My business writing syllabus requires students to prepare and deliver lessons from the text each week. This exercise is designed to introduce students to public speaking, group presentation, project planning, measuring success etc. This assignment can pose a challenge due to the students' lack of teaching experience. Since the exercise essentially hands the teaching responsibility to the students, frustration is expected. I've developed a scheme to prepare them for the assignment and persuade them to appreciate the approach.
First, students are given a brief anecdote about how I came to accept the student-teaching model. This story basically recalls the point in my teaching career where I developed a holistic understanding my academic coursework could not provide. Learning to explain complex material in a simple manner was the main benefit of teaching. Consequently, the lessons became etched in my memory forever. Next, I refer to the writing intensive course objective within a business context. Asking students to list business communication techniques typically produces the answer, 'training.' Then, we walk through lesson preparation steps (research, planning, presentation and assessments.)
It is suggested that successful business leaders can expect to be held responsible for workforce training. Since this teaching method is somewhat controversial, open debate/discussion is welcomed. Once all concerns have been met, the aim is to ensure students feel properly supported and prepared for the lesson. A classroom observation rubric is provided ensuring students understand the expectations and how to meet them. Students are given the opportunity to use the rubric while assessing each lesson accompanied by sample lesson plans. Students are required to submit lesson plans before presenting as well. Finally, students are welcomed to invite the instructor to join them in the lesson delivery. This option provides adequate support for students that might require additional attention.
This approach requires fostering ownership on behalf of the students that I believe the measures listed above address. If the students understand the theory behind the approach and accept my genuine intentions, then they will put forth sufficient effort to be successful. Writing the lesson plan and being exposed to the written assessment structure is an embedded lesson that's actually more important that the lectures themselves. This syllabus is designed with deliverables related to the learning process. The course objectives will be met by confronting the challenge and presenting unique solutions.
