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Lessons Learned: Implementing Strengths into a First-Year Program

Lessons Learned: Implementing Strengths into a First-Year Program. Sondra L. Cave, Ed.D . MidAmerica Nazarene University Achiever, Focus, Discipline, Significance, Competition Gallup Webinar March 5, 2008. -Achiever -Futuristic -Activator -Harmony -Adaptability -Ideation

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Lessons Learned: Implementing Strengths into a First-Year Program

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  1. Lessons Learned:Implementing Strengths into a First-Year Program Sondra L. Cave, Ed.D. MidAmerica Nazarene University Achiever, Focus, Discipline, Significance, Competition Gallup Webinar March 5, 2008

  2. -Achiever -Futuristic -Activator -Harmony -Adaptability -Ideation -Analytical -Includer -Arranger -Individualization -Belief -Input -Command -Intellection -Communication -Learner -Competition -Maximizer -Connectedness -Positivity -Consistency -Relator -Context -Responsibility -Deliberative -Restorative -Developer -Self-Assurance -Discipline -Significance -Empathy -Strategic -Focus -Woo

  3. The first year • Students experience great transitions between leaving home and arriving on campus. • Experience – critical to persistence • Shift – most stressful transition

  4. The first year Helping the new student survive is a necessary responsibility of every college and university.

  5. Priority • Helping students understand importance of focusing on academics/balancing social life • Helping student with personal adjustment, developmental issues, living with roommates/other relationships, personal responsibility…

  6. Purpose: • Build friendships/relationships/bonding (20 out of 20) • Ease transition/equip for college career (12 out of 20)

  7. Value: • Definitely (2 out of 20) • Pointless, stupid, dumb, no value, waste of time (18 out of 20)

  8. Objectives: • Teaching basic survival skills • Helping acclimate – personal, academic, career, social, recreational opportunities • Develop positive lifelong learning skills • Helping cope successfully w/demands • Helping become more aware of self and become valuable member of the campus community

  9. Objectives: • Helping student clarify own personal values, needs, and attitudes • Enhance students’ academic skills • Help students develop personal skills in time/money management

  10. Process: • 2002 – very small pilot - 4 sessions • 2003 – large group - research • 2004 – one group • 2005 – experimental/control (half/half) • 2006 – entire program  strengths • 2007– entire program  strengths/changes

  11. Lessons Learned • Don’t start w/strengths on first day • Students still need practical information • Strong foundation/introduction necessary • Content is manageable for those teaching it • Keep curriculum/content “moving”

  12. Lessons Learned • You – the initiator/facilitator • It takes time • Keep it simple

  13. Lessons Learned • Move beyond “discovery zone” – • Develop – integration of how strengths play out in life and help them.

  14. Relating to my closer friends (Relator) • Including everyone (Includer) • Loving to collect some things (Input) • Eternally thinking outside the box (Ideation) • Y not be happy? (Positivity)

  15. Lessons Learned • Move beyond “discovery zone” – • Develop – integration of how strengths play out in life and help them. • Apply – able to make decisions/take action as result of strengths; more aware of others and their strengths; work differently w/others because of self- and others-awareness.

  16. Lessons Learned • Evaluation • “mile marker” • “Are we doing what we say we are doing and are we doing it well?”

  17. Lessons Learned Ideally, freshmen seminars create an environment in which students face challenges of: --forming identity --becoming socially/academically involved --learning to think critically

  18. Lessons Learned • Most are intended to help freshmen deal with: • Being homesick • Provide support • Learn way around campus • Develop study skills to keep GPA from ↓

  19. Lessons Learned • Strengths can add component of forming identity: • Calling • Career • Major • Profession

  20. Lessons Learned • Freshmen seminar instructors cannot prepare freshmen student with knowledge base they will need for each discipline – they provide them with strategies. • Strategies already exist – talents and abilities (plus knowledge/skills = strengths).

  21. Lessons Learned “It is up to us to find a formula that will attract and retain students and help them succeed, not only in college, but in life.” Henscheid, 2000

  22. Lessons Learned Any Questions??? Sondra Cave, Ed.D. rcave@mnu.edu 913-971-3612

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