RP 3043 Work Experience Spring 2011 RP 3043 TC1 WORK EXPERIENCE. Dept. of Parks, Recreation and Hospitality Administration Arkansas Tech University

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1 RP 3043 TC1 WORK EXPERIENCE Dept. of Parks, Recreation and Hospitality Administration Arkansas Tech University Spring Semester 2011; 3 credits This course is offered through the ATU Blackboard web site. Instructor: Dr. Glen Bishop Office: 204 Williamson Phone: (479) Fax: (479) gbishop@atu.edu Office Hours: Students are encouraged to meet with the instructor during office hours. Other times can be arranged when needed. The instructor may occasionally be unavailable during office hours to attend to other university obligations. The instructor will strive to minimize these occurrences. If possible, students should advise the instructor when they intend to visit so that other obligations will not interfere. Tuesday 8:00 11:00 Wednesday 8:00 12:00 Thursday 8:00 11:00 Additional times are also possible. Catalog Course Description: By permission. Supervised field application of class skills and knowledge in Parks and Recreation work situations. Students are given the opportunity to take part in meaningful management and work experiences in actual work situations under the supervision of both university faculty and professionals in the field. Minimum of 100 clock hours of work experience is required. Responsibilities: Students are responsible for finding a suitable site at which to complete the required 100 clock work hours and completing all assignments in a timely manner. Students should communicate early with their potential supervisor about the course and the added responsibilities. The supervisor should be made aware of and approve of the vital role he or she will play as described in the course manual. The instructor for the course is responsible for approving work experience sites and evaluating written assignments. Sites which have a strong connection to recreation and park administration are more likely to be approved than those sites where it takes considerable imagination to see the connection. Purpose: This course is designed to provide junior level students who have completed several Recreation and Park Administration courses the opportunity to apply course concepts (and to observe course 1

2 concepts being applied) in professional recreation and park settings. Students who have not completed several Recreation and Park Administration courses should not enroll in this course. In addition to working a minimum of 100 clock hours at the Work Experience site, students are responsible for completing a number of assignments which are described below and in the Work Experience Manual. This course will also provide the student with the opportunity to begin to explore internship possibilities and to become familiar with the process of finding a position after graduation. Completing an internship at the end of university studies is required of all Recreation and Park Administration students. Internship begins with RP 4001 Internship Preparation and is completed in RP 4116 Internship. Importance: RP 3043 is required for all Recreation and Park Administration majors. This course will provide a small sample of Internship and ultimately a career in recreation and park administration. Recreation and Park Administration Program Mission Statement: The mission of the Recreation and Park Administration Program is to educate Recreation and Park professionals for self, community and society. Work Experience Manual for RP/HA 3043: Students are required to obtain a copy of the Work Experience Manual for RP The manual is available on the course Blackboard site. Required Text: The class will make extensive use of this book this semester: Ross, C. M., Beggs, B. A. & Young, S. J. (2011). Mastering the job search process in recreation and leisure services (2 nd ed.). Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett. ISBN: This book is available from the Arkansas Tech University Bookstore as well as numerous other outlets. Work Experience Manual Required Forms: Students are required to turn in the forms listed below in a timely fashion. Failure to do so may result in failing the course. The forms are available on the course Blackboard site and are part of the Work Experience Manual. It is the responsibility of the student to make sure that all documents submitted to fulfill course requirements have been received. Documents received by the instructor will be checked off on the course Blackboard internet site. Students should keep copies of all documents. Memorandum of Understanding: Students must turn in the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) during the first week their Work Experience. Students who need additional time 2

3 should request an extension from the instructor. Failure to turn in the MOU or communicate with the instructor will result in failing the course. Student s Initial Report: Students must turn in the initial report during the first week of their Work Experience. Failure to turn in the report or communicate with the instructor will result in failing the course. Weekly Reports: Students must turn in a report of their week s activities immediately following the week for which the report is being made. Weekly reports must be signed by the work site supervisor. Failure to turn in weekly reports in a timely fashion will result in failing the course. Final Student Evaluation and Counseling: Students must complete with their work supervisor the Final Student Evaluation and Counseling near the end of their Work Experience. The evaluation form must be submitted immediately following its completion. Failure to turn in the evaluation will result in failing the course. Cheating/Plagiarism: Any student caught cheating or plagiarizing someone else s work on a test, project, or assignment will be given an F on the assignment. Students may be asked to provide proof of original work if there is a question of cheating or plagiarism. Students may also be subject to other disciplinary measures as outlined in University policy. Grading: Your grade for the course will be determined in the following way: Item Weight % Due 1. Chapter Assignments 10 Wednesdays, 5:00 pm, of Most Weeks 2. Professional 10 April Résumé 5 March Daily Journal 5 On or before May 2, 5:00 pm 6. Weekly Reports 5 Week After Hours Performed. 7. Agency Grade 40 On or before May 2, 5:00 pm 8. Final Written Report 25 On or before May 2, 5:00 pm Total 100 3

