Discrimination at Airports: TSA Training Program
Task Force: Discrimination at Airports: TSA Training Program Congratulations! You have been hired by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to develop a training program for
Simulations/Task Forces
Why?
An important part of being an effective civic leader in society involves conceptualizing how you would tackle issues if you were in a position of authority to make necessary reforms. Each of our Task Forces are designed to help students think critically about various issues and try to brainstorm well-detailed plans to try and solve them by roleplaying as key decision-makers.
What?
Each section starts off by setting the narrative and describing what they have been tasked with. For example, a Task Force about affordable housing might indicate that the individual(s) has/have been put in charge of creating an affordable housing proposition by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
How?
The second section informs the students about why the Task Force is being done with brief background information about the severity of the issue, as well as a brief breakdown of what is being done right now. It encourages the students to critique the system and try to reform it in different ways (even if they believe the current approach is appropriate, we ask them to try and improve it).
Steps
- Students are first asked to create a plan, design a program, or make a decision about an issue. Topic-specific questions are asked to get them to start critically thinking.
- They are tasked with thinking through the possible objections that someone could have about their designs, and how they would answer them. In cases where something is already being done, they are asked to compare their plan with the current one in place and how they better approach the issue.
- The last part of the Task Force involves them presenting their ideas and trying to see if they can convince other classmates that they have taken the best possible initiativ
Important Reminders
- Each of our Task Forces can be done in groups and individually.
- The students should be urged to come up with a few strong ideas, rather than create an exhaustive list.
- A vote should be taken when group members cannot agree on a specific criteria, and the disagreement should be mentioned in the presentation/discussion of their Task Force.
- Each lesson plan includes an accompanying Google Slides template to be used with virtual breakout rooms in small groups.
- You can send us questions or requests to [email protected] if you need help implementing these in your classroom!
Simulations/Task Forces Collection
Breaking Down Education Barriers for Girls
Task Force: Breaking Down Education Barriers for Girls Congratulations! You have been hired by UNICEF as part of a research team to investigate the biggest
Diversifying Disney
Task Force: Diversifying Disney Congratulations! You have just been hired as an executive at Disney and it will be your job to decide which movies
Land Back
Task Force: Land Back Congratulations! You have been asked to join the planning committee for COP27, the international climate conference happening in Egypt in 2022.
Alternatives to Single Use Plastic
Task Force: Alternatives to Single Use Plastic Congratulations! You’re the head of product development at a major fast food chain (of your choice). One of
Destroying the Dowry System
Task Force: Destroying the Dowry System Congratulations! You and your friends started a gender equality club at your school. For your first campaign, you have
Fighting for Gender Neutral Restrooms
Task Force: Fighting for Gender Neutral Restrooms Congratulations! You work for an organization that fights for the rights of trans and non-binary people. You have
Standardized Testing
Task Force: Standardized Testing Congratulations! You are members of your state board of education. You have been tasked with deciding if and how state standardized
Not in My Backyard
Task Force: Not in My Backyard Congratulations! You are the president of your local zoning board, the group who evaluates proposals for new buildings in
Redesigning the Police System
Task Force: Redesigning the Police System Congratulations! You have just been elected mayor of your city. While on the campaign trail, many voters expressed to