Course Syllabus: Rebuilding Lives – Advocacy and Argumentation through Interactive Learning

Course Description

This four-week course immerses students in the Rebuilding Lives prototype, combining interactive learning with civic engagement principles. Students will explore data-driven decision-making, advocacy strategies, and argumentation techniques to address houselessness and community challenges. This course promotes critical thinking and collaborative problem-solving skills essential for fostering social change.

Instructional Goal

After completing this course, the learner will use advocacy and data-driven strategies to develop and implement innovative solutions for houselessness and mental health awareness.

Objectives

Sub Goal 1: Analyze Data-Driven Advocacy Approaches

After completing this lesson, students will be able to:

• Objective 1.1: Examine the role of data in addressing societal challenges.

• Objective 1.2: Interpret data to develop evidence-based arguments.

Sub Goal 2: Develop Advocacy and Argumentation Skills

After completing this lesson, students will be able to:

• Objective 2.1: Craft compelling arguments to influence diverse stakeholders.
• Objective 2.2: Employ rhetorical strategies to advocate for the Rebuilding Lives program.
• Objective 2.3: Apply ethical reasoning to decision-making in advocacy.

Sub Goal 3: Integrate Technology for Social Change

After completing this lesson, students will be able to:

• Objective 3.1: Use digital tools to analyze data and present findings.

• Objective 3.2: Engage in collaborative activities to design community-based solutions.

Sub Goal 4: Evaluate and Reflect on Prototyping Methods

After completing this lesson, students will be able to:

• Objective 4.1: Participate in simulations and provide constructive feedback on the Rebuilding Lives prototype.

• Objective 4.2: Reflect on the ethical implications of advocacy strategies.

Optional Text(s)

• .Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City by Matthew Desmond.
  This book provides insights into the systemic challenges of housing insecurity, a key theme of the course.
• The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness by Michelle Alexander.
  This text explores societal barriers relevant to advocacy and systemic inequality.
• Supplemental readings and resources provided through the course LMS.

Computer/Technical Requirements

• Reliable internet connection.
• A computer or tablet with video conferencing capabilities.
• Access to multimedia tools (e.g., Adobe Spark, Kahoot, or similar tools for group collaboration).
• LMS login credentials.

Assignments

1. Weekly Reflection Journals (25 pts)
   • Analyze weekly activities and data-driven findings through reflective writing.
2. Interactive Prototype Engagement (100 pts)
   • Participate in simulations, group discussions, and peer-reviewed feedback sessions
3. Data Interpretation Tasks (100 pts)
   • Analyze and present in-game data from Rebuilding Lives to develop actionable advocacy strategies.
4. Advocacy Paper (100 pts)
   • Organize and present your findings in written format.
5. Final Advocacy Pitch (100 pts)
   • Develop and present a persuasive multimedia advocacy pitch addressing a houselessness-related policy or community intervention.

Grading

Late Submission Policy
Assignments have a grace period on their due dates, up to a maximum of two days. Extensions may be granted with prior communication.

Topical Outline

Week	Topic	Key Activities
1	Ethical Dilemmas in Advocacy & Housing Instability	Explore Rebuilding Lives; analyze key advocacy metrics; connect Evicted themes to real-world housing data. Participate in discussions on ethical dilemmas in data-driven advocacy.
2	Advocacy Strategies and Data Interpretation	Perform data interpretation tasks and analyze the impact of advocacy campaigns on community trust, political support, and systemic barriers. Discuss policy advocacy strategies using case studies.
3	Argumentation	Engage with simulated scenarios, analyze advocacy choices, and provide structured peer feedback. Apply rhetorical strategies in advocacy writing.
4	Advocacy Pitch and Final Reflection	Present advocacy pitches, synthesizing data analysis, ethical considerations, and policy arguments. Reflect on course learnings and prototype engagement.

Plan for Reading Selection

Evicted by Matthew Desmond

• Total Length: ~400 pages (depending on the edition).
• Suggested Chapters:
  • Introduction: Eviction and the Reproduction of Urban Poverty
    Sets the stage for understanding the systemic nature of housing issues.
  • Chapter 2: Making Rent
    Provides a narrative that explores landlord-tenant dynamics.
  • Chapter 8: The Geography of Advantage
    Examines how housing policies exacerbate inequities.

These selections total approximately 80-100 pages and can be read across two weeks.

The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander

• Total Length: ~350 pages (depending on the edition).
• Suggested Chapters:
  • Introduction: The Rebirth of Caste
    Introduces the concept of systemic oppression in the justice system.
  • Chapter 2: The Lockdown
    Details the mechanisms of systemic control that connect to advocacy themes.
  • Conclusion: The Fire This Time
    Provides a call to action for systemic reform.

These selections total approximately 70-90 pages and can be read across two weeks.

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Weekly Plan for Reading

• Week 1: Evicted Introduction and Chapter 2.
• Week 2: Evicted Chapter 8 and The New Jim Crow Introduction.
• Week 3: The New Jim Crow Chapter 2.
• Week 4: The New Jim Crow Conclusion.