RECR 211: Leadership of Leisure Studies
3 credit hours
ONLINE – SPRING 2018
Instructor:
Jennifer Livengood, Ph.D.
Email:
jlivengo@shepherd.edu and jlivengo@gmail.com
Office Hours:
I am available frequently on Gmail chat. If you would like to chat with me, please send me a request at jlivengo@gmail.com and I will accept your request.
Course Prerequisites:
None
Required Texts/Materials:
- Course website: www.jenniferlivengood.com/leadership
- No required course text
- Weekly videos, articles, and websites will be posted on the course website
Course Website and Tools:
You must have access to Sakai, Shepherd email, and the course website to be successful in this course.
- Assignments and Assignment Submission: Sakai – Please note, assignments will ONLY be accepted over Sakai. Emailed assignments may get lost therefore submit over email at your own risk.
- Syllabus: Sakai and course website
- Readings: Course website
- Announcements: Sakai and email
Course Description:
This course will provide students with the foundations of recreation leadership and group interaction. The course will cover theories, techniques, styles, and communication. Experiential activities will allow a better understanding of the concepts of leadership and group dynamics in a recreation setting.
Course Format:
RECR 211 is online and is asynchronous. There are no required meeting times nor will we meet in a physical location on campus. Assignments will have specific due dates.
Course Objectives
- Students will demonstrate entry-level knowledge of the histories, philosophies, and various professions associated with Recreation and Leisure.
- Students will demonstrate and understanding of current issues and trends in the Recreation and Leisure Services discipline.
- Students will demonstrate and understanding of the concepts of inclusion and diversity in the recreation, leisure, and sport industry.
- Students will possess the ability to design, plan, implement, and evaluate a variety of programs and activities in fields of recreation, sport, outdoor recreation and/or therapeutic Recreation.
- Students will effectively identify and demonstrate leadership qualities needed in the Recreation and Leisure Studies workplace.
Recreation and Leisure Studies Program Learning Outcomes
- Students shall demonstrate entry-level knowledge of the histories, philosophies, and various professions associated with Recreation and Leisure. (7.01 – COAPRT Standard).
- Students will demonstrate an understanding of current issues and trends in the Recreation and Leisure Services discipline (7.01).
- Students will demonstrate an understanding of the concepts of inclusion and diversity in the recreation, leisure, and sport industry (7.02).
- Students will possess the ability to design, plan, implement, and evaluate a variety of programs and activities in fields of recreation, sport, outdoor recreation and/or therapeutic Recreation (7.02).
- Seniors will demonstrate an understanding of programmatic and facility management/administration in recreation, leisure, and sport (7.03)
- Students will effectively identify and demonstrate leadership qualities needed in the Recreation and Leisure Studies workplace (7.03).
- Graduates will successfully complete an intensive internship receiving favorable feedback in the areas of professionalism, programming, and management (7.04).
LEAP Goals:
- LEAP Goal No. 2: Intellectual and Practical Skills throughout the curriculum
Learning Outcomes:
- Critical Thinking
- Oral Communication
- Written Communication
- Collaboration/Teamwork
- Problem Solving
- Life-long Learning
Students in this course will be assessed on their ability to:
- Understand leadership philosophies, theories, techniques and styles.
- Synthesize the principles, concepts, and importance of personnel management, staff supervision, and employee conduct, training and development.
- Synthesize principles related to professional and competent leadership in terms of delivery of leisure services.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the leadership of individuals in each phase of their lifespan both individually and in group situations.
- Demonstrate an understanding of group dynamics and processes in developing group goals and enhancing group communication.
- Synthesize current issues and trends in the profession within the context of leadership development.
LEAP Goal No. 3: Personal and Social Responsibility
Learning Outcomes:
- Civic knowledge and engagement
- Multiculturalism and Diversity
- Ethical practice and ethical reasoning
Students in this course will be assessed on their ability to:
- Synthesize ethical practices as they apply to leadership
- Demonstrate an understanding of various leadership techniques and strategies in planning for the community at large
- Demonstrate an understanding of leadership as it applies to constituents from various cultures and backgrounds
Grading Scale
- 90% - 100%
A
- 80% - 89%
B
- 70% - 79%
C
- 60% - 69%
D
- < 60%
F
Course Assignments
All assignments and quizzes are evaluated out of 100 points. The percentage counted toward your final grade is listed in the title of the assignments below.