4 Each of the above assignments will be given a one of the following scores: 0 = Assignment not turned in on time. 1 = Work lacked key understanding. 2 = Work did not meet all of the requirements for the assignment. 3 = Work met the requirements for the assignment. 4 = Work clearly surpassed the requirements for the assignment or was exceptionally high quality. Your grade will be determined by taking a weighted average (based on the percentage of the total grade) of the scores you earn with your work. For example if the agency evaluates your work as a 4, then the 4 would be multiplied by 40%. The result (1.6) would then be added in with the other assignments to determine the final grade for the course. >3.50 = A 2.50 to 3.49 = B 1.50 to 2.49 = C 0.50 to 1.49 = D <0.50 = F Students must work a minimum of 100 clock hours to pass the course. Students must receive a minimum of a C on the Agency Evaluation and the Final Report to pass the course. Students must turn in assignments in a timely fashion to pass the course. It is the responsibility of the student to determine if documents they believe they have turned in have been received. As work is turned in, it will be checked off on the Grade Center portion of the course Blackboard site. Weekly Assignments: Due Wednesdays of most weeks by 5:00 pm Each week at least one and sometimes several assignments will be posted on Blackboard. A specific due date and time will be listed on the assignment. Assignments should be turned in on or before this time or they will be subject to the course late policy. Students should keep copies of all assignments. Résumé: Due: March 16 Students are required to submit a well-thought-out, error free résumé. The presence of one or more typographical errors in your resume will result in a 0 for this assignment. Your resume must correctly identify your major and degree. For example, students in the Recreation and Park Administration Program are majoring in Recreation and Park Administration and will receive a B.S. or Bachelor of Science degree. Items on the résumé should be posted in reverse chronological order (the most recent listed ahead of older items). Indicate that you are working on your degree so that it is clear graduation is expected in the future and your degree is not already in hand. Assignments should be turned in on or before the due date or they will be subject to the course late policy. 4

5 Professional : Due: April 20 Write an essay that describes your professional philosophy. This essay describes the parts of the recreation and park movement that are important to you, the ways in which you think you can serve others through the provision of recreation and park services, and how you can contribute to the field of recreation and park administration. This essay should be a minimum of two double spaced pages long using standards fonts and margins. A minimum of four references should be cited correctly using APA format both in the text of the paper and on a references page. Textbooks used in Recreation and Park Administration courses are good references from which to draw ideas for this assignment. In particular material used in RP 1013, Principles of Recreation and Park Administration, should be considered as you develop your professional philosophy for this assignment. The essay should be well organized with a minimum of typographical or other writing errors. Assignments should be turned in on or before this date or they will be subject to the course late policy. Daily Journal: Due: May 2, 5:00 pm, or immediately following completion of work hours. Students are required to keep a journal during their work experience describing in detail the work being carried out each day. The journal should clearly identify the student, work location, and dates at the beginning. Entries should be made on a daily basis immediately after ending work for the day. Descriptions should include the activities conducted that day, memorable people, unusual occurrences, your activities and investigations related to preparing to write and writing the final report. In addition reflect on the experiences you are having and how they relate to your future as a recreation and park professional. Include thoughts of how you could improve your performance at work and back at school. Provide thoughts about how courses at Tech relate to your work experiences and the organization where you are working. Also include those sublime moments of revelation and instances of WOW! where things go exceedingly well. Also, record your thoughts in the journal about the agency or organization with which you are working. Reflection is thinking about your work experience in order to draw deeper personal meaning and value from the experiences you encounter. Journals will be scored using the following criteria: 1 = Journal consists of perfunctory listing of each days activities. Some days may be missing. And or, poor writing skills and or organization make the journal difficult to read. 2 = Journal is thorough, contains detailed descriptions of each work period, provides evidence of thought about becoming a recreation and park professional. Additional reflection on the profession and the work experience would be helpful. A degree of disorganization and or writing errors may be present. 3 = Journal in addition to a detailed description of each day s activities, includes much introspection and reflection about the work experience, the agency, supervisors, fellow workers 5

