new approaches to the “dreaded” work term report: encouraging reflective student practice
TRANSCRIPT
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 – 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
Sheila Ashwell
Associate Director Arts Co-op Program
University of British Columbia
Scott DanielsManager, Co-operative Education Mount Saint Vincent [email protected]
Charlene MarionCo-operative Education CoordinatorBishop’s [email protected]