Dear students,

 

I hope this course will be one of the most enjoyable and challenging courses of your college career.  The goal of this course is to help you learn more about yourself and how you can effectively lead others in pursuit of recreation and leisure.  It will be challenging because you will have responsibility for real live participants….and you will be asked to explore your own thoughts and feelings about leadership.

 

My goals in this class as your teacher are to: expose you to basic content and then give you the opportunity to put that content to use so that you can learn it.

 

My content goals for you as a learner are that you will take advantage of the opportunities in this class to:

§         Understand the role and content of leisure programs and services. (8.15)

§         Organize and conduct leisure programs and services in a variety of settings and with a variety of populations. (8.16)

§         Understand and use various leadership techniques and strategies to enhance leisure experiences for all populations, including those with special needs. (8.18)

§         Understand the concept and use leisure resources to facilitate participant involvement (8.19)

§         Understand the ability to facilitate the concept of leisure lifestyle for continued individual development and expression throughout the human life span. (8.17)

§         Understand and be able to analyze programs, services and resources in relationship to participant requirements. (8.20)

§         Formulate, plan for implementation, and evaluate the extent to which goals and objectives for leisure programs and services have been met (8.27)

§         Understand the role of budgeting in program planning, and have the ability to construct a budget for a specific leisure program.

§         Understand the principles and procedures used to evaluate leisure programs and services (8.26)

§         Understand the basic principles of risk management planning, and demonstrate the ability to develop a risk management plan for a specific leisure program. (8.38)

                                                                                Numbers in parentheses represent NRPA accreditation standards.

 

My goals for you in your life and profession are that you will participate fully so that:

 

 

I’m looking forward to the adventure!

RLST 2800 Programming in Leisure Services

Instructor: Dr. Gwynn Powell                            Office: 353 Ramsey Center

Telephone: 542-4332                                       Class hours: TTh 9:30-10:45

Classroom: 203 Ramsey Center                        Office hours: M 6-6:30, T 1:15-2:00

E-mail: gpowell@coe.uga.edu               Other times by appt:    30% of my time is research

10% public service

Course Description: (from UGA Bulletin) A comprehensive approach to leisure programming. Emphasis on elements of program planning and organization, leadership, and supervision.

 

Required Textbooks, Materials, and Fees

DeGraaf, D.G, Jordan, D.J. & DeGraaf, K.H. (1999). Programming for Parks, Recreation, and

            Leisure Services: A Servant Leadership Approach. State College, PA: Venture Publishing.

One-day registration and attendance at GRPA Conference (usually around $25)

½ day Ropes or Group Initiative Course (fee $12)

Liability Insurance (available for $7 from www.pageinc.org)

 

Attendance and Due Dates: Attendance will be taken on a regular basis and reinforced by in-class quizzes, activities, discussion and skill development.  There is a strong connection between class attendance and comprehension of material and grade performance.  Make-up and acceptance of late work will be allowed for excused absences only. Excused absences must be cleared with the instructor in advance (e-mail/phone message acceptable), unless documentation is provided after an unexpected illness/emergency. Make-ups for any assignment that is collected or occurs during the class meeting will not be allowed for an unexcused absence.  In the case of an excused absence, the paper or a make-up written assignment for in-class activities is due the next class week. All assignments must be turned in at the beginning of class; otherwise, they will be considered late.  Late assignments will result in automatic lowering of the grade 10% for each 24-hour period.  This course requires a significant out-of-class time commitment. If you will be unable to complete an out-of-class assignment, you need to notify the instructor by September 8, so that an alternative assignment can be developed.  Students who do not notify me by that time will be held accountable for the assignments as designed in this syllabus.

 

Written assignments: All assignments are to be TYPED, 1-inch margins, 12-point font, follow APA formatting guidelines (double-spaced, in-text references, reference list).  Spelling, grammar, and formatting mistakes will count against the overall grade of the assignment. 

 

Academic Integrity: “Academic honesty is vital to the very fabric and integrity of UGA.  All students must comply with an appropriate and sound academic honesty policy and code of honest behavior (p37-38 Undergraduate Bulletin).”  “All students are responsible for maintaining the highest standards of honesty and integrity in every phase of their academic careers. The penalties for academic dishonesty are severe and ignorance is not an acceptable defense (A Culture of Honesty).” All academic work must meet the standards contained in "A Culture of Honesty."  Each student is responsible to inform themselves about those standards before performing any academic work.  See: www.uga.edu/ovpi  

 

Special Needs: Any student with special needs should speak to the instructor the first week of class.  Every effort will be made to effectively accommodate disabilities and special needs.

 

Criminal Background Check: Each student will be required to undergo a criminal background check in order to participate in the Recreation Programs.  I will not know the nature of anything discovered, but will simply be notified that a particular student is not able to participate.  An alternative assignment will be developed that does not require contact with the public.

 

Grading Scale: A:89-100 (exceptional); B 79-88 (excellent); C 69-78 (average); D 59-68; F 59¯

Incomplete can only be assigned if you talk with me at lest one week prior to the last day of class.