6 and Tech courses. In short, did the work experience contribute to the student s growth into the recreation and park profession or did the work experience allow the student to learn that the area in which the experience took place is not for them? Does the student have recommendations for future students? Journal is well written and organized with no more than three writing errors per page average. 4 = Journal in addition to a detailed description of each day s activities, includes much introspection and reflection about the work experience, the agency, supervisors, fellow workers and Tech courses. In short, did the work experience contribute to the student s growth into the recreation and park or hospitality profession or did the work experience allow the student to learn that the area in which the experience took place is not for them? Does the student have recommendation s for future students? Journal is well written and organized with no more than one writing error per page. Weekly Reports: Due: Weekly, immediately following the work for each week. Students are required to submit weekly reports on their work experience. Your supervisor s signature is required. These reports may be faxed or traditionally mailed, or dropped off at the office. If you have a way to send a signed weekly report via , that would be o.k. too. Reports should be sent in on a weekly basis. You are strongly encouraged to keep copies of all weekly reports sent to the instructor incase they are lost or misplaced. Weekly reports should provide a brief synopsis of your work related activities for each day of the week. Work hours reflected by your weekly reports must total a minimum of 100 hours. Failure to turn in weekly reports in a timely fashion will result in failing the course. Weekly reports should be turned in within a day or perhaps two of the last day for the work period on the report. Agency Grade: Due: May 2, 5:00 pm, or immediately following completion of work hours. Agency grade will be the grade recommended by your agency supervisor. Point values will be as follows: A = 4; B = 3; C = 2; D = 1. In the event your agency supervisor does not recommend a grade, the agency grade will be based on the average rating of the items in the final evaluation of the student by the agency. Students must receive a C or higher on this portion of the grade to pass the course. Students who do not turn in an evaluation will fail the course. Final Written Report: Due: May 2, 5:00 pm, or immediately following completion of work hours. Students must receive a C or higher on this assignment to pass the course. This paper is to examine the agency or organization with which you are completing your field experience. The report is to be typed, double-spaced, and a minimum of 10-pages long. The report will be evaluated on both content and format. Format includes proper report writing style, grammar, and spelling. The report should conform to the recommendations found in the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 6 th edition (APA). Copies of this book can be found at the Tech and other bookstores, the Tech and other libraries. The web 6

7 site may be helpful. Please remember to include a title page, to title your paper (be somewhat creative), and to use headings and subheadings. References from which you have drawn ideas or information should be cited in your paper as well as listed in a References section at the end of the paper. References should be formatted according to APA style. You must include a minimum of three references in your reference list. Agency documents, magazine and journal articles, and course textbooks should be considered for use as references. You may wish to schedule some time with your agency/organization supervisor or other knowledgeable person to learn information which you will then be able to include in your report. An outline for a supervisor student conference is included in the Work Experience Manual. When in doubt, include more rather than less information. Students who do not turn in a final written report will fail the course. Students who turn in an unacceptable final written report will fail the course. Reports should have headings and subheadings. All sections listed below must be addressed, with the exception of Appendices. Appendices may be left off at the discretion of the student with the understanding that that portion of the grade will be forfeit. The final written report is to include: Title Page (Does not count towards 10 pages.) Table of contents (including page numbers) (Does not count towards 10 pages.) Chapter I o Introduction to the agency and the field experience, approximately one half-page to one page. Chapter II o History and background of the agency or organization, including administration, organizational design and structure including an organizational chart, budget, sources of funding, legal basis for the agency, organization philosophy, goals, and objectives, planning systems, policy and procedure formulation, governance and oversight, program planning, ethical philosophy or code of conduct, resources available for professional development, professional development practices, information technology management, etc. Chapter III o Field experience, summary of daily work experiences; a short paragraph for each work period. For example, if you were to work each day from 8:00 to 5:00, each day would be a separate work period. Chapter IV o Description of a program, project, or problem includes planning and design, implementation and evaluation. Chapter V o Conclusion; summarize the field experience and include your personal views and reflections about the experience and the agency. What is the personal and professional meaning that you can derive from this experience? References o Use at least three (3) references such as professional journals, course textbooks, agency manuals, brochures, personal interviews, etc. Cite these sources of 7

