Consultant Learning: A Model for Student Directed Learning Scott W. Kunkel University of San Diego...
-
date post
19-Dec-2015 -
Category
Documents
-
view
257 -
download
3
Transcript of Consultant Learning: A Model for Student Directed Learning Scott W. Kunkel University of San Diego...
Consultant Learning: A Model for Student Directed
Learning
Scott W. Kunkel
University of San Diego
© 2003 Scott W. Kunkel
Consultant Learning
• Empowers students and places them in control of your own learning process.
• Turns the classroom into a laboratory for the free enterprise system, using price as the allocation mechanism for grades earned.
• Changes the grading dimension:– from quality of work performed – to quantity of excellent quality work performed.
In the Traditional Course
• All students do the same quantity of work.
• Grading based on quality:– excellent quality = “A”– mediocre quality = “B”– poor quality = “C”
• Poor quality work is accepted and the grade is reduced.
In Consultant Learning
• All accepted work is excellent quality.
• Work that is not excellent quality is redone until it is excellent quality.
• Grading is based on the quantity of excellent quality work the student performs.
• Every student produces work of which he/she can be proud.
In Consultant Learning
• Students must redo unprofessional work.
• Students compile their work in a portfolio.
• The portfolio can be used for job search.
• The students’ completed portfolios are submitted at the end of the semester.
• The amount earned determines course grade:– Turns classroom into mini-economy.– Mimics real-world consulting environment.
Theoretical Foundation
• “Mastery Learning” by Bloom (‘71, ‘81).
• Bloom said education should no longer be about “weeding out” students.
• The normal curve is a valid predictor of random events, not purposeful events.
• Learning is a purposeful event.
Theoretical Foundation
• “Mastery Learning” is a model that must be implemented across an entire curriculum.
• Consultant Learning can be implemented in a single class without changing the assessment and grading standards of an entire institution.
Theoretical Foundation
• “Problem-Based Learning” sometimes called “Project-Based Learning” (Bridges, ‘92).
• Builds educational objectives into projects.
• Students complete the projects that require fulfillment of the learning objectives.
• “Problem-based learning . . . fits exceptionally well in multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary learning and teaching styles” (Glasgow, ‘97).
The Consultant Learning Process
• You design projects based on your own interests.
• For each project, you must submit a proposal explaining what you wish to do.
• You assign a consulting fee to each project using the Suggested Projects booklet.
• If the proposal and the fee are approved, you are authorized to do the project.
The Proposal
• Proposal includes 9 items:
– 1. Type of project
– 2. Topic
– 3. Rationale
– 4. Research Method
– 5. Output/Report Method
– 6. Perspective and Audience
– 7. Consulting Hours
– 8. Consulting Fee
– 9. Due Date
Possible Family Business Projects• Family Business History ($3,000)
• Business Family Genogram ($2,000)
• Resume and Cover Letter Project ($1,000)
• Book Executive Summary Project ($1,000-$2,500)
• Case Summary ($400 - $1,000)
• Current Events Analysis ($200 - $800)
• “Presentational” Speech ($400 - $1,000)
• Interview the Owner or Junior Member of a Family Business ($2,000 - $3,000)
• Family Business Forum Meeting ($2,000)
• Student Designed Project (Up to $5,000)
Possible Small Business Projects• The Business Disc computer simulation ($4,000)
• A Major Team Small Business Analysis (Up to $10,000)– (a group of related projects)
• Book Executive Summary Project ($1,000-$2,500) Resume and Cover Letter Project ($1,000)
• Case Summary ($400-$1,000)
• Current Events Analysis ($400-$800)
• Presentational Speech ($400-$1,000)
• Interview of a Small Business Owner ($2,000-$3,000)
• Attendance at a Professional Meeting ($2,000)
• Student Designed Project (Up to $5,000)
Possible Entrepreneurship Projects• New Venture Feasibility Analysis ($2,000)• New Venture PowerPoint Presentation (up to $10,000)• Resume and Cover Letter Project ($1,000)• Book Executive Summary Project ($1,000-$2,500)• Case Analysis Project ($500-$1,000)• Current Event Analysis Project ($500)• Presentational Speech Project ($500)• Interviewing an Entrepreneur ($2,000)• Interviewing a Service Professional ($2,000)• Entrepreneurial Key Contact File ($1,000-$2,000)• Student Designed Project (Up to $5,000)
Possible Strategic Mgmt. Projects• Team Computer Simulation ($6,000 + oral report fees)
• Major Company Strategic Analysis (up to $10,000)
• Business History ($3,000)
• Resume and Cover Letter Project ($1,000)
• Book Executive Summary Project ($1,000-$3,000)
• Case Analysis Project ($400-$1,000)
• Current Event Analysis Project ($200-$800)
• Presentational Speech Project ($400-$1000)
• Interviewing an Owner/Executive ($2,000-$3,000)
• Attendance at a Professional Meeting ($2,000)
• Student Designed Project (Up to $5,000)
The Project
• When the project is submitted, it is either approved or returned to be redone.