 

Course Assignments (more details will be given in class)

Quizzes (20%) and Test (20%): Due to the nature of the class and the integration of content and application to work-place scenarios, it will be important to gain an understanding of the content quickly and at a steady pace.  Frequent quizzes will be used to help you stay accountable for the assigned reading.  The lowest quiz grade will be dropped (if class is missed, a score of zero will be entered).  If the absence is excused, the make-up quiz will be a detailed summary of the reading material assigned for that day.  It must be submitted within one week of the date missed or it will not be accepted. The final content exam will take place in less than one month…so start now!! Peer Feedback will occur throughout the semester and will count as 9 point quizzes.

 

Comprehensive Program Plan and Critique (40%): This project is a comprehensive learning activity that will span the entire semester. This exercise will give you a realistic experience of what it is like to plan and implement recreation programs. In addition, you will work in a group experience much like ones they will encounter in the work world. You have the option to turn in this written assignment individually or as a group. You will select one of four pre-arranged projects to plan, implement, and evaluate a recreation special event. The written comprehensive program plan and critique must address at least the following components:

Part One: Description of the agency (e.g., brief history, location, contact info, mission and

goals); Timeline; Needs Assessment Plan

Part Two: Needs assessment results; Rationale for the program; Program goals and   objectives; Target Populations for the program; Inclusive adaptations; Evaluation plan

Part Three: Program Environments; Risk Management; Scheduling; Staffing; Program Budget

Part Four: Pricing; Program Promotion/Marketing; Evaluation Results; Recommendations for

future implementation of program

In addition, you will need to serve as “staff” for one other group’s program.

 

GRPA Attendance and Reflection (5%): You will need to attend one day of GRPA here in Athens and write an in-class reflection paper. (Stephen, John & I will be attending.)

 

Participation in Ropes/Group Initiative Course and Reflection (5%): We will arrange a time to participate as a class, you will then write a reflection paper outside of class.

 

Reflection Paper (10%) The purpose of this paper is for you to reflect upon and analyze your integration of course concepts in relationship to the class project and how the project relates to the course.  Use specific examples throughout the paper to clarify your points.  You should insightfully include a 7-10 course concepts, boldfaced or underlined, to enhance your analysis.    Your reflection should be between 4-5 pages, typed, double-spaced, 1-inch margins, 12 point font.  No title page needed, but feel free to have a creative title for your paper. Be sure to use essay format (introduction, main paragraphs, conclusion) with professionalism in the writing style and presentation.

 

 

 

Tentative Schedule

DAY

DATE

CLASS TOPIC

ASSIGNMENT DUE

Foundation for Conceptual Thinking and Problem-Solving

T

Aug 19

Introductions

Foundations for Conceptual Thinking

 

Th

Aug 21 

Problem-Solving Process  (last drop/add)

Read syllabus and academic honesty policy

Program Organization

T

Aug 26

Putting all the project pieces together

Ch. 1 and Ch. 2 and Ch. 14; Quiz

Th

Aug 28

The Programmer, Program Leadership

Ch. 11 and Ch. 3 and Ch. 6; Quiz

T

Sept 2

Planning, Philosophy, Needs Assessment

Ch. 4 and Ch. 5; Quiz

Th

Sept 4

Program Organization, Risk Management

Ch. 7 and Ch. 10; Quiz

From Theory to Practice

T

Sept 9

Departmental Staff Meeting;

Promotion and Pricing

Ch. 8 and Ch. 9; Quiz

Th

Sept 11

Program Evaluation

Ch. 12; Quiz; Part One & Quiz

T

Sept 16

Ropes Course at Lake Herrick (9:30-12)

3850 not held this day

Th

Sept 18

Program Planning

 

T

Sept 23

Site Visits

Be at your site by 9:40, tour and ask questions

Crunch Planning Time

Th

Sept 25

Content Final Exam

Quiz on site visit; Class and text material

T

Sept 30

Departmental Staff Meeting

Part Two, Quiz

Th

Oct 2

Program Planning

 

T

Oct 7

Departmental Staff Meeting

Part Three, Quiz

Project Implementation

Th

Oct 9

Final Trouble-shooting and Planning

 

T

Oct 14

On-site project at Lay Park

Withdrawal deadline

RLST 3850 not held this day

Th

Oct 16

On-site project at East Park

RLST 3850 not held this day

Sat

Oct 18

Mayor’s Walk-Bishop Park

 

Looking back and Learning: Additional Skills and Techniques for Evaluation

T

Oct 21

Project De-Briefing

 

Th

Oct 23 

Project Work time

Part Four, Quiz

T

Oct 28

Presentations: Intersession

 

Th

Oct 30

Fall Break!

 

What did we learn? How do we apply it in the future?

T

Nov 4

See you at GRPA

 

Th

Nov 6

See you at GRPA

 

T

Nov 11

Share insights from GRPA

In-class reflection on GRPA

Th

Nov 13

Presentation: Mayors Walk and Rec Club

 

T

Nov 18

Applications to internships and careers

 

Th

Nov 20

Project write-up time

 

T

Nov 25

Course evaluation and recommendations

Reflection paper due

Th

Nov 27

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

T

Dec 2

Recognition: Share successes & growth

Final Group Report due

Th

Dec 4

Wrap-up and resume polishing

Awards banquet Dec 6…hope to see you!

 

Tues.

Dec. 17

Final Exam Period: 7-10 pm 

 

The course syllabus is a general plan for the course; deviations will be announced in class and communicated through e-mail. 

It is your responsibility to check the e-mail account you provided at least twice a week.