forum invites students to share their impressions and key insights from the course textbook, Rebooting Policy Analysis.
- In the Chapter 12 Discussion Questions forum, students respond to prompts about system mapping, causal relationships, and the benefits and limitations of various analytical tools.
- The Chapter 13 Discussion Questions forum encourages students to explore forecasting policy outcomes, evaluating alternatives, and the dynamics of group collaboration in policy planning.
A-03 Take Home Exams
Take the quiz, A-03 - Take Home Exam 02 over Linquiti’s (2022) chapters 5-10.
Go Forth and Change the World
I’m excited to see what you all do with your careers. Like I said during the last class session. Please keep in touch; you’re always welcome to reach out if you need anything. You can also add me in places! If you need LICSW supervision, Ruby (Yakima) and I (Tri-Cities) are both available to provide it.
Unit Resources
Reference
Edin, K. J., & Shaefer, H. L. (2016). $2.00 A Day: Living on almost nothing in America. HarperCollins.
Linquiti, P. D. (2022). Rebooting policy analysis: Strengthening the foundation, expanding the scope. CQ Press.
To-Do List
- Complete the A-03 - Take Home Exam 02
- Read chapters 12 & 13 of the textbook (golden star for 14)
- Complete four replies across any of the five forums
- Do great things