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Lesson Plan

Your NAME: Aimee Dars Ellis

Type of Lesson: Graphics and Mobile Devices in Education

Lesson Plan Title: Theories of Leadership

Discipline and Topic: Business/Management/Organizational Behavior

Target Population

Grade Level: Postsecondary, sophomore through senior

Population Characteristics: Students in this class have enrolled in this introductory class because

it is required for their major. The only prerequisite is a social science class. Since students might

be coming into the class with any possible social science, no common background knowledge

can be assumed. However, students must be in good standing with a minimum grade point

average, so I can assume they have basic reading, writing, and researching skills.

Lesson Groupings: This lesson includes both individual, small group, and whole class groupings.

Curriculum Links

The “Theories of Leadership” lesson comes after units on personality, diversity, teams, and

communication. Following the leadership lesson, we cover power, politics, organizational

structure, and organizational culture.

The leadership lesson builds on prior content because aspects of personality (e.g.,

extroversion/introversion) and diversity are discussed in relationship to leadership styles. The

lesson draws upon the team lesson because some features of a team can be substitutes or

neutralizers of leadership. Communication is a key leadership skill and is discussed in terms of

leadership effectiveness. Most students have also had at least a part-time job or coach, so the

material is connected to their own experiences of having effective versus ineffective leaders.

This information will be solicited through an open-ended poll on Poll Everywhere

(https://www.pollev.com/aimeedars; see Appendix 1).

Leaders play a special role in organizational power, politics, and culture, so the theories of

leadership unit is a required foundation for subsequent content. I will create a refresher quiz in

Poll Everywhere to highlight the salient aspects of leadership theories when the class reaches

these topics. Additionally, students will be posting material to the internet and generating QR

codes for the content. A document with all the QR codes will be given to students for review.

Examples from student work will help illustrate subsequent topics (e.g., organizational politics

and organizational culture).

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Objectives

Students will be able to:

1) Explain the fundamental aspects of key leadership theories in organizational behavior

2) Compare and contrast key leadership theories in organizational behavior

3) Critique key leadership theories in organizational behavior

4) Apply leadership theories to hypothetical and/or actual management scenarios

5) Create a plan for personal leadership development

List the ISTE Student Standards/Profiles objectives with which your lesson plan aligns.

ISTE Standard Lesson Plan Application

1. Design, develop, and test a digital

learning game to demonstrate

knowledge and skills related to

curriculum content. (1, 4)

n/a

2. Create and publish an online art

gallery with examples and

commentary that demonstrate an

understanding of different historical

periods, cultures, and countries. (1, 2)

n/a

3. Select digital tools or resources to use

for a real-world task and justify the

selection based on their efficiency and

effectiveness. (3, 6)

n/a

4. Employ curriculum-specific

simulations to practice critical-

thinking processes. (1, 4)

n/a

5. Identify a complex global issue,

develop a systematic plan of

investigation, and present innovative

sustainable solutions. (1, 2, 3, 4)

Students will practice some of these skills when completing their “Leadership in Action” assignment which requires they profile a leader, discuss that leader’s challenge(s), and identify solutions to resolve the challenge(s)

6. Analyze the capabilities and

limitations of current and emerging

technology resources and assess their

potential to address personal, social,

lifelong learning, and career needs. (4,

5, 6)

n/a

7. Design a Web site that meets

accessibility requirements. (1, 5)

n/a

8. Model legal and ethical behaviors

when using information and

technology by properly selecting,

acquiring, and citing resources. (3, 5)

In the activities for this lesson, students will need to evaluate the ethics and legality of the resources they find for their assignments.

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9. Create media-rich presentations for

other students on the appropriate and

ethical use of digital tools and

resources. (1, 5)

n/a

10. Configure and troubleshoot hardware,

software, and network systems to

optimize their use for learning and

productivity. (4, 6)

Students will use hardware and software in the completion of this lesson. For example, they need to use their cell phone or laptop to participate in the Poll Everywhere poll. They need to be able to use Piktochart or another graphic design tool to complete the infographic assignment. They will use a range of media to complete the “Leadership in Action” assignment.

Materials and Timing

This lesson will require (2) 45-minute class sessions.

Materials

PowerPoint slides with embedded Poll Everywhere polls and “Great Leaders in History”

collage made with Skitch (see Appendix 2)

Internet connection to demonstrate Piktochart

Ray Anderson Reflects (YouTube)

Scope and Sequence

Before this lesson, students will have read the relevant chapter from the textbook as well as

supplemental articles (such as “Soon Not Even 1 Percent of Fortune 500 Companies will have

Black CEOs”) and completed an online chapter quiz. Students will also be required to complete a

self-assessment such as “How Good Are Your Leadership Skills?”

