This document outlines the benefits of an engaged learning course in leadership, which helps students develop modern technical skills through multimedia assignments, creates an ePortfolio for job applications, and provides a comprehensive study of leadership styles along with self-reflection exercises for students to determine their own strengths. The course is said to benefit student leaders by improving their understanding of different leadership approaches and enhancing their skills with programs and technologies required for future careers.
2. By requiring students to use websites and media
that they have never attempted before, this course
expands their technical skills. At the end of the
course, students will be able to note on their
resumes that the are proficient at presentation
programs like PowerPoint, Prezi, or in this case
Slideshare. Potential employers look for these
skills when they search for candidates who can
create modern presentations for their work.
Developing Modern
Technical Skills
3. Eportfolios are the future of the job application
process. By the end of this course, students will have
created their first ePortfolio which can be presented
to potential employers. Unlike a standard
resume, an ePortfolio shows employers that the
candidate is proficient with a variety of modern
programs in addition to showcasing the candidates
resume and references. This is all done in one
interactive and multimedia webpage which
employers can navigate through in a clear and
interesting review of the candidates experience and
qualifications.
Creation of an ePortfolio
4. The academic study and understanding of
leadership and various leadership styles has
changed over the course of history. Students are
taught that while leadership was once believed to be
a quality one had to be born with, it now is generally
believed to be an art-form that must be practiced
and fit to one’s own personal style. Through
informative engaging readings, students are given a
better understanding of what true leadership means.
gFurthermore, these studies can be directly applied
to the students’ own experiences through the next
and most important aspect of the course: self-
reflection.
A Comprehensive Study
of Leadership
5. Not only are the instructors experienced in
areas such as the job application process, but
students are also exposed to speakers who can
relate their experiences. Students therefore are
given important information such as what
potential employers are looking for in the
candidates they hire. As this course is being
taught to young college students, it helps them
to acquire the important knowledge they need
to know before attempting to apply for their
new careers after graduation.
Sharing of Experiences
from Real Young
Professionals
6. Throughout the course, students are tasked
with creating multimedia reflections which
apply what they have learned to their own
leadership experience. Students can then
determine what leadership style best fits their
own personalities. Students can then apply
their new found strengths and leadership style
to their position outside the classroom and
record its successes or failures in later
reflections. These new found skills can be
carried on after the course in future jobs and
positions the student will hold.
Empowerment Through
Self-Reflection
7. I believe that this course would benefit any
student leader wishing to achieve a better
understanding of where their leadership
strengths lie and how they could improve on
them. The study of the different academic
views on leadership as well as their different
styles of leadership were
fascinating, especially when paired with the
reflections and blogging. It empowered me
with a greater grasp on my own talents and
helped me to understand that everyone’s style
is different. Lastly, it has improved and
advanced my knowledge of modern
programs, blogging, and technology through
the use of a wide variety of multi-media
assignments. I recommend this course to any
student leader who plans to enter and succeed
in the modern work force.