Quizzes (30%)
There will be four quizzes throughout this term. Each quiz will be open for a week and you can use the course materials and any notes you may have taken. The material covered will include information from the weekly course modules, readings listed in the course module, external links, interactive activities, and other material presented in this course. The quizzes will be available on Sakai.
Introduce Yourself Form (5%)
This is a quick Google Form that helps me learn more about you and ideas you have about leadership. I will take this information into consideration when developing the course modules and selecting readings throughout this course.
Personality Inventory (5%)
You will be taking a personality quiz that is based upon the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. The results of the personality quiz discuss how your personality shapes your leadership style and how you fit into your workplace. You will use the results of this Inventory to complete the next assignment: Personal Leadership Style Paper. Additionally, this information will be used in your final project.
Personal Leadership Style Paper (10%)
You will use the results of your personality inventory, assigned course readings, and course module information to write a paper about your personal leadership style. This information will be used in your final project.
Organizational Leadership Assessment and Reflection (10%)
You will complete an online inventory about your leadership style. You will use the results of the inventory to draft a reflection paper about yourself as a leader and how it impacts an organization where you currently work or one that you desire to work for in the future. This information will be used in your final project.
Agency Contact Form and Agency Interview and Observation (20%)
You will be reaching out to a local recreation, leisure, or sports organization to interview a person in a leadership position. This can be an individual OR a group project. No more than four students can be in a group. Additionally, you will be required to observe an event, program, or other similar organized group within this organization and reflect upon specific objectives that are outlined in the assignment. The final part of the assignment is to discuss how you believe your personal leadership style and organizational leadership style (previous assignments) would work within this organization.
Final Project: Personal Leadership Portfolio (20%)
You will combine the major projects you have completed in this course to develop a personalized leadership portfolio. Additionally, you will complete a final set of questions and reflections to tie together the items in your portfolio.
Assignments
Introduce Yourself Form
Personality Inventory
Personal Leadership Style Paper
Organizational Leadership Assessment and Reflection
Agency Contact Form
Agency Interview and Observation
Final Project: Personal Leadership Portfolio
Quiz 1
Quiz 2
Quiz 3
Quiz 4
Course Topic Schedule
Getting started with RECR 211
Understanding yourself as a leader, part I
Understanding yourself as a leader, part II
Current issues and trends in leadership
Leadership theories
Psychology of leadership; Leadership and human development
- February 12 - February 18
Professional communication
- February 19 - February 25
Working with people and managing conflict, part I
Working with people and managing conflict, part II
Group dynamics and meetings
Inclusion and diversity
Ethical leadership practice
Evaluating people
Leadership, influence, and motivation, part I
Leadership, influence, and motivation, part II
Final Exam Week
Shepherd University Policies & Procedures
RAVE ALERT:
Students are encouraged to sign up for “RAVE alerts” (http://www.shepherd.edu/university/rave/) in order to be informed of campus closures. Also, students are encouraged to check the Shepherd website for additional information (http://www.shepherd.edu/).
Disability Support Services:
Disability Support Services at Shepherd University believes that every student should succeed, and works closely with students to meet their needs. Students requesting any disability related accommodation should contact the Disability Coordinator at 304-876-5122. This includes students with learning disabilities needing classroom accommodations, students requesting specific housing accommodations for health-related reasons, and all other disability accommodations. Accommodations need to be documented and provided to instructors. Please see http://www.shepherd.edu/disability/dss-services for more information.
Free Tutoring:
Free Tutoring! Any Course! “Take advantage of a free personal trainer for the mind!” Visit the Academic Support Center in Library 103: www.shepherd.edu/ascweb; 876-5221; 8:00 – 4:30
Academic Integrity:
Each student in this course is expected to abide by the Shepherd University Academic Integrity Procedures found in the Shepherd University Student Handbook (http://www.shepherd.edu/students/studenthandbook.pdf).
