Syllabus

Course Overview

3 Credits (9-12 hours per week)

Welcome to AGBUS 138: Introduction to Agribusiness Leadership and Group Dynamics!This course introduces students to fundamental principles associated with effective, small group interaction and critical interpersonal communication skills. A measurable portion of this course focuses on conflict management and delivers valuable techniques inherent for creating effective dialog for generating shared vision and group synergy.

In addition, students will discover powerful practices for effective listening, writing, and verbalization of complex ideas for problem solving. Throughout the course, you will use reflective learning and journaling to help you better understand yourself and learn personal management skills that, if applied, will dramatically improve your life and interactions with others. This reflective process will help you make deep personal and applied connection with the course material.

As you collaborate often with your classmates and acquaintances outside the classroom, you will gain experience in the power of synergy, group dynamics and interaction, and skills in active listening. Together you will teach and lift one another, helping to refine each other's individual insights. You will also develop better writing and speaking skills as you articulate complex ideas.

Course Outcomes

Students will be able to cultivate personal mastery, self-reflection and self-confidence.
Students will be able to cultivate communications skills to improve interpersonal relationships both at work and in the home.
Students will be able to organize a meetings, delegate assignments, identify key leverage action items and follow up on business outcomes or goals.
Students will gain skills in conflict resolution, discovering basic principles in active listening for increased understanding. Students will develop both verbal and written skills in articulating complex ideas or insights.
Students will discover basic techniques for improving team learning for increased unity and synergy at the work place.

Course Materials

Required Materials

All materials are provided in the course or through course links to outside resources such as YouTube, Word or pdf files and various websites. See technology requirements below to ensure you have what you need to access these types of resources.

You will also access one book through the BYU-Idaho ‘Ebrary’. All chapters and some additional resources are accessible online here – Crucial Conversations.

Technology

It is assumed that you either have your own computer or you have consistent access to a computer. You need to have the appropriate permissions on your computer to download lesson content, access websites, and update and/or download software as needed along with consistent, reliable access to an Internet connection. Visit the Orientation to Online Learning page in the first lesson of your course to verify that you have your computer set up properly.

Mozilla Firefox is the recommended Internet browser for any I-Learn course. Videos, readings, and course functionality will work best when you use Firefox.

You will use Microsoft Office products in this course. If you do not yet have the Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.) on your computer, you may use this free download to obtain the software.

Note

The free download is only for BYU-I students with a current login.

You will also need a pdf reader such as Adobe Acrobat Reader to open many course resources throughout the semester.

Keys to Success

BYU-Idaho Learning Model

All courses, including online courses, at BYU-Idaho follow a pattern of learning that enables students to take more responsibility for their own learning and for helping to teach one another. This pattern is called the Learning Model. Here are two pages to help you better understand the Learning Model. Take Charge of your education by applying the Learning Model | Learning Model interactive tutorial

Tips for Success in this Course

As a 3 credit course, you should expect to spend around 9-12 hours per week (3-4 hours per credit-hour) completing course activities and assessments. Plan your weekly schedule wisely to set aside adequate study time and allow you to work at a healthy, steady pace throughout the course.
Read your Notes from Instructor each week before beginning the lesson. Your instructor will provide timely information about changes, expectations and other important things to notes as you begin the lesson.
This course uses a reflective learning process which helps you break down the material into key insights that have particular meaning to you personally. It is important that you plan your time wisely to allow for quality pondering experiences with the content.
This course involves a lot of collaboration and discussion with others, both inside and outside the classroom. You will find greater blessings and wealth of knowledge as you fully embrace the principles of active listening and teaching one another.

How to Navigate this Course

Lesson Activities

Each lesson follows a typical flow, centered around “ePrep” activities. See the ePrep Tutorial and Instructions in Lesson 01 of the course for more detail, but here is a quick summary of the activities you will see in each lesson

Questions and conversations – This is an ungraded tool that you classmates can use anytime to help each answer questions that come up during a lesson. It is always open and the instructor will monitor it and help where needed.
ePreps – You will have one to two ePreps to complete in each lesson. ePreps are where you find the reflective learning activities and content for the course, and develop personal insights from the content. As part of the reflective learning process, you will have the chance to share your key insights and gain new insights from an acquaintance outside the class, then bring a key summary back to the classroom to share with your ePrep Group as you help each other refine your concluding reflective summary for the week.
ePrep Group – After you have developed a key summary and question from the insights gained in your ePreps, you will bring them to your ePrep Group to share and discuss. You will provide meaningful feedback and dialogue to help each other refine your concluding summary insights.
Summary Assignment – This is where you will turn in your concluding summary each week for grading and feedback.
ePortfolio – You will keep an ePortfolio throughout the semester, adding to it each week and turning it in periodically for review and grading. The ePortfolio houses all your ePreps and Summary Assignments from each lesson, along with a final concluding Summary Essay highlighting the greatest reflective insights you gained throughout the semester.

