Using Student Educational Objectives To Improve Student Satisfaction

Using Student Educational Objectives To Improve Student Satisfaction And Learning CARYN E. NEUMANN, Ph. D. LORI L. PARKS, Ph. D. Department Of Interdisciplinary And Communication Studies

Bachelor of Integrative Studies What is it? n q q q Completion degree Recruits non-traditional students Integrative skills for 21 st century challenges

Sample Student Responses 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. I want to be a nurse!! I hate the sight of blood! What now? I want to work in sports administration!! I can’t get to the main campus/I can’t afford main campus prices. What now? My bank laid me off because I lacked a Bachelor’s degree. I need a degree in anything ASAP! I work for Miami University. I want to get promoted. I need a degree. I don’t know what I want to do. I like everything.

BIS Advising n n n Reflect on what you have learned in the past (in school & life) In what ways do you want to continue to build upon past learning? OR Do you want to take a completely different direction for additional coursework?

BIS in a Nutshell n 201 Self 301 Others 401 Product Emphasis on Reflection n So I have enrolled in BIS 201…now what? n n n

BIS 201: SELF n Statement of Educational Objectives (SEO) q q q n Important component in student success, involvement and for advising. Development of your SEO Must submit your SEO to the SPRC in order to pass Self-Directed Problem Solver q The seminar is integrative and thematic.

BIS 301: OTHERS n Service Learning (S-L) q q n n Team Taught Continues with Integrative and thematic seminars. q n 20 Hours Students practice integration between classwork and S-L projects. SEO must be accepted by SPRC in order to pass Reflect on Worldviews and Interactions with Others

BIS 401: PRODUCT n n n Capstone (Self/Other/Product) What can you do with your degree? Student Examples: q q q Plan historical marker Create software program for Hueston Woods State Park maintenance Diaper drive

Standard 201 Response Edvard Munch, The Scream, 1893 (National Gallery of Art, Oslo)

Statement of Educational Objectives (SEO) Parts: n n a) checklist of your curricular course choices b) rationale for your course and concentration choices Student Consideration: Ø What you have learned in past coursework & life Ø What do you want & need to add to this during the BIS, based on Ø Where do you want to go with this degree

SEO Checklist

BIS Concentration I 15 hours (5 courses) minimum n Make sure if you transfer in hours for Concentration I it adds up to at least 15 n

Concentration II n Minimum of 9 credit hours (3 courses) n ADVISING TIP: Do NOT try to use your DAR to understand your Concentration II choices – it is too confusing n Instead: Follow Rules in Concentration Tiers to select courses

There are currently 13 established BIS Concentrations: n n n n Applied Kinesiology Applied Sociology Contemporary American Experience Cross Cultural Leadership Environmental Studies Families, Gender & Society Geographic Information Science Health Care Administration Information Technology Strategy for Organizations Organizational Leadership Personal and Community Health Perspectives Understanding Media and Visual Culture Child Development

Self-designed Concentrations n n n Self design a Concentration I and/or II by combining a selection of university courses of your choosing, following guidelines currently in place in the IS Department. Con. I – make sure to include at least 2 disciplines, at least 1 at each 300 and 400 Con. II – need at least 1 class at 300 or 400 level

Self-designing Increases Expectations for Research & Rationale n n Expected to be much more extensively and fully researched, considered, supported, and articulated. In essence you are creating part of your degree from Miami

Sample Self Designs Global Heritage Studies BWS 151: Intro to Black World Studies or BWS 156: Intro Africa or HIS 198: World History since 1500 AAA 207: Asia & Globalization HIS 296: World History since 1945 ATH 388: Culture, Art, & Artifact STC 436: Intercultural Comm Social Media in Business BTE 181: Computers & Business BTE 284: Technology for Knowledge Workers or ENG 224: Digital Writing/Rhetoric or ART 256: Design, Percep. , Aud. CIT 262: Tech, Ethics, & Global Society MAC 325: Social Media Cultures BTE 441: Social Media & Career Development

Sample Self Designs Applied Legal Studies Applied Workplace Writing BTE 108: Into Business Law ENG 212: Workplace Writing Or CJS 125: Law & Courts ENG 224: Digital BTE 233: Real Estate Law Writing/Rhetoric or ENG 223: CJS 231: Law & Individual Strategies for Writers or JRN 201: Reporting & News Writing Rights or POL 241: American or ART 256: Design, Perc. , Aud. Political System CJS 331: Juvenile Law or HIS ENG 313: Technical Writing STC 339: Organizational Comm 387: US Constitution or POL 352: Constitutional Law or ENT 316: Project CJS 461: Applied Research Management Methods in Criminal Justice or ENG 413: Grant Writing or POL/CJS: Great Trial Capstone STC 439: Adv. Org. Comm.

