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 Ashwell University of British Columbia

Background Traditional 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 Projects Overview 1Goals & Objectives Beginning of term 2Professional Profile Includes discussion board & archives End of 2 nd month 3Informational Interview End of 3 rd month Within organization or elsewhere 4Final Activity (select 1) Networking Public speaking Professional business writing Career development Other (video or other) 5Professional Review End-of-term evaluation/exit interview

Reflective Seminars and E-Portfolios New approaches at Mount Saint Vincent Scott Daniels Mount 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 Marion Bishop’s University blog [blawg, blog ] experiencesobservationsopinions 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 Work term Report Options Competency Approach 8-10 pages OR Organizational Analysi s 8-10 pages 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 Work Published in: Management Learning :275

Why Change? blog [blawg, blog ] experiencesobservationsopinions 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

Results Co-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 Daniels Manager, Co-operative Education Mount Saint Vincent University Charlene Marion Co-operative Education Coordinator Bishop’s University