Course/Departmental Policies/Guidelines of Professionalism
- All assignments must be submitted over Sakai. Assignments submitted over email run the risk of getting lost. If you submit your assignment over email you must accept the risks that the assignment may become lost, resulting in a zero.
- Lack of access to Sakai, the Internet, or a Computer will not be accepted as an excuse for non-submission of assignments.
- Students must become familiar with how to submit assignments on Sakai prior to the assignment due date. Technological issues must be addressed prior to the assignment due date.
- All assignments are due by 11:59PM, Eastern Time on the date and time indicated by the instructor.
- Lack of awareness of an assignment will not be accepted as an excuse for not submitting an assignment.
- Always keep a backup copy of your assignment. For example, if you keep your file on a hard drive, also keep a copy on a separate disk.
- Keep records of all of your submissions.
- If students have a question regarding the grading of a particular assignment, it is the student’s responsibility to discuss the matter with the instructor in a timely manner. Specifically, it is the student’s responsibility to contact the instructor and discuss the assignment within one week of receiving the grade. After this one-week period, no grade adjustments will be made.
- If you receive a zero after submitting an assignment on time then I most likely did not receive your assignment. Please contact me within one week of the posted grade if this happens.
Late Assignments
- Life happens and in the full-time working world, due dates are not always met and sometimes you need a few extra days to complete a project. In this course, you can submit up to TWO assignments (assignments are defined as either a paper or a quiz) late. If you want to submit your assignment late, you need to fill out the Late Assignment Notification Form on or before the posted due date. Do not submit this notification form if the due date for the assignment has passed.
- Three or more assignments submitted late will not be accepted.
- Once you submit the Late Assignment Notification Form, you will have ONE WEEK to submit your assignment. After this date, you cannot earn credit for the course requirement.
Assignment Guidelines:
- Written assignments must meet the following criteria: be word –processed, use good grammar and contain no spelling errors. Further, unless specified otherwise, all papers should (a) follow APA style, (b) have pages numbered (put in either header or footer), (c) have student’s full name and the course number at top of each page (put in header), (d) have 1 inch margins, (e) be done in a simple font (e.g., Times New Roman, Courier) in size 12 points, and (f) be double spaced. Also, see Sakai and the instructor’s web page for writing helps.
- Students are encouraged to use Academic Support Center @ Shepherd University as they plan, write, and edit their papers. To make an appointment to see one of the faculty/staff at The Writing Center (KN 114), visit http://www.shepherd.edu/scwcweb/.
- If a paper does not meet the above requirements, it will be returned ungraded and you may be requested to resubmit the assignment. The instructor reserves the right to request that you re-do the paper within a specific time period for a grade at least 20% below what the original paper would be worth.
Plagiarism & Referencing:
- Unless otherwise noted, use your own words, do not cut and paste OR copy word-for-word from any article, book, website, assignments submitted by other students etc. Specifically, do not cut and paste a quote into your paper as it does not show that you have read and/or understand the quote.
- It is the student’s responsibility to familiarize him or herself with Shepherd University’s definitions, explanations, and disciplinary procedures regarding plagiarism as described in “Academic Integrity Procedures” in the Academic Freedom and Responsibility section of The Student Handbook. (http://www.shepherd.edu/students/studenthandbook.pdf).
- Lack of knowledge of what constitutes plagiarism or cheating will NOT be accepted as an excuse for submitting plagiarized work or cheating for any course requirement.
When should you reference materials in your paper?
- In college courses, we are continually engaged with other people’s ideas: we read them in texts, hear them in lecture, discuss them in class, and incorporate them into our own writing. As a result, it is very important that we give credit where it is due. Plagiarism is using others’ ideas and words without clearly acknowledging the source of that information.
To avoid plagiarism, you must give credit whenever you use
- another person’s idea, opinion, or theory;
- any facts, statistics, graphs, drawings—any pieces of information—that are not common knowledge;
- quotations of another person’s actual spoken or written words;
- or
paraphrase of another person’s spoken or written words.
- (Retrieved from: http://www.indiana.edu/~wts/pamphlets/plagiarism.shtml)
Modification of syllabus:
The instructor reserves the right to modify the syllabus throughout the semester.