Module One: Form 3

Module One: Design with Learning in Mind

This assignment was an exercise in Course Revision.

Form 3: Course Revision Thoughts

Brief description: What is this course about? Where/how will it be taught? Who are the learners?

Customer Service is a one credit class that focuses on the dynamics involved to provide good customer service. This is a face to face class taught in two-hour blocks for the first 8 weeks of the fall semester. The learners are second-year students enrolled in the associate degree Business Management and Supervisory Management Programs. This is a required course.

Things that are working well in my course.  This can be related to what or how you teach, how students respond, or about the technology.  What do you like about teaching this course?

Students are engaged and are bringing their learning experiences from their first year of study to the classroom. Discussion is healthy and respectful. The students are prepared and provide positive feedback in their written work.  The group work has been completed on time and presented professionally. Sharing experiences of how we are treated in various situations on a weekly basis is a rewarding lesson. As we have progressed through the semester I have seen the students approach difficult situations differently. They are obviously developing key concepts and utilizing them in the personal lives.

Things  that I’d like to change about my course.  Again, what drags you down?  It could be technology, disinterested students, lack of discussion, etc.

The textbook. I am embarrassed that I had the students buy it. In a class of this nature it is more important to have guest speakers from local businesses and organizations share what works for them. The students love it and they react with genuine interest. We are going to the Mayor’s office for your next class and they are thrilled. They feel important because our Mayor is going to meet with them and speak to his customer service base concerns. My classroom is awful. Nothing on the walls, mismatched chairs and it needs paint. I am going to show the room to my dean next time he is on campus.

The most frustrating or irritating aspect of my course is:

This is the first class I am teaching solo. The Course Outcome Summary hasn’t been updated for years. The instructors who have taught this in the past feel this class is not necessary. However, it is required by the curriculum. We can’t get rid of a class based on opinion. 

The most time consuming aspect of my course is:

Lesson planning. I borrowed a syllabus from another instructor and it did not suit my teaching style. For a one credit class the rigors were top heavy. I started from scratch.