1 SAMPLE SYLLABUS STUDENT LEADERSHIP PRACTICUM COMMUNICATION 339 Professor: Dr. Tara B. Perry Office Location: CF 285 Office Phone: 650-2202 Blackboard:http://mywestern.wwu.edu Class Time: Arranged Office Hours: TBA (time to be announced) Email:tara.perry@wwu.edu Note: The most efficient way to communicate with me is face to face and via email. Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much, Helen Keller. MISSION STATEMENT: I Dr. Perry am dedicated to providing students with an opportunity to become self-directed student leaders through developing research assistant skills, teaching assistant skills, curriculum development, service-learning mentoring, etc. The student voice and creativity is an integral part to the growth of this position. A cohesive team is developed between the professor and students. Each student will grow as well as learn how to start and end professional projects throughout the quarter. COURSE GOAL: Upon completion of the practicum students should have acquired the following skills that may be transferable to any future job or classroom environment: Professionalism, business writing skills, leadership skills, deliver presentations to small and large groups, research and interviewing experience, ability to work with diverse groups, be an active team player, contribute ideas, and most of all to be more effective professionals in the workplace. STUDENT LEADER DEFINED: A student leader is someone who is self-motivated to work independently on projects designed by the professor. The student leader assists with curriculum development by adding their voice to important changes. The student s purpose is to assist and shadow the professor in accomplishing duties such as teaching, researching, web development, service-learning outreach coordinator, project development, training, and much more. The student leader develops a reciprocal partnership with current students in Dr. Perry s class, Dr. Perry, and community partners. Student leader voice is at the center of this leadership practicum. (Perry, 2006)
2 STUDENT LEADER BENEFITS:! Networking! Resume Building! Opportunity to get published! Leadership! Mentoring students and professors! Training opportunities! Develop and deliver presentations! Facilitate meetings and focus groups! Relationship building! Award recognition PRACTICUM DESCRIPTION: 3 credit hours: Students are expected to work for 10 hours per week. Each student will be required to meet with Dr. Perry one or two hour per week to discuss weekly tasks, responsibilities, and updates. Tasks may vary each week therefore please be sure to review your email, Blackboard, and your to do list file. This practicum is self-directed where the student has the opportunity to manage their time, assignments, and responsibilities. This practicum must be treated as a regular class. The professor will guide students using a combination of authoritarian, democratic, and laissez-faire leadership styles. These styles will enable each student to lead themselves as a way of self motivation. The practicum it will require students to gain experience in the following but not limited to: teaching, mentoring students, training (new students, focus group, service-learning), conference presenting, publishing, researching, business writing, meeting professionals, office duties, and much more. PROFESSIONALISM POLICIES: A student leader demonstrates professionalism by:! Keeping open communication between Dr. Perry, students, and other team members! Respecting values of Dr. Perry, Comm Dept, CSL, students, self, professionals! Arriving to work on time and daily! Attending all meetings! Wearing professional attire during presentations or trainings! Communicating as a professional at all times (communicates effectively)! Not using offensive language or jargon! Intercultural and diversity sensitive! Maintaining a positive and healthy attitude! Keeping all office/class materials and student in Dr. Perry s office confidential! Professional communication delivery skills (review Dr. Perry s text)! Completing all assigned tasks for the quarter and on time with little extensions! Demonstrates office professional behavior and ethics! Taking initiative to execute tasks! Able to conduct scholarly research and adhere to conventions (APA)
3 SKILLS REQUIRED FOR STUDENT LEADERS:! Professional communication skills! Organization: Ability to multi-task, time oriented, time-management! Knowledge of professional communication: listening, positive climate, appreciative of diversity, etc.! Effective Team player: conduct training sessions for new SLs, manage research teams, open to constructive feedback, willingness to grow! Ability to work under pressure! Ability to follow directions! Business Writing: examples o Write an agenda for meetings o Email Dr. Perry progress reports of weekly plans (Mondays) and summarizing all duties of what was accomplished that week o Send Dr. Perry minutes after every meeting (within 24 hours) o Check, respond, organize email regularly o Review email messages for spelling and grammar errors o Utilize professional language in all documents! Research skills! Self-directed! Reliable! Time management! Effective oral and written skills! Leader who takes initiative to develop projects
