Blogabus

The Ohio State University

College of Education and Human Ecology

School of Educational Policy and Leadership

In partnership with The Office of Student Life and The Ohio Union

EDU P&L 270.04 #9487

Student Career Development and Leadership Training

WI2011 Curriculum

Assumptions

The material that follows is a result of the following assumptions:

1. The relevancy of Fraternity is being questioned in today’s society more so than ever before and in order to remain relevant to the lives of our college students, Fraternity must not only go under a process of social change to achieve redefinition, but must also become themselves agents of social change.

2. If Fraternity can change and adapt to fit the needs of our global, technological, and advanced society, Fraternity has the potential to become not only the most relevant organizations on the college campus, but also within our collective society.

3. The process of achieving the type of social change required to make Fraternity truly relevant requires a level of creativity and imagination never seen before.

4. Today’s college students spend more time on the internet than anything else in a given day, and there are vast arrays of technological and multi-media resources that must be taken advantage of in order for our society to reach our greatest potential.

Course Purpose

This focus section of EDU 270.04 provides the men of Phi Gamma Delta the opportunity to realize the enormous and magnificent potential each member has to change the future of the Fraternal Movement as well as their responsibility to act upon such potential. The course provides an overview of the theory related to, and skills necessary for the practice of effective leadership within the Fraternal Movement by using the Social Change Model of Leadership Development as a foundation to achieving such change.

Course Outcomes

At the conclusion of this course students will:

1. Demonstrate an understanding of the remarkable process of leadership, specifically, in relationship to the Social Change Model of Leadership Development

2. Demonstrate an increased awareness of the personal qualities and skills they bring to their fraternity/sorority, their group, and to their global leadership potential

3. Demonstrate increased confidence and skill in practicing leadership within the chapter environment, the group environment, the community environment, and within society

4. Demonstrate an understanding of the current trends and issues that define the Fraternal Movement and an ability to argue the relevance of Fraternity

6. Develop an Individual Leadership Commitment, a Chapter Leadership Commitment, and a Community Leadership Commitment which will guide the actions of all officers for the duration of their term in office and which will facilitate positive social change.

Required Readings

Komives, et al., Leadership for a Better World, 2009.

Various supplemental readings to be provided by the instructors electronically via the Blogabus.

Course Syllabus

In the spirit of Assumption #4 and the value that must be placed on technological resources, the syllabus for this focus section of 270.04 will take the form of a Blog entry and is available here:

www.jharraman.blogspot.com

An up-to-date copy of the syllabus is available in the first blog entry from the above blog, known in this course as a Blogabus. Students should visit the Blogabus for updated course information.

The rational behind the Blogabus allows the instructors to model the type of creativity and limitless possibilities that will be asked of from all students. Furthermore, it serves as the initial model for the first requirement of the course: the Fraternal Change Blog.

Course Requirements

1. Fraternal Change Blog (30 points)

Each student is asked to maintain a blog throughout the duration of the course, reflecting on their shared experiences within the class. All blogs will be titled “Fraternal Change Blogs” and will require students to actively and creatively reflect on and make meaning of class material in an experimental and holistic manner. Students will be given a series of ten prompts during the course of the class (one prompt per class period), and must respond to the prompt on their Blog prior to the start of the following class period. Each assigned prompt will be graded and is worth 3 points each.

2. Blogersation Participation (10 points)

In addition to maintaining their own Blogs, each student is asked to serve as active participants on their classmates and their instructor Blogs. Students should be actively visiting one another’s Blogs and providing comments for one another. Furthermore, each student should not be limited by his or her 10 Blog prompts: while not graded, students are encouraged to Blog 3-4 times a week on non-prompted issues. A total of 10 points will be given to students who display an exemplary commitment to actively updating their own Blog beyond the 10 assigned prompts and who actively comment on their peer’s blogs.

3. Individual Leadership Commitment (15 points)

Each student must compose a 5-7 page formal reflection paper discussing how they would define their personal leadership style in relation to the Social Change Model while also making a concrete commitment to how he will challenge him to grow personally and professionally as a result of his role in the fraternity. Specific details and expectations will be distributed to the class via the instructors Fraternal Change Blog closer to the due date.

4. Leadership Commitment (15 points)

Working together in their respective groups, each group is asked to complete a Leadership Commitment. Using the Social Change Theory, each group must develop a comprehensive action plan which will guide the group’s vision, goals, and actions steps for their year in office. Each group will submit only one Commitment, and all group members will receive the same grade. Furthermore, each group will present a 5 minute presentation to the other groups on their Commitment. Specific details and expectations will be distributed to the class via the instructors Fraternal Change Blog closer to the due date.

5. Final Exam – Community Leadership Commitment (20 points)

As a class, all students will be asked to redefine the American Fraternity as their Final Exam. Working together as an entire class, the class will be asked to re-create what Fraternity would look like were it to be invented in the year 2011. Putting aside all preconceived notions, history, and traditions of fraternities and sororities, the class must determine what the concept of Fraternity would look like, were it never invented until a year from today. They are to start from a fresh slate, assuming that Fraternity has never existed before: what would it look like were it invented today? Once developing that vision, the class must produce a single tangible product (paper, article, Blog, YouTube video, Virtual Seminar etc) that depicts that vision. They must then publish that vision to a national audience, ensuring that their vision is reaching out farther than the Ohio State community. Next, as a class, and using the Social Change Model, they must create a detailed action plan as to how they plan to – with the best of their ability – achieve their vision on both a local and national scale during their time involved with the fraternity.

By the assigned Final Exam meeting time, the class must come prepared to present a 30 minute presentation to the instructors which includes:

(1) A showing of the final product of their vision (a paper, article, Blog, video etc)

(2) An explanation of how they have published their final product to the nation to see and what type of response they have received

(3) An explanation of how they plan to use concepts from the Social Change Model to implement a detailed action plan as to how they will achieve their vision on both a local and national scale during their terms in office

This assignment will not be presented to the class until Week 8. The entire class will receive one grade for this project.

6. Class Participation (10 points)

Each class session will include both in-class activities and discussion. Because of the interactive nature of this class, students are expected to attend and contribute to each class session. Students should also have readings for the week completed before each class session, so that they will be prepared for the day’s discussions and activities. All students will receive up to 10 points for class participation.

Attendance

Section size is generally limited to a small number of students. Since much of the learning in the course is derived from in-class experiences and discussion, more than 1 unexcused absence in sections meeting once per week will automatically result in a drop of one letter grade. Absences will be excused for legitimate medical, family, or other reasons. Consult with your instructor for additional guidance.

NOTE:

Students requiring modified versions of written materials (large print, Braille, tape, etc.), class modifications (e.g. American Sign Language), or an alternate format for submission of written materials, please privately contact one of the instructors. Every effort will be made to work with you to accommodate your specific learning needs.