Angry Birds and Student Organizations provides leadership lessons that can be applied to advising student groups. Some of the key lessons include recognizing that students have different skills and talents, encouraging trial and error to build confidence, being intentional about planning activities, taking time to nurture ideas, reflecting on successes and failures, and celebrating both small and large victories. The presentation suggests reflecting on lessons learned from the game Angry Birds, such as overcoming obstacles and the importance of perspective, in order to work together towards an amazing end result where everybody wins.

1. Angry Birds and
Student Organizations
Leadership Lessons for Advisors and Students

2. Preston Ramsey
Assistant Director, Student Involvement and Leadership
University of North Carolina at Pembroke
@PresRamsey

3. background
presentation style
angry birds primer
leadership lessons
the take away
questions

4. Founded 1887
Historically Native American Institution
Public, 4-year, Master’s Degree
6,269 total
5,504 undergrad
765 graduate
61% minority enrollment
15:1 student/teacher ratio
NCAA Division II
http://www.uncp.edu

5. Provide meaningful co- and extra-curricular
developmental and educational opportunities
3 professional staff, 1 support staff
Leadership Development
Student Organization Support
Distinguished Speakers Series
Parents Weekend / Family Day
Night & Weekend Programming
Directly advise and support:
Association of Campus Entertainment (ACE)
Student Government Association (SGA)
http://www.uncp.edu/leadership
http://uncpleadership.wordpress.com

6. Represent and safeguard interests of
UNCP students
2-branch system (executive, legislative)
2 elected executives (Pres/VP)
4 staff positions
3 committee chairs
~25 student senators
senators elected by class standing
(freshman, sophomore, and so on)
general election - spring
freshman election - fall
http://www/uncp.edu/sga

7. presentation style

8. Might go back-and-forth
between topics...

9. I have a dry sense of humor.

10. ...so, laugh / smile / groan if you get it.

11. If I go too fast, let me know.

12. Technology in use!

13. Use these hashtags if you’re
tweeting about the presentation
#cosga2013
#leadUNCP

14. Tweet this!
Need help developing tweets?
Slides like this will get you going.
I’m at #cosga2013 talking about leadership
lessons from Angry Birds with @PresRamsey
#leadUNCP

15. Have questions?...

16. Feel free to stop me and ask!

17. Don’t leave confused.

18. Walk away confident.

19. 1 2 3
Not a traditional presentation,
but if structure is needed...

20. ...look for this slide and you’ll be
back on track in no time.

21. angry birds primer
So, what is Angry Birds?

22. Set to the Super Mario Bros. standard:
• Bad guy -PIGS- steals item (eggs)
• Good guy(s) -BIRDS- want them back
• Good guy(s) travel through game levels
• Bad guy(s) become progressively stronger
• Good guy(s) inevitably win - we hope!

23. Levels begin as such:
-X number of birds are provided.
-Birds are then flung towards structure...

24. ...to destroy it and take out the pigs.
Doing so moves player to next level.

25. Lessons Learned
So, what can we learn from the game
that can be applied to working in and/or
with student organizations?

26. Lesson #1
Our members come in all shapes, sizes and personalities.
Each student possesses different skills!

27. Tweet this!
Know the skills your students possess and
recognize them for their unique talents
#cosga2013 #leadUNCP

28. Lesson #2
Obstacles: Some are easy to overcome, others are more difficult.
This applies to various situations as well as individuals.

29. Advisors are there to help
students get past the obstacles!

30. Tweet this!
What are you doing to remove the roadblocks
toward success in your organization? # cosga2013
#leadUNCP

31. Lesson #3
There are multiple ways to succeed. You only need ONE.
Encourage trial and error - it builds confidence to take
risks and to think critically

32. Lesson #4
Plan your attack.
If you put no effort into a level in the game, you probably won’t
beat it. So, be intentional because without a plan...

33. ...the results may not be what you want.

34. Lesson #5
Patience!
Rush through a level and, sure, you might win. You might not.
...take your time...

35. ...nurture the idea....

36. ...and the end result will turn
better than you hoped.

37. Lesson #6
Sometimes, we fail.
But IT’S OKAY!
37

38. Start over and try again!
38

39. It may take some time, but the “ah-
HA!” moment will happen.

40. Tweet this!
Don’t worry - it’s okay to fail! The “ah-ha!” moment
isn’t far behind #cosga2013 #leadUNCP

41. Lesson #7
Remember to reflect.
3 questions:
What did you do?
What did you learn?
How will you apply it?

42. Lesson #8
Perspective, perspective, perspective.
What may seem easy to some, may
not seem so easy to others.
42

43. Lesson #9 Did we “beat the level”?
Success versus Achievement Sure, but....

44. ...could we have done better?

45. Lesson #10
Remember to celebrate your victories!

46. Tweet this!
Acknowledge efforts and celebrate victories - big
and small. #cosga2013 #leadUNCP

47. Lesson #11
It’s okay to take a break...so do it!

48. What should you take away
from this presentation?
the take away
Students’ strengths differ.
Take your time.
Learn and reflect.
Celebrate victories!

49. Work together for an amazing end result!
Everybody wins when everybody plays!

50. questions?

51. Tweet this!
Continuing the leadership conversation with
@PresRamsey after COSGA
#cosga2013 #leadUNCP

52. Preston Ramsey
@presramsey
preston.ramsey@uncp.edu
@UNCP_SGA
@UNCPLeadership
Resources: uncpleadership.wordpress.com