• If project is returned, you must rewrite the project and resubmit it.
• This process continues until the project is judged to be of “professional quality” and, therefore, acceptable.
The Project
• When the project is accepted, the agreed-upon fee is marked Paid (for example, “PAID $2,000”) and it is given back to you.
• There are no partial fees - the project is either professional quality or it is not - it is either paid or returned to be rewritten and resubmitted.
The Project
• When a project is paid, it is returned to you (I keep no records).
• You put paid projects in your portfolio.
Pay for In-Class Work
• You are also paid for attending class.– A fee schedule is in the Student Guide to CL.
• “Call-on-Me” list pays you for being prepared to discuss the readings.– Sign “Call-on-Me” means you are prepared and
I can call on you without you raising your hand.– “Call on Me” list pays you a fee for each class
you sign it.
The Portfolio
• At the end of semester, you will put two accounting sheets on top of the portfolio showing what you have earned.
• You submit the portfolio to me.
• I “audit” the portfolio to make sure that the accounting sheet is accurate.
• I assign the grade based on how much you have earned during the semester.
Name: John Student Course: BUS 102W.01
In-Class Consulting Fees Earned
Tuesday Thursday
Week Attended Call on me Attended Call on me
0 9/5
1 9/10 9/12
2 9/17 9/19
///// ////////// ////////// //////////
12 11/26 11/28
13 12/3 12/5
14 12/10 12/14
Col. Totals 12 8 13 8
Totals Classes Attended # 25 $ 4,700
Total Call-On-Me Lists # 16 $ 3,200
Total In-Class Fees Earned $ 7,900
Name: John Student Course: GBA 537.01
Project Consulting Fees Earned
SubmittedWeek Date Description of Project
Cr/(Dr)
CumulativeBalance
3 9/24 Current Event $800 $800
4 10/3 Book Report $2,500 $3,300
///// ///// ////////// ////////// //////////
9 11/7 Bus. History $3,000 $17,500
10 11/14 Attend Prof. Meeting $2,000 $19,500
Total Projects Consulting Fees $19,500
Total brought forward from my “In-Class Consulting Fees Earned”sheet
$7,900
TOTAL CONSULTING FEES EARNED $27,400
GRADE EARNED FOR THE COURSE B+
Undergraduate Grading Scale
• Undergraduate grades are assigned on the following scale:– $25,000 = A $15,000 = C +– $23,000 = A - $13,000 = C– $21,000 = B + $11,000 = C -– $19,000 = B Less than $11,000 = F– $17,000 = B -
Graduate Grading Scale
• Graduate grades are assigned on the following scale:– $30,000 = A $21,000 = C +– $28,000 = A - $19,000 = C– $26,000 = B + $17,000 = C -– $24,000 = B Less than $17,000 = F– $22,000 = B -
Important Skills Students Learn
• Defining a question in researchable terms
• Identifying information sources
• Collecting information
• Organizing information into a readable, professional quality report
• Writing a report that will be useful to others.
Important Skills Students Learn
• You learn these skills by doing them:– with guidance and coaching from me – including discussions in class
Examples of Student Projects• Reviewed franchises then bought MBE.
• Proposal to start an R & R band’s fan club, and they hired him.
• Proposal to manage a country band, and they hired him.
• “SnoAds,” ecologically sensitive advertising in the snow at ski resorts.
• Proposal for family to expand family farm.
• Surfing theme-park.
Pros
• Student centered - highly motivating to students.
• Uses money/economics concepts to motivate behavior - it’s “real world.”
• Students benefit from rewriting.
• Course design is extremely flexible.
• Motivates students to work for high grades.
Student Reactions
• Students generally love the Consultant Learning approach. It is motivating and interesting.
• Two complaints from student are:– The Consultant Learning approach places too
much responsibility on students.– It is too easy to procrastinate.
Consultant Learning - Summary
• Empowers students and places them in control of their own learning process.
• Turns the classroom into a laboratory for the free enterprise system, using price as the allocation mechanism for grades earned.
• Changes the grading dimension:– from quality of work performed – to quantity of excellent quality work performed.