Sample Self Designs Applied Ethics PHL 131: Intro Ethics CIT 262: Tech, Ethics, and Global Society PHL 312: Contemporary Moral Problems PHL 375: Medical Ethics STC 428: Conflict Comm or WGS 451: Family Violence Public Advocacy STC 135: Public Expression/Critical Inquiry CRD 201: Civic Leadership & Democracy POL 241: American Political System STC 438: Political Comm or STC 437: Advocacy in Contemporary America or BIS 340: Internship MAC 447: Media Criticism or CJS/POL capstone

ELEMENTS TO CONSIDER IN RESEARCHING & WRITING YOUR SEO CHECKLIST COURSE SELECTION - Meaningful selection of courses made that are appropriate to help meet the aims & intentions of the students rationale for this degree. ACCURACY - Accuracy in Checklist entries and following of University & BIS requirements/rules SEO RATIONALE PURPOSEFUL CHOICES Provide a meaningful rationale as to WHY each concentration & course was chosen. The rationale for each course should focus on how they meet the spirit of the chosen concentrations. Make sure the title, explanation, and specific courses in each concentration are all clearly aligned in the explanation. NOTE: Especially important in self-designed concentrations. SPRC Sample Feedback: For any self-designed concentration the SPRC expects to see a statement that describes in some detail the individual courses and explains how they will build upon one another to provide a broader or deeper understanding of a certain area of study. Please mention all the courses you intend to use in the concentration and describe how they complement each other and your educational objectives. MEANINGFUL CONNECTIONS Provide meaningful connections made between both Concentrations and also the Miami Plan Thematic Sequence when applicable. (HOW do the different parts of your multidisciplinary degree work together as a package? ) LOOKING TO THE FUTURE Develop a thoughtful, concise explanation of how these issues may relate to the intended educational, career, or personal objectives. (Because you will want to be able to articulate the focus and value of your BIS degree to many people in the future, including prospective employers. This is the place to begin that process. ) RESEARCH - Conduct relevant and necessary research to determine if the course choices & rationale will meet student’s expected goals for this degree early enough in the program to make needed changes) Could include contacting future employers, grad schools, certificate programs, transfer work, petitions, etc. Research demonstrates through commitment to the SEO process & development. WRITING CLARITY, ORGANIZATION & AUDIENCE (SPRC) AWARENESS Provide a well-written, clear, organized professional document to be presented to an important coordinating body of the university. This also includes sending the SEO to the correct address; document labeled correctly. PROOFREADING Carefully proofread this document for writing errors to present yourself as a professional)

Applied Kinesiology Take one (1) of the following: BIO 161 Principles of Human Physiology 4 KNH 184 and KNH 184 L Motor Skill Learning and Performance 3, 1 Take one (1) of the following: KNH 293 Fitness and Conditioning 3 KNH 294 Games and Sport 3 KNH 242 Personal Health 3 KNH 245 Health Issues for Children 3 Take one (1) of the following: STC 336 Advanced Interpersonal Communication 3 STC 339 Introduction to Organizational Communication 3 FSW 281 Child Development in Diverse Families 4 FSW/SOC 363 (formerly SOC 361) Sociology of Families 3 PSY 231 Developmental Psychology 3 Take both of the following: KNH 392 Lifetime and Adventure Activities 3 KNH 473 Children and Youth in Sport 3

SEO & DAR (Degree Audit Report) How are your credits fitting into the BIS degree thus far? Using the vertical student Degree Audit Report (DAR). Academic Advising DARS are horizontal.

Senior Responses to SEOs n n I didn’t have to worry about what classes to take. It was a pain to write but it took away pressure. Provides a clear roadmap to graduation. Importance as a continued requirement.

Integrative Studies helps teach the skills students need for their Future: • Critical thinking and problem-solving • Collaboration across networks and leading by influence • Agility and adaptability • Initiative and entrepreneurialism • Effective oral and written communication • Accessing and analyzing information • Curiosity and imagination From: Dr. Tony Wagner (co-director of Harvard's Change Leadership Group), The Global Achievement Gap: Why Even Our Best Schools Don’t Teach The New Survival Skills Our Children Need—And What We Can Do About It (Basic Books, 2008)

Special Thanks to Dr. Leland Spencer, Tonia Hyllengren, Mike Hieber, and Chris Metcalf for sharing slides. And, Thank you for attending our presentation