JuryX: Deliberations for Social Change
Faculty
Charles Nesson, Weld Professor of Law at Harvard Law School
(Meet more members of the course team!)
Course Description
How can we use the internet to better govern ourselves?
JuryX: Deliberations for Social Change, an experiment in online discourse, invites you to explore, through a series of asynchronous and synchronous group activities, a deliberative system by which emotionally charged issues can be discussed online with civility, empathy, and a desire to affect change. Although you will learn about the history of the jury and even serve as a member of a virtual jury for a mock criminal case, this experiment is about active citizenship, participation in the deliberative process, and a framework by which to facilitate dialogue within your own affinity group or community.
The JuryX experience consists of six modules and an epilogue where we reflect on our core themes of governance and the internet. Each week, you will learn, apply, and share feedback on a new step in a system designed to foster civic dialogue.
Starting with an introduction to the course's deliberative framework, you will move from a traditional jury-based application to a live social issue unfolding in real time: Question 4, the Massachusetts ballot measure to create a system for regulating and taxing cannabis for adult use, like alcohol. As citizens of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts deliberate on this issue, so will you and your peers. What arguments will shape this debate, and what will the final outcome be?
JuryX is all about participation. Two synchronous small-group deliberations will be held in our final few weeks using talkabout, a version of Google Hangouts. Participation is optional, but highly recommended. In Week 3 of the course, you will learn more about alternatives to using talkabout.
What You Will Learn
- A high-level history of the jury
- How to deliberate online using a process designed to move a community or affinity group from difference to consensus
- How to reflect upon your participation in a deliberative process
- How to use web-based tools to discuss emotionally charged issues
Course Duration
Content for this course will be posted every Tuesday at 20:00 UTC for seven weeks.
- Week 1 is available on Tuesday, September 27.
- Week 7 is available on Wednesday, November 9.
- NOTE: Week 7 will be released on Wednesday in order to incorporate the results of the Massachusetts ballot measure on November 8.
- The course officially ends on Tuesday, November 15; however, course materials will remain available after this date in an archived mode.
Specific release dates for each week are listed within the "Course Schedule" section.
Grading
Since JuryX is not a course in the traditional sense, you won't find any homework, quizzes, or exams. Instead, you are asked to engage in a series of discussion and feedback activities, and your participation will be be measured based on the degree to which you contribute to the community-wide discussion.
Since JuryX discussion and feedback activities are not automatically graded by the edX platform, your participation will be measured and tracked using a weekly self-report form called "Report Your Work."
100% of your participation grade will be based on your "Report Your Work" scores.
The activities you are asked to self-report on will vary, somewhat, from week to week, but they will, typically, include:
- A discussion activity (The "Course Schedule" discusses these activities in greater detail.)
- A "Share Feedback" activity
Scores from the two lowest "Report Your Work" activities will be dropped. [This is done in order not to penalize those who choose to opt out of the two small-group deliberations held in Week 4 and Week 6; see the "Our Model for Facilitating Discourse Online" section that follows for more information.]
Our Model for Facilitating Discourse Online: Discussion Activities
Discussion activities form the core experience of JuryX.
Discussion is a unique opportunity to engage with learners from all over the world. Our community is diverse in experience, knowledge, language, and culture. This provides us with an incredible resource of viewpoints, and we want to make sure the discussions are meaningful and fun.
You will be asked to participate in three types of discussion throughout JuryX:
- Asynchronous discussion using the edX discussion forum (in Week 1 and Week 7)
- Asynchronous pre-deliberation in a large group using a pseudonymous discussion tool called THREADS (in Week 2, Week 3, and Week 5)
- Synchronous small-group deliberation using a video conferencing tool called talkabout (in Week 4 and Week 6)
- NOTE: Synchronous small-group deliberation activities are OPTIONAL, and learners are encouraged to explore other ways to discuss issues in small groups.
Verified Certificates
Earning an ID-verified certificate is based upon earning a final course grade (participation rate) of at least 70% by Tuesday, November 29, 2016.
If you register for a verified certificate, and your score is 70% or above, you will receive a certificate. Certificates will be issued automatically by edX upon course completion, and will appear on your personal dashboard page roughly two weeks after the course ends. Certificates are not mailed.
The last day to enroll and earn an ID-verified certificate is November 5, 2016.
Course Schedule
Week 1: Getting Started (Available Tuesday, September 27, 2016 at 20:00 UTC)
In Week 1, you will explore the edX platform, meet your instructor, and learn more about the purpose, process, and goals of JuryX. You will also introduce yourself to the JuryX community and share feedback via a pre-course survey. Activities include:
- Activity 1.1: Introduce Yourself [using the edX discussion forum]
- Activity 1.2: Share Feedback (Pre-course Survey)
- Report Your Work
Week 2: The Trilemma of the Maroons (Available Tuesday, October 4, 2016 at 20:00 UTC)
In Week 2, you will learn about the history of the jury and participate in your first pre-deliberation activity using THREADS, a pseudonymous discussion tool developed by Professor Nesson and one of his students. You will also share feedback about that experience. Activities include:
- Activity 2.1: Pre-deliberate in a Large Group [using THREADS]
- Activity 2.2: Share Feedback
- Report Your Work
Week 3: Commonwealth v. Hebert - Part I (Available Tuesday, October 11, 2016 at 20:00 UTC)
In Week 3, you will be introduced to "Commonwealth v. Hebert," a case dealing with gun laws and pre-deliberate using THREADS in preparation for a jury deliberation experience in Week 4. You will also review best practices related to the art of deliberation. Activities include:
- Activity 3.1: Pre-deliberate in a Large Group [using THREADS]
- Activity 3.2: Share Feedback
- Report Your Work
Week 4: Commonwealth v. Hebert - Part II (Available Tuesday, October 18, 2016 at 20:00 UTC)
In Week 4, you will explore the deliberation stage by participating in a small-group deliberation of Commonwealth v. Hebert using talkabout or an alternative of your choosing. You will then share your verdict and reflect on your deliberation experience. [NOTE: The course team will share more information about deliberation options in Week 3 of the course.]
Activities include:
- Activity 4.1: Deliberate in a Small Group [using talkabout or an alternative of your choosing]
- This activity is optional, but HIGHLY encouraged.
- Activity 4.2: Share Feedback
- Report Your Work
Week 5: The Legalization of Cannabis - Part I (Available Tuesday, October 25, 2016 at 20:00 UTC)
In Week 5, you will be introduced to our big issue: Question 4, the Massachusetts ballot measure to create a system for regulating and taxing cannabis for adult use, like alcohol. You will pre-deliberate using THREADS in preparation for a mock referendum experience in Week 6. Activities include:
- Activity 5.1: Pre-deliberate in a Large Group [using THREADS]
- Activity 5.2: Share Feedback
- Report Your Work
Week 6: The Legalization of Cannabis - Part II (Available Tuesday, November 1, 2016 at 20:00 UTC)
In Week 6, you will deliberate Question 4 in small groups using talkabout or an alternative of your choosing. You will then share feedback on your outcome and reflect on the experience. Activities include:
- Activity 6.1: Deliberate in a Small Group [using talkabout or an alternative of your choosing]
- This activity is optional, but HIGHLY encouraged.
- Activity 6.2: Share Feedback
- Report Your Work
Week 7: Epilogue and a Way Forward (Available Wednesday, November 9, 2016 at 20:00 UTC)
In the final week of JuryX, you will explore issues related to internet research and funding and be asked to share your thoughts regarding the big ideas and questions raised throughout the course experience.
NOTE: Week 7 will be released on Wednesday in order to incorporate the results of the Massachusetts ballot measure on November 8.
- Activity 7.1: A Way Forward [using the edX discussion forum]
- Activity 7.2: Share Feedback (Post-course Survey)
- Report Your Work
Honor Code Statement
HarvardX requires individuals who enroll in its courses on edX to abide by the terms of the edX honor code. HarvardX will take appropriate corrective action in response to violations of the edX honor code, which may include dismissal from the HarvardX course; revocation of any certificates received for the HarvardX course; or other remedies as circumstances warrant. No refunds will be issued in the case of corrective action for such violations. Enrollees who are taking HarvardX courses as part of another program will also be governed by the academic policies of those programs.
Nondiscrimination/Anti-Harassment Policy
Harvard University and HarvardX are committed to maintaining a safe and healthy educational and work environment in which no member of the community is excluded from participation in, denied the benefits of, or subjected to discrimination or harassment in our program. All members of the HarvardX community are expected to abide by Harvard policies on nondiscrimination, including sexual harassment, and the edX Terms of Service. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact harvardx@harvard.edu and/or report your experience through the edX contact form.
Code of Conduct
In addition to following Harvard and HarvardX policies on nondiscrimination, including sexual harassment, and the edX Terms of Service, members of the JuryX community are expected to treat one another with respect.
In all activities, including online discussions and small-group deliberations, we, as a community of learners and citizens, are committed to thoughtful listening and speaking. Although we will disagree and seek to persuade one another, we will do so as peers in a manner that is free from rancor or offense and that respects diversity in experience, knowledge, language, and culture.
As a community, we have a zero tolerance policy for bullying or any other form of interaction that jeopardizes the positive experience to which all learners are entitled. Members of the the community are asked to report any and all instances of potential misconduct.
Access this form to report an issue.
Research Statement
HarvardX pursues the science of learning. By registering as an online learner in an HX course, you will also participate in research about learning. Read our research statement to learn more.
Legal Disclaimer
JuryX is designed to introduce learners to a process by which emotionally charged issues can be discussed online constructively, without fear or rancor. This course does not reflect the views of Harvard University, Harvard Law School, HarvardX, or edX.**