new approaches to the “dreaded” work term report: encouraging reflective student practice

New approaches to the “dreaded” work term report:

Encouraging reflective student practice

Today’s Goals• Consider new approaches to promoting reflective practice

amongst our co-op students

• Engage all session attendees in a discussion regarding best practice regarding work term reports

• Identify potential obstacles to implementing new work term formats (e.g. staff time; faculty engagement; on-line resources)

Co-op Professional Development Projects

UBC Arts Co-op Program

Sheila AshwellUniversity of British Columbia

BackgroundTraditional format Learning Objectives | Final Report | End-of-Term Evaluation- Submitted in person, paper format, in portfolio

Challenges:• Marking load for staff• Poorly written assignments; lack of interest!• Repetitive over 3-5 work terms• Following-up and monitoring labour-intensive

Feedback from Student Survey

• Unsure of purpose of assignments• Less school-like, more work-based• Prefer 5 short over 1 large• Instructions not enough/unclear• More variety, esp. 8-month terms

Purpose / Current Format

• Help students build work portfolio

• Provide structured career & skill development opportunities

• 5 key assignments per work term, 1 due each month

Skill Development ProjectsOverview

1 Goals & Objectives Beginning of term

2 Professional Profile• Includes discussion board &

archives• End of 2nd month

3 Informational Interview • End of 3rd month• Within organization or elsewhere

4 Final Activity (select 1)

• Networking• Public speaking• Professional business writing• Career development• Other (video or other)

5 Professional Review End-of-term evaluation/exit interview

Reflective Seminars and E-Portfolios

New approaches at Mount Saint Vincent

Scott DanielsMount Saint Vincent University

Mount Saint Vincent University (MSVU)

• Reflective Seminars

• E-portfolios

MSVU – Reflective Seminars

What is mentorship?

“Been there, done that”

MSVU – Reflective Seminars

Senior business and tourism co-op students present a reflective seminar to new co-op students where they share their experiences, advice and lessons learned with new co-op students

MSVU – E-Portfolios

Senior public relations co-op students complete a personal reflection of their professional experiences and develop an e-portfolio

MSVU – E-Portfolios

Sample e-portfolio

MSVU – Student Feedback

Surveyed 171 PR students and had a 38% response rate

We asked students to assess the effectiveness of each project in terms of reflecting on their experiences

MSVU – Student Feedback

Which work term project did you find the most beneficial for

thinking about what you learned during co-op?

• Work term report – 4%• Portfolio – 58%• Reflective seminar – 38%

MSVU – Student Feedback

How effective was the work term report in providing an

opportunity to reflect upon what you learned during your

work term?

• Not effective – 47%• Effective – 45%• Very effective – 8%

MSVU – Student Feedback

How effective was the portfolio in providing an

opportunity to reflect upon what you learned during your

work term?

• Not effective – 0%• Effective – 38%• Very effective – 62%

MSVU – Student Feedback

How effective was the reflective seminar in providing an

opportunity to reflect upon what you learned during your

work term?

• Not effective – 8%• Effective – 31%• Very effective – 61%

The Power of the Blog

Charlene MarionBishop’s University

blog [blawg, blog] noun1.a website containing a writer's or group of writers' own experiences, observations, opinions, etc., and often having images and links to other websites.

Evaluation Evolution

2001-2012

Work term Report Options

Competency Approach

8-10 pages

OR

Organizational Analysis

8-10 pages

2012-2013

Work term Report Options

Competency Approach

8-10 pages

OR

Competency Approach

5 blogs (x 500 words)

OR

Organizational Analysis

8-10 pages

2013-now

Competency Approach

5 blogs (x 500 words)

Competency Approach

Mobilizing Innovation & Change

• Ability to conceptualize

• Creativity/Innovation/ Change

• Risk-taking• Visioning

Managing People & Tasks

• Coordinating• Decision-making• Leadership/Influence• Managing conflict• Planning &

organizing

Communicating

• Interpersonal• Listening• Oral communication• Written

communication

Managing Self

• Learning• Personal

organization/Time management

• Personal strengths• Problem-solving/

Analytic

Frederick T. Evers & James C. Rush

The Bases of Competence: Skill Development During the Transition from University to WorkPublished in: Management Learning 1996 27:275

Why Change?blog [blawg, blog] noun1.a website containing a writer's or group of writers' own experiences, observations, opinions, etc., and often having images and links to other websites.

There was just something missing.

Why Change?• Students` dissatisfaction with the report

• Questioned its relevance• What were they learning• Hard to remember everything at the end• Too long and boring

• My desire to use a modern forum• Use a platform students are used to• Less formal and more meaningful and reflective

• Measure progression• Final report is 1 dimensional• Blogs allow you to see students` growth over their WT

ResultsCo-op Coordinator• View the actual

progression• See them grow as

professionals• More balanced workload• Catch problems as they

arise• Students are more honest

Co-op Students• 97% of students preferred

this method of reporting• Prefer the 5 smaller works

over time• Enjoy the less formal writing

style

• Allows them to see their own progression

• See a sense of accomplishment

Contact Information

Lisa Barty

Manager, Science Career & Co-operative Education

McMaster University

bartyl@mcmaster.ca

Sheila Ashwell

Associate Director Arts Co-op Program

University of British Columbia

sheila.ashwell@ubc.ca

Scott DanielsManager, Co-operative Education Mount Saint Vincent Universityscott.daniels@msvu.ca

Charlene MarionCo-operative Education CoordinatorBishop’s Universitycmarion@ubishops.ca