Abstract
In this chapter, the authors will discuss a multi-year initiative at Michigan State University aimed at designing and implementing a university wide co-curricular record. The authors contend that prototypes are a good mechanism to advance, and possibly accelerate projects. The chapter will focus on the many prototypes developed throughout the project, organized in three categories: 1) the technical aspects of the software, interface, and connections to campus IT; 2) policies and guidelines for interacting with, creating, and validating co-curricular learning experiences and outcomes; and 3) prototypes of new hierarchical relationships and social/cultural processes which made the new project legible to all stakeholders in the institution. Ultimately, prototypes helped create familiar policy and practices to go with useful technology that allowed campus users to easily and enthusiastically engage with a new technology, recognize student learning, and create sustainable practices in the co-curricular space.
TopProject Background And Literature
The prototypes in this chapter were developed in service of the project known as “My Spartan Story” and the accompanying, official co-curricular record (CCR), the “Spartan Experience Record” used for documenting, validating, and assessing co-curricular learning experiences at Michigan State University. The literature review about this project follows our rationale for a co-curricular record, our use of prototypes, and finally our understanding of roles and responsibilities in organizational change processes. Figure 1 illustrates a visual representation of the prototyping timeline of the project.
Key Terms in this Chapter
Extra-Curricular Activity: Activities outside of normal classroom time not explicitly tied to learning goals or a course curriculum.
Co-Curricular Record: The generic term for a document used to provide comprehensive evidence of students’ learning and engagement outside of formal coursework and academic programs.
Co-Curricular Activity: An intentional learning activity, not bearing academic credit, and requiring student participation that contributes to a student’s achievement of undergraduate learning goals and competencies and/or academic learning outcomes which are assessed.
Learning Outcomes: Learning outcomes are simple, concise, statements that describe the knowledge or skills students should acquire by the end of a particular position.
Prototype: We use the term to refer to tangible experiences, technology applications, workflows, and even professional relationships created with the intention of contributing to the final product.
Academic Transcript: Official University copy of a student's complete academic record; reflects all courses taken while enrolled at any academic level at MSU.
Spartan