Syllabus
Outcomes | Materials | Keys to Success | Navigate Course | Grading | University Policy | Support
Course Overview
3 Credits (About 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 communication skills to improve interpersonal relationships both at work and in the home.
- Students will be able to organize a meeting, 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.
- Students will develop both verbal and written skills in articulating complex ideas or insights.
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.
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
- Always navigate into the course through the Course link and Content tab; don't use the links in the calendar to get to specific activities. If you use the links in the calendar, you risk missing important announcements and information in the lesson.
- As a 3 credit course, you should expect to spend around 9-12 hours per week (3-4 hours/week 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 Announcements FIRST each time you log in to I-Learn. Your instructor will provide timely information about changes, expectations and other important things to note 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 learning and discussion with others, either inside or outside the classroom. You will find greater blessings and wealth of knowledge as you fully embrace the principles of active listening and "Teach One Another."
How to Navigate this Course
Weekly Activities
Each lesson follows a typical flow, centered around “eJournal” activities. See the eJournal Tutorial and Instructions in the Welcome module 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 can use anytime to help each other answer questions that come up during a lesson. It is always open and the instructor will monitor it and help as well.
- eJournals – You will have two eJournals to complete each week. eJournals are where you find the reflective learning activities and content for the course. You will develop personal insights from the content and share those with others as part of the reflective learning process. YOu will help each other gain new and deeper insights that will help you develop a final summary of your learning for that eJournal.
- Final Reflective Essay – During the last week of the course you will not have any eJournals to complete. Instead, you will complete an 800-1200 word reflective essay, combining all your greatest insights and eJournal entries for the semester into one summarizing reflection. This is your chance to look back on the semester and share your greatest learning experinces with your instructor.
Course Outline
| Week 01 | Introductions Course Readiness Activity and Quiz Person Study Plan |
| Week 02 | The Reflection Journal | The Learning Model |
| Week 03 | The Power of Why | Inside Out - Working on You |
| Week 04 | Be Proactive | Circle of Influence |
| Week 05 | In His Steps | Personal Transformation |
| Week 06 | What is a Crucial Conversation? | The Power of Dialogue |
| Week 07 | Start with Heart | Valuing Personal Connections |
| Week 08 | NonVerbal Communication | Learn to Look |
| Week 09 | Make It Safe | Apartment Anarchy |
| Week 10 | Master My Stories | STATE my Path |
| Week 11 | Explore Others' Paths | Practice Exploring Others' Paths |
| Week 12 | Move to Action | Dare to Disagree |
| Week 13 | Managing Your Time | Week 13b: Self Reliance |
| Week 14 | Final Reflective Essay |
Grading
Grading Policies
Assignments are graded weekly. Check the course calendar for due dates and times. For more detail on how due dates work in the course, be sure to review the "How to Understand Due Dates" page in the Welcome module of your course.
Your instructor will provide meaningful feedback on each of your eJournals and will monitor the Questions and Conversations discussion to answer any questions posed there. A teaching assistant (TA) might be utilized to help grade eJournals.
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 on points lost for late submission.
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. Furthermore, you cannot recover the any points lost by submitting late. Plan your weekly schedule wisely to set aside adequate study time and allow you to work at a healthy, steady pace throughout the course. There is a Personal Study Plan assignment in Week 01 that will help you develop a good weekly study schedule. Following this schedule each week will greatly increase your experience and success in this course
Grading Categories and Weights
Your final grade is almost exclusively a sum of your eJournal grades. So as long as you pace yourself well and stay on track with your eJournals each week, you will do just fine. The grade weighting of your final grade is broken out as follows:
| Category | Weight |
|---|---|
| Intro Activities | 2% |
| eJournals (2 per week) | 94% |
| Final Reflective Essay | 4% |
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.