Fictional island nation Atlantinha needs a new constitution.
Students read background information on Atlantinha and articles on institutional design before class. During section, the instructor divides them into two or three discussion groups, and the students debate among themselves what sort of institutions would be best, as if they were international consultants or NGOs. At the end of class, everyone comes back together for a short plenary and a final vote. The most difficult concept that week is the most obvious solution (consociationalism). This activity forces students to talk through that possibility.
For the detailed background handout on Atlantinha, see the document below.
fact sheet.pdf | 175 KB |
See also: Debate, Research, Role Play, Observational, GOV 20: Foundations of Comparative Politics, Foundations of Comparative Politics, Applied/Concrete, Policy development or analysis, Theoretical/Abstract, Government, Class Decision, Brown, Colin, Authentic Learning (Simulations, Lab, Field), Expanding Depth and Breadth, Group & Cooperative Learning; Students as Classroom Leaders, Collaborate, Make Real World Connections to Course Material, Interpret Primary Sources to Propose a Model or Argument, Defend a Position in a Model or Argument, Full Class, Whole class, Group, Law Professions, Social Science, Single Class