Day 1

00 – 05 Attendance / Announcements

05 - 10 Opening Remarks – Connect previous content to leadership, take

questions from students about the reading

10-11 Characteristics of Effective Leadership – Poll Everywhere poll

11-30 SMALL GROUPS: Using word cloud generated through the poll,

small groups will relate student experiences to leadership theories

using newsprint and markers to make a concept map. (Poll

responses might include: respects employees which corresponds

with consideration aspect of behavioral leadership theories; keeps

things organized would reflect initiating structure of these

theories; makes sure employees have what they need to get their

work done could be related to initiating structure or servant

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leadership.) Selected groups will share their concept maps with

the class.

30-40 Review trait theory of leadership – show “Great Leaders in

History” collage. Students will try to identify each person. Once

all are identified, I will ask, “Do you notice anything strange

about the leaders featured here?” Students will note that all the

leaders are white men, leading to a discussion about limitations to

the trait theory of leadership and the challenges women and

people of color experience in Fortune 500 leadership roles.

40-45 Explain Assignment: Leadership Infographic

Day 2

00 – 05 Attendance / Announcements

05 – 10 Students will post any questions or reflections from Day 1’s

material to twitter with #myOBleadershipQ.

10-30 “Ray Anderson Reflects” video and worksheet will be used to

illustrate transformative leadership theory. Students will complete

worksheet individually. Students selected with random #

generator or Pick Me/similar app will share responses.

30-40 Students will work individually on personal leadership

development plan using quiz taken before class as starting point.

Worksheet will be added to their e-Portfolio.

40-45 Explain Assignment: Leadership in Action

Supplemental Materials

Newsprint and markers for small group activity on Day 1

Worksheet to accompany “Ray Anderson Reflects”

Worksheet: Personal Leadership Development Plan

Evaluation of Students

Place your objectives in the left hand column, segmenting your objectives and/or adding

additional rows, if necessary. Add either point values or evaluative words across the top row,

adding or deleting columns as necessary. IN the grid, add descriptors of those behaviors which

would be used to assign value to student’s work.

Objectives Activity Excellent Satisfactory Novice

Explain the

fundamental

aspects of key

leadership

theories in

organizational

behavior

Chapter Quiz 95-100% 80-94% <79%

Infographic* Includes full

description of at

least 7 leadership

theories that

addresses key

assumptions and

predictions

Includes partial

description of 4-6

leadership

theories that

addresses key

assumptions,

Includes 3 or

fewer leadership

theories

and/or

material contains

factual errors

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Deep integration

of appropriate

secondary

sources that go

beyond class

material

limitations, and

predictions

OR

Includes partial

description of 7

leadership

theories with

some

assumptions and

predictions

Some integration

of secondary

sources

Little integration

of secondary

sources

Compare and

contrast key

leadership

theories in

organizational

behavior

Class Discussion

(ungraded) …..

Infographic Accurately

identifies clear

similarities and

differences

Similarities and

differences are

addressed in

general terms

Inaccurate

conclusions

and/or little

justification

Critique key

leadership

theories in

organizational

behavior

Infographic Clearly

articulates

limitations /

disadvantages of

theories informed

by readings

Includes

generalized

discussion of

limitations /

disadvantages of

theories informed

by readings

Little to no

discussion of

limitations and/or

includes incorrect

information

Apply leadership

theories to

hypothetical

and/or actual

management

scenarios

Concept Map

(ungraded)

Specific traits /

leadership

behaviors from

poll are

connected to

specific aspect of

appropriate

theory with

detailed

justification

Specific traits /

leadership

behaviors from

poll are

connected to

general aspect of

appropriate

theory with

generalized

justification

Specific traits /

leadership

behaviors from

poll are

connected to

specific aspect of

appropriate

theory with little

to no justification

or connection is

incorrect

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Infographic Includes relevant

