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.

Consultant Learning: A Model for Student Directed

Learning

Scott W. Kunkel

University of San Diego

© 2003 Scott W. Kunkel