8 information according to APA format in the body of the paper and at the end in a References section. The References section does not count toward your 10 pages. The Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 6 th edition, or similar websites should be consulted for proper citation format. Appendices o Reports, commendations, charts, maps, and other supplemental information referred to in the body of your paper but that would be awkward to have in the middle of the paper. To be included in the appendices, you must mention that item in the report. Each item should be in a separate appendix. Each appendix should be labeled. If only one Appendix label it Appendix. If more than one Appendix label each with a capital letter (Appendix A, Appendix B, etc.) in the order mentioned in the text of the paper. Each appendix should have a title in addition to the alphabetical label. Use the label when referring to an appendix in the text of the paper. Appendices do not count towards your 10 pages. The instructor strongly recommends placing the Final Written Report in a folder or binder with pockets to hold materials that are not easily placed with the body of the paper. The body of the paper should be bound in a three ring binder. The instructor also strongly recommends submitting your final report in electronic form if collected materials will allow. The more assignments you have in electronic form, the easier it will be to put your portfolio together in RP 4001 Internship Preparation. Consider including the final report from this course as part of the portfolio materials required in RP Grading of the Final Written Report. The final written report should reflect professional quality preparation. Criteria Weight Description Professional appearance, proper format, length, spelling, organization, grammar, professional writing style, reference list format, etc. Title Page Also provide a cover page if using 20% 4 = No more than 1 typographical or grammatical error per page average. Above outline followed. References cited APA style. Well organized. More than 10 pages. 3 = No more than an average of 2 errors per page. Above outline followed. References cited APA style. Minimum of 10 pages. 2 = No more than 3 errors per page average. One chapter missing or poor quality. Minimum of 10 pages. 1 = More than 3 errors per page average. Or, fewer than 10 pages. 5% 4 = Report has a creative yet appropriate title. Student, course, instructor, and date are provided. 8

9 a binder. Professional appearance. 3 = Report has a creative yet appropriate title. Student, course, instructor, and date are provided. Professional appearance. 1 writing error. 2 = Title is limited to Final Report or something similar. One or two requested items may be missing. Nor more than 1 writing error. 1 = More than two requested items missing. More than one writing error. Table of Contents 5% 4 = Table of Contents includes page numbers and is of the same style and font of remainder of paper. Page numbers are connected to the heading with a dotted line. No writing errors. Professional appearance. 3 = Table of Contents includes page numbers and is of the same style and font as remainder of paper. One writing error. Page numbers not necessarily connected by a dotted line to the topic. Professional appearance. 2 = Same as above. But may have 2 writing errors. 1 = Table of Contents does not include page numbers. May have more than 2 writing errors. Less than professional appearance. Chapter I 5% 4 = Introduces the reader to the student and the work performed. Describes the organization and location. Chapter 2 20% 4 = Thorough background and history of agency, including an organizational chart and budget information. Major funding sources identified. Includes description of customers, visitors or clients served. 3 = Thorough background and history of agency, including an organizational chart and budget. May have a minor weakness. 2 = Thorough background and history 9

10 of agency. May have several minor weaknesses. 1 = Background and history provides only a brief skimming of material available to the casual visitor. Chapter 3 5% 4 = Each work period briefly summarized. Includes a synopsis of a particular program, project, or problem. 2 = Work is described in weekly periods rather than for each day worked. Chapter 4 10% 4 = Description of a particular program, project, or problem includes planning and development, implementation, and evaluation. 2 = Description lacks depth and key elements. Chapter 5 10% 4 = Effectively brings the report to a close. Provides evidence of thought and reflection about how the work experience has related to the choice of a profession and course content. Summarizes the value of the work experience. 3 = Effectively brings the report to a close. Needs more evidence of thought and reflection. 2 = Brings the report to a close with little evidence of linkage to profession and or Tech courses. 1 = Chapter is perfunctory. Minimum Number of References. References should be cited using APA format. See or the Pulbication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 6 th edition. 10% 4 = At least 6 references, 3 of which are books or journal articles. 3 = At least 3 references. 2 = 2 references. 1 = 1 reference. 0 = No references Appendices 10% 4 = At least 3 appendices with material pertinent to the work experience. All appendix material 10

11 Turning in Assignments: discussed in text of paper. 3 = At least 2 appendices. All appendix material discussed in text of paper. 2 = At least 1 appendix Assignments should be turned in on the date indicated. Students are encouraged to turn in assignments by or on the course Blackboard site. Paper copies are also acceptable. Students should keep a copy of all assignments. Do not assume your assignment has reached the instructor until you receive an ed response or the assignment has been checked off on the Blackboard grade book. It is the responsibility of the student to verify that an assignment or document that has been sent has been received. Attendance: Students who do not respond to assignments, turn in required forms, or otherwise communicate with the instructor on a regular basis may be dropped from the class and or receive a failing grade. Deadline: All work must be completed and turned in by 5:00 pm, Monday, May 2, Assignments are due when indicated in the course schedule. Extensions may be granted if requested by the student. All assignments, including those for which an extension has been given, must be completed and turned in no later than 5:00 pm on the last day of Spring semester classes. Students should turn in each assignment on the assigned date when it is due or as soon as progress in work hours permit. Do not put off completing assignments until the last day. Failure to turn in assignments in a timely fashion may result in failing the course. Failure to turn in assignments by the deadline may result in failing the course regardless of points accumulated for other work. Learning Outcomes: The learning outcomes listed below are included in RP These and additional learning outcomes, which are included in other parts of the curriculum, are required for Council on Accreditation of Parks, Recreation, Tourism and Related Professions (Sponsored by the National Recreation and Park Association) accreditation of the Recreation and Park Administration Program Students graduating from the program shall demonstrate the following entry-level knowledge: a) the nature and scope of the relevant park, recreation, tourism or related 11