4 PRACTICUM POSSIBLE PROJECTS: Note: A student leader may be asked to conduct research, teaching, and office duties. I have outlined the possible tasks that a teaching assistant and research assistant might conduct. During week one and two, each student is required to review both the research and training binder in order to completely understand their role. Also during week one or sooner, the professor will develop a tentative quarter plan of projects for the quarter. Students are not restricted to the following tasks noted. Other tasks may develop during the quarter. Please be sure to review the roles and responsibilities. Develop Research- Research Assistant (Teaching assistant may work on some of these duties)! Review the content of the research binder and clearly understand Dr. Perry s research process! Human subject training through Bureau of Faculty Research! Research scholarly articles (methodology and literature)! Update the research binder every quarter & hard drive! Create a folder on Dr. Perry s computer! Sign up as Dr. Perry s proxy (reserve and order library materials)! Train with current research assistant, Sylvia Tag (librarian)! Select possible journal articles! Create a database for retrieved articles (Endnotes)! Conduct focus groups! Training opportunities: reserve training space, recruit participants, facilitate training etc.! Keep a detailed journal of your research steps, document research steps! Transcribe, analyze, code data! If students are interested in publishing they will work alongside the professor to write the article for publication! At the end of the quarter summarize all projects completed for the quarter! Maintain author/journal list In Class and service-learning (teaching assistant)! Receive service-learning training! Train how to resolve communication problems! Visit service-learning center, community sites! In class the student leader may be asked to attend class once or twice a week! Responsible for Blackboard (BB) posting and review daily! Communicate with students via email! Organize schedule of student workshop presentations! Must come to class prepared and have read all course materials due! Knowledge of all class projects, syllabus, goals, learning objectives, policies etc! Provide a service-learning interactive training introduction to students! Serve as a liaison between the professor, student, CSL, and community partner! Read the text and develop questions for small group discussions! Proctor exams! Assist in evaluating student work
5! Deliver presentations in the area of interest (e.g. student motivation, self-directed teams service-learning, leadership, negotiation, adult planning after graduation etc)! Update class excel sheets! Update professor notes and binder! Create a student leader training binder of your roles and responsibilities! Conduct weekly office hours to mentor students! Conduct class midterm and final evaluations for Dr. Perry, CSL, and student leaders! Recognition celebration, invite partners, thank you letters! Guest present during Communication 220! Develop in-class activities and take part in class discussions! Research duties (see assistant tasks)! Develop your expectations of students and how they relate to the course POSSIBLE TASKS FOR BOTH TEACHING ASSISTANTS AND RESEARCH ASSISTANTS Conference Paper/Panel Presentation! Present original work at conferences! Research and write paper! Conference set up and take down! Scholar s week preparation and/or involvement! CASCAID conference participation! Thank you letters for sponsors! Research Training! Receive student leader training! Conduct student leader training! Focus group training! Student leader service-learning training! Blackboard training! Diversity and intercultural communication training! Research training! Teaching assistant training Business/Technical Writing! Write minutes at each meeting and send minutes to Dr. Perry (usually the same day or within 24 hours)! Develop formal and informal agendas for EVERY meeting (provide Dr. Perry with an agenda)! Write thank you letters! Write request letters for participants! Excel: log hour sheet (update regularly)! Project quarterly plan (try to develop during week 1-2)! PowerPoint presentations
6 Office Duties and Ongoing Tasks! Develop your expectations (of self, Dr. Perry, peers) at the beginning of the quarter based on the class description and materials; develop a plan as to how you will meet the class skills and professionalism.! Photocopy! Maintain filing! Place books on reserve! Dust office, wipe desks with sponge to remove dirt/dust! Keep desk top clear and free of clutter! Hang up all belongings! Evaluate your goals and expectations about mid-way through the quarter! Keep all binders and files up to date! Replenish office supplies! Run errands on campus! Order course evaluations! Meet Dr. Perry once or twice a week! Update your log sheet and have Dr. Perry sign! Check email and BB daily! Spell check everything SAMPLE QUARTER TASKS Beginning of Quarter: Individual Student Leader Expectations (to be addressed with Dr. Perry)! Before or at the beginning of the quarter: read and sign contract! Sign up for the course! Outline with Dr. Perry: expectations, quarter plan o Student strengths and weaknesses o Discuss how you will accomplish the goals, skills, and professionalism of the course. o Why do you want to work as a student leader? o What do you hope to learn? o What skills do you bring to the practicum?! Student review syllabus, roles and responsibilities of the class Mid-Quarter Evaluation of Students: Check-in Points (to be addressed)! Dr. Perry! Monday: email Dr. Perry your plan for the week! Wednesday: meeting! Friday: email Dr. Perry what you accomplished that week! Performance appraisal interview! Conduct midterm evaluations: for class, self, CSL End of Quarter Student Responsibility:! Complete all projects assigned! Grade release after all assignments are completed! Total all hours electronically! Turn in keys (even though you will return)! Summarize all tasks completed for the quarter! Train new students