and timely

example with

clear connections

to each theory

Includes 4-6

relevant and

timely examples

Includes 3 or

fewer relevant

examples or

examples that do

not adequately

reflect content of

theory

Ray Anderson

Worksheet

Several correct

and detailed

examples from

video illustrate

each aspect of

transformational

leadership with

justification

Specific, detailed

suggestions for

improvement

based on theory

3-4 detailed

examples with

some justification

Specific

suggestions with

general links to

theory

Fewer than three

detailed examples

or general

examples with

little to no

justification

Suggestions that

are not specific

and/or are not

based on theory

Leadership in

Action

Assignment

Concise yet

comprehensive

biography of

leader,

connecting

his/her

performance to

leadership

theories with

justification

Clearly identifies

leadership crisis

and uses theories

to evaluate

leader’s response,

suggestions are

detailed and

specific based on

readings

Too general – or

too much –

information in

biography,

theories

connected with

some justification

Sufficient

description of

leadership

challenge, some

justification for

application of

theories, general

suggestions not

based in readings

Insufficient or

unclear

biography, little

justification for

connections to

theory

Incorrect

application of

theory

Key leadership

crisis details are

omitted, theory

not used for

analysis,

suggestions are

vague

Create a plan for

personal

leadership

development

Worksheet

Honest and

insightful

identification of

strengths/

weaknesses

General listing of

strengths and

weaknesses

Some use of

SMART goals

Some strengths

and weaknesses

identified

Goals are not

SMART and/or

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SMART goals

address

weaknesses

do not help

student address

weaknesses

* Infographic will also be evaluated in terms of clarity and organization of design, acceptable use

of graphics/text, and correct citation of references

Evaluation of the Lesson

The lesson will be evaluated in terms of student performance and student attitudes. Slight “on-

the-fly” changes to the lesson will be made in response to formative assessment (text based polls

and Twitter feedback) and initial review of student performance on quizzes and assignments as

well as student questions posed in class and anecdotal student feedback. If I observe that students

have confusion or a clear misconception of a concept based on this data, I will present the

concept in an alternative way and make additional resources available.

A more in-depth analysis of student performance on all activities will be undertaken before

giving this lesson again. This lesson will be successful if at least 85% of students perform at the

satisfactory level or above on all assignments and if no more than 4% of students fall in the

“novice’ category. If student performance is outside of that range, I will look to see what areas of

the lesson need improvement. Additionally, I will evaluate the refresher quiz results given in

subsequent lessons to see if students retained the concepts. If they did not, I will consider ways

to make the learning “stick” and to reinforce it. I will also observe student body language during

the class and review end-of-semester evaluations to assess student attitudes toward the lesson.

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Appendix 1: Poll Everywhere Screenshots

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Answers:

http://www2.ucsc.edu/whorulesamerica/power/diversity_among_ceos.html

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Appendix 2: Great Leaders in History

Collage of famous leaders

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Appendix 3: Leadership Infographic Assignment

Using Picktochart or another design program with which you are familiar, create an infographic

that presents the leadership theories covered in class and the readings. In addition to course

readings, use at least three other reliable sources.

Create the infographic for a general audience that has not studied leadership theories. Be sure to

present the material concisely while highlighting the key facts from each theory/set of theories.

You want to address:

Key facts, assumptions, and predictions

Limitations and criticisms

“Real-world” examples

How the theories relate to each other

As you are creating your infographic, keep in mind the “Seven Characteristics of an Effective

Infographic” outlined by Judy Weightman.

Once you have finished your infographic, post it to flickr or scribd and make a QR code

(http://www.qrstuff.com/) linking to your infographic.

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Appendix 4: Leadership in Action Assignment

You have been assigned to create a multimedia presentation on the business leader

.* Use a combination of images (using skitch, for example, to capture them), text, and/or

audio and video clips to address the following areas:

A brief biography of the leader

A profile of the leader’s style, values, and ethics

A discussion of the leadership theory that best describes your leader

A summary of a high profile leadership challenge faced by your leader (e.g., product

recall, large layoffs, discriminiation lawsuits, environmental distasters)

A description of how the leader handled the challenge

Your analysis of the leader’s behavior – identify strengths, weaknesses, and what you

would have done differenly and why

In addition to course readings, use at least five other reliable sources.

Once you have finished your infographic, post your presentation to your e-portfolio (setting =

public) and make a QR code (http://www.qrstuff.com/) linking to your presentation.

* NOTE: Each student will be assigned a different business leader.

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Appendix 5: Ray Anderson Reflects Worksheet

Ray Anderson Reflects

Name: Date:

Consider the interview in Ray Anderson Reflects. Provide concrete examples from the video that

illustrate the four aspects of transformational leadership.

“Ray Anderson at TED 2009” by Erik (HASH) Hersman is licensed under CC BY 2.0

1) Do you think Ray Anderson is an effective leader? Use course material and examples

from the video to support your response.

--OVER--

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2) Ray Anderson would like to improve his leadership skills. Based on the theories we’ve

disussed, what advice would you give him and why?

Scan code for more information on Ray Anderson

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Appendix 6: Personal Leadership Development Plan Worksheet

Name:

Review the results of your leadership quiz and then answer the following questions. This will be

included as an artifact in your e-portfolio.

1) What are your current strengths?

2) What areas would you like to improve?

3) Based on the leadership theories and class discussion, list specific strategies (using

SMART goals) for improving these skills.