12 professions and their associated industries; b) techniques and processes used by professionals and workers in those industries; and c) the foundations of the profession in history, science, and philosophy Students graduating from the program shall demonstrate entry-level knowledge of the scope of the profession that is the focus of the programs, along with professional practices of that profession Students graduating from the program shall demonstrate entry-level knowledge of the historical, scientific, and philosophical foundations of the profession(s) for which the program prepares students Students graduating from the program shall demonstrate the ability to apply knowledge of professional practice and the historical, scientific, and philosophical foundations of the relevant profession in decision making Students graduating from the program shall demonstrate the ability to design, implement, and evaluate services that facilitate targeted human experiences and that embrace personal and cultural dimensions of diversity Students graduating from the program shall demonstrate the ability to facilitate recreation and related professional experiences for diverse clientele, settings, and cultures, and contexts Students graduating from the program shall be able to demonstrate entry-level knowledge about management/administration in parks, recreation, tourism and/or related professions Students graduating from the program shall be able to recognize basic facts, concepts, principles, and procedures of management/administration in parks, recreation, tourism and/or related professions Students graduating from the program shall be able to apply entry-level concepts, principles, and procedures of management/administration in parks, recreation, tourism, and/or related professions. Learning Outcome Sublearning Outcome Evidence Professional Weekly Reports Journal Agency Evaluation Final Report Professional Final Report Professional Weekly Reports Journal Agency Evaluation Final Report Weekly Reports Journal Agency Evaluation Final Report Professional 12

13 Weekly Reports Journal Agency Evaluation Final Report Weekly Reports Journal Agency Evaluation Final Report Course Objectives: This course is designed to be a pre-professional activity, which will: 1. Give the student opportunities for correlating theory and practice. 2. Introduce the student by direct experience to: a. Aspects of leadership, responsibility, purpose, organization, and operation of park, recreation and/or hospitality organizations. b. Procedures for planning, organizing, and directing recreation and/or hospitality organizations. c. Motivation, behavior, and interpersonal relations of people at play and in professional settings. 3. Test the student s professional abilities in supervised situations before becoming a recreation and park professional. 4. Enable the student to work within a recreation and park organization as a professional under field conditions in the following areas: Decision making, leadership, communication, policy and regulation. 5. Provide the student with the opportunity to describe the purpose, legal basis, structure, planning programming and budgeting of a recreation and park agency. 6. Provide the student with field experience prior to internship. Course Schedule Note: This schedule may change during the course of the semester to meet the needs of the class or the instructor. Changes will be posted in time for students to prepare accordingly. The date in the date column is Thursday. Chapter assignments in most cases will be due the following Wednesday at 5:00 pm. Depending on the number of actual work hours each week, some students may complete the required work hours earlier in the semester and not need to continue submitting weekly reports on their work activity. Week Date Topic Assignments Due by the Continue to Work On: Welcome to the Course Following Wednesday Carefully read course syllabus and Work Experience Manual. Find organization at which to perform required 100 work hours. Work with organization supervisor to fill out 13

14 Memorandum of Understanding. Complete Initial Report Where to Begin Read Ch. 1. Complete the assignments at the end of the chapter. Please type these assignments on your computer and turn them in electronically via Blackboard. Do not tear pages out of your book Careers Read Ch. 2. Complete the assignments at the end of the chapter Researching an Organization Read Ch Portfolios Read Ch Technology and the Job Search Cover Letters and other Letters Read Ch. 5. SignedWeekly Report Read Ch. 6 14

15 8 3-3 Résumés Read Ch Interviewing Read Ch The Role and Value of Internship 3-24 Evaluating the Job Offer Read Ch. 10. Read Ch Spring Break Spring Break Spring Break Transition from College to Professional Read Ch. 11 Agency Evaluation Agency Evaluation

16 Work on Final Report Agency Evaluation Finalize Final Report Agency Evaluation All assignments due 5:00 pm, Monday, May All assignments due no later than 5:00 pm. Last Day of Classes. 16