Course Outline

Lesson 01	How We Learn	Lesson 08	Making it Safe
Lesson 02	Personal Mastery - Inside Out	Lesson 09	Master My Stories
Lesson 03	Principle of motivation	Lesson 10	State My Path
Lesson 04	Habit 2 - Begin with the end in mind	Lesson 11	Explore Others' Path to Action
Lesson 05	Crucial Conversation	Lesson 12	Move to action
Lesson 06	Start with Heart	Lesson 13	Putting it all together – Intro to final
Lesson 07	Learn to Look	Lesson 14	Course Conclusion

Grading

Grading Policies

Lesson assignments and activities are graded weekly. Portfolios are submitted only periodically for grading. Check the course calendar for due dates and times.

Your instructor will be involved in your ePrep Groups, the Questions and Conversations and providing feedback on your Summary Assignments. A TA may be utilized to help grade ePortfolios and ePreps.

Late Work Policy

Late work in this course will result in a reduction in your grade. Check the rubric for each assignment for more detail points lost for late submissions.

You may continue to refine your work in this course as part of your reflective learning process, and resubmit work to improve your grade. However, new material is introduced each week and you will not want to fall behind. Plan your weekly schedule wisely to set aside adequate study time and allow you to work at a healthy, steady pace throughout the course.

Grading Categories and Weights

Catergory	Weight
Discussions and ePrep Groups	40%
Lesson Summary Assignments	40%
Portfolio Submissions and Summary Essay	20%

Grading Scale

A	93-100%	C	73-76%
A-	90-92%	C-	70-72%
B+	87-89%	D+	67-69%
B	83-86%	D	63-66%
B-	80-82%	D-	60-62%
C+	77-79%	F	Below 60%

University Policies

Student Honor Code

Student Honor is following the path of discipleship and learning to be more like Christ - learning to think, to feel, and to act more as He does. Following the Honor Code is of great importance as you strive to be a disciple of Christ. Academic honesty and integrity is expected of all BYU-I students.

To copy another’s work from the Internet, a book, or from any other source and claiming it to be your own work is plagiarism. Read the official definitions of plagiarism and cheating from the Academic Honesty portion of the Honor Code. Each case of plagiarism or cheating will be dealt with by the instructor. Any academic dishonesty issue will be referred to the BYU-I Dean of Students, if necessary. When working on a group project, you have the responsibility to assure that others in the group do not plagiarize.
Even though you are taking this course online, BYU-Idaho’s Dress and Grooming standards still apply.

By adhering to the Honor Code you will create a learning environment, “consistent with the ideals and principles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints” (Honor Code webpage).

Student Policies

You are responsible for understand all university student policies. Read the Student Policies and Procedures which include Student Honor, Students with Disabilities, Sexual Harassment, Complaints and Grievances, etc. There is also a University Policies page in your course with helpful contact information.

Disclaimer

This syllabus and the course schedule may be changed at any time prior to or during the semester as the need arises, based upon circumstances. Any changes will be available to view on the course documents.

Student Support

Tutoring and Academic Support

Tutoring options for online students are available through the Academic Support Centers. There are tutors available to help you with your writing questions and there might be course-specific tutoring available. Check the Online Tutoring page for more details.

Online Support Center

The Online Support Center provides many links and contact information for services such as: technology support, registration, academic support and other student resources.

Sexual Harassment

If you need assistance or information related to allegations of sexual harassment, please contact the Dean of Students, Kip Harris, using the following information:

Phone (US only): 208-496-9200
Email: Kip Harris at harrisk@byui.edu
For more information, visit http://www.byui.edu/dean-of-students/sexual-misconduct-policy

Students with Disabilities

Disability Services Contact Information:

Phone (US only): 208-496-9210
Email: disabilityservices@byui.edu
Fax: 208-496-5210
Website: Disability Services