Orientation Leader Training: Using Learning Outcomes to Develop the Whole Student

Kathy PetrasAssistant Director of Student Life & InvolvementBaldwin-Wallace College

Kat SlabySeniorBaldwin-Wallace College

Who We are:

Kathy Petras Assistant Director of

Student Life & Involvement

Past 4 Years working in Orientation Programming

Kat Slaby Senior Summer Orientation

Leader – 2 years

Baldwin-Wallace @ a Glance

Small, Liberal Arts College

Approximately 3,000 Undergraduate Students

Student/Faculty Ratio = 15.1

Over 50 Academic Majors

Nationally known Music Conservatory

Over 120 Campus Organizations

Approximately 700 new first-year students admitted yearly

Team Building Activity #1

Hey! What’s Your Name?

Chickering & Reisser’s 7 Vectors

1. Developing Competence

2. Managing Emotions

3. Moving Through Autonomy Toward Interdependence

4. Developing Mature Interpersonal Relationships

5. Establishing Identity

6. Developing Purpose

7. Developing Integrity

Key Factors Affecting Development:

Institutional Objectives

Institutional Size

Faculty-Student Interaction

Curriculum

Teaching Practices

Diverse Student Communities

Student Affairs Programs & Services

Three Principles

Integration of Work and Learning

Recognition of and respect for differences

Recognition of the Cyclical Nature of Learning and Development

B-W’s Orientation Program

Summer Orientation 4 Overnight Sessions for First-Year Students 2 Day Sessions for Transfer Students

Weekend Of Welcome (W.O.W.) 4 Day Additional Orientation prior to

classes starting 3 Major Mandatory Programs Remaining Activities are mainly social

& optional

Our Learning Outcomes

Why are Learning Outcomes important?

Based in Three Areas Leadership & Communication Knowledge – Orientation specific &

Baldwin-Wallace College Understanding Self & Others

Know, Do, Feel

Our Training @ B-W

FOCUS: Summer Orientation Staff (16 students)

2-3 meetings prior to start of summer

2.5 days of intense training & teambuilding before first weekend

Additional teambuilding & training throughout the summer

Training Topics

Teambuilding – with partner & with group

Group Facilitation

Working With Your Partner

B-W Informational Sessions

FISH! Philosophy

Academic Advising

Diversity

Mock Sessions

Teambuilding Activity #2

Everyone take 4 pipe cleaners

Create something that describes who you are or something that is important to you

Don’t talk to anyone around you about what you are creating

Assessment of Training

Verbal Assessment

Written/Anonymous Evaluation

So Did it Work? Example #1 - Abby & Ian

So Did it Work? Example #2 - Kelsey

So Did it Work? Example #3 - Kat

What Did They Learn?In Their Own Words:

More Open to Working with Parents & Students

Able to work with students in many capacities

Become more aware of the language I use around different audiences

Better at having awkward conversations

I’ve become very comfortable in front of a large group

I now know how to trust my partner & be a better “passenger”

What Did They Learn?In Their Own Words:

Reading into students & figuring out how to respond

I learned how to manage stress better

First impressions aren’t everything

Working independently

Being Flexible

I can communicate & extract information from a shy student

Putting myself in other’s shoes

What Did They Learn?In Their Own Words:

Improved Patience & Self-esteem

That I can be very social – I was always too shy

That I can switch modes quickly

Having my game face on in front of students

Customer Service