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Decision Making and Responsibility
Winter 2005, Course 2
CLOSED
Course Overview:
How many decisions do you make in a day? Ten? Twenty? Five Hundred? The answer may surprise you. And what about our students? No doubt there are times we question if they are making decisions at all, or more specifically, if they making the “right” decisions. But just as important is to recognize how we make our decisions, and as educators, how we can help our students make decisions that are beneficial to them.
This course is designed to assist the participant in identifying his/her decision-making process, and learn how to take responsibility for those actions, through readings, online discussion and “homework” style exercises. Participants will also discuss and learn how to empower their students in taking responsibility for their actions and making more appropriate decisions so that they can be as successful as they would like to be.
Course Outline:
Participants will be given some definitive information about making decisions; specifically, what does it mean to make a true decision (not a ‘throw away’ one, like a New Year’s resolution, but instead a decision that you are committed to). Next, participants will be asked to identify at least three decisions they have either put off, or ones they will need to make in the near future. Participants will be expected to identify reasons they have not made these decisions yet. I will then take them through a 6-step process in decision making to help them realize their most desired outcomes.
Next, we will identify together how we work with students who seem to have difficulty making decisions (or at least making appropriate ones), and how we can act as mentors and coaches in moving them toward successful decision making.
Topics will be explored in depth on the Discussion Board where we will "come together" at times convenient for all members for what I hope will be a thought provoking interchange.
Learning Outcomes:
Upon completion of this course, active participants will:
- Understand what it means to make a true decision.
- Better understand how and why they make the decisions they do.
- Become familiar with a 6 step process toward more effective decision-making.
- Identify three decisions they have put off, and work toward making those decisions with positive outcomes.
- Learn and share strategies with others on how to teach students to make better decisions.
Expectations of Participants:
Participants should expect to devote about 4 hours during each week of this three weeks course in order to read the online materials, fully participate in the online discussions and submit the online assignments. The final project for the course is to identify in detail how they would assist a student in crisis to make a well thought out, appropriate decision, given the circumstances identified.
This will be administered as an asynchronous class which means participants can log on whenever they wish and whatever location they have Internet access. The Discussion Board is the focus of online learning in this course. There will be no "real time" meetings for this course. On the Discussion Board we will spend time considering all facets of a judicial process, and how other people are practicing judicial education on their campuses. Active participation will significantly enhance the learning experience and help bring the course material to life. Participation in the online discussion is critical to your success in the class and is expected of each student.
Individuals registering for CEUs will receive 1.0 CEU upon successful
completion of the course.
Instructor Bio:
Shawn McGuirk has been at Brandeis as Director of Student Development & Conduct since January, 2003. He has worked in Student Affairs at Boston College, the University of Maine, and was an RD for 3 years at Marist College in New York. Shawn is Co-Circuit Representative for ASJA, Circuit 1. When he’s not at Brandeis, he’s at home with his wife and 2 children (one more on the way in April). He enjoys a good cup of coffee, reading and sports (Go Red Sox and Patriots!!)
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