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TDG: "What Now Lieutenant?" Military Decision Making Historical Case Studies

Students are placed in tough decision-making situations based upon real historical accounts from WW1, WW2 and the Korean War. There is no "right" answer: only results!
Keith (M.A. Military History)
Average rating:
5.0
Number of reviews:
(362)
Class

What's included

1 live meeting
55 mins in-class hours per week

Class Experience

US Grade 7 - 10
Beginner - Intermediate Level
In order for serious Military History students to develop a progressive deepening of understanding about the nature of command in battle; they need to develop a sense of empathy via a class such as this. Often in our studies we are too critical of past commanders without really understanding how difficult it might be to  make a decision. This class develops a student's critical and creative thinking skills to a high degree as well as the nature of tactical problem solving in small unit action in both world wars. 

The students will be given the opportunity to make situational decisions in real historical case studies about small unit leadership during WW1 and WW2. The process will be cooperative and collaborative as well as being guided by the teacher. There will be no 'right' or 'wrong' decision per se; it will be a matter of interpreting the situation through critical analysis and then creatively problem solving the tactical challenge presented by the scenario.

Each class will have a different decision-making scenario. A map and unit markers will be presented on the screen. A background to the tactical situation will be read, preliminary questions asked, then the students will work collaboratively to work out a solution to the tactical problem. With time remaining at the end of the lesson the students and the teacher will debrief and discuss the lessons learned. 

Week of 2 January - Team Bravo Resupply
Week of 9 January - Clearance of Kitchener Ridge
Week of 16 January - Linking up with Battalion 
Week of 23 January - Take the Hill
Week of 30 January - Ambush Patrol

Classes will continue using a large number of scenarios which will vary each week.
Learning Goals
Students will learn what is was like to make tough command decisions during WW1 and WW2.
Students will learn about small unit action in both world wars. 
Students will understand better the challenges of command decision making.
learning goal

Other Details

Parental Guidance
The students will be given the opportunity to make situational decisions in real historical case studies about small unit leadership during WW1 and WW2. The process will be cooperative and collaborative as well as being guided by the teacher. There will be no 'right' or 'wrong' decision per se; it will be a matter of interpreting the situation through critical analysis and then creatively problem solving the tactical challenge presented by the scenario.
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Sources
Antal, John F. “It’s Not the Speed of the Computer That Counts! The Case for Rapid Battlefield Decision-Making.” Armor, (May-June, 1998): 12-16. Banner, Gregory T. “Decision Making – A Better Way.” Military Review, (September-October 1997): 53-55. Beach, Lee R. and Terrence R Mitchell, “A Contingency Model for the Selection of Decision Strategies,” Academy of Management Review, vol. 3 (1978): 439-449. Diggins, S.L.C., “The Estimate and the Emperor’s New Clothes,” The British Army Review, no. 124 (2000): 4-12. Erev, Ido, Gary Bornstein, and Thomas S. Wallsten. “The Negative Effect of Probability Assessments on Decision Quality,” Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Making Processes, no. 55 (1993): 78-94. Foss, John W. “Command.” Military Review, (January-February 1997): 66-70. Howell, W.C., “Engineering Psychology in a Changing World,” Annual Review of Psychology, vol. 44 (1993): 241-258. Johnston, Joan H., Driskell, James E., and Salas, Eduardo. “Vigilant and Hypervigilant Decision Making,” Journal of Applied Psychology, vol. 82 (1997): 614-622. Klein, Gary. “Strategies of Decision Making.” Military Review, (May 1989): 56-64. Klein, Gary and Major John F. Schmitt. “How We Plan.” Marine Corps Gazette, (October, 1995): 18-26. Krulak, Charles C. “Cultivating Intuitive Decisionmaking.” Marine Corps Gazette, (May, 1999): 18-22. Leser, Jeffrey W.S. “Battle Command: Vision for Success.” Military Review, (March-April 1997): 52- 59. Payne, John W. and James R. Bettman, “Behavioral Decision Research: A Constructive Processing Perspective.” Annual Review of Psychology, vol.43 (1992): 87-116. Rector, George E. “Leadership and Decisionmaking.” Marine Corps Gazette, (October, 1995): 21-23. Reisweber, Deborah. “Battle Command: Will We Have It When We Need It? Military Review, (September-October 1997): 49-58. Rogers, Charles T. “Intuition: An Imperative of Command.” Military Review, (March, 1994): 38- 50. Simon, Herbert A. “Background of Decision Making,” Naval War College Review (November, 1957): 1-24. Storr, Jim. “Real People, Real Decisions: Designing HQs to Win Wars.” British Army Review, no. 123 (1999): 7-19. Weis, Jeffrey S. “Information Mismanagement: The Quest for Certainty on the Battlefield.” Marine Corps Gazette, (October, 1998): 22-23. Wilson, Timothy D. and Schooler, Jonathan W. “Thinking Too Much: Introspection Can Reduce The Quality of Preferences and Decisions,” Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, vol. 60, no. 2 (1992): 181-192.
Joined September, 2020
5.0
362reviews
Profile
Teacher expertise and credentials
Master's Degree in History from American Military University
Bachelor's Degree in Education from University of Maine at Farmington
Bachelor's Degree in History from Acadia University (Nova Scotia, Canada)
As a long-term wargaming enthusiast with a MA in Military Studies (Land Warfare) - my thesis focused upon military decision making, I am very excited to offer this class. Military History has been a passion of mine since elementary school. I understand the study of Military History, battles, and commanders as a very good way to improve critical thinking and problem-solving. 

Reviews

Live Group Class
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$15

weekly
1x per week
55 min

Completed by 14 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 12-17
3-10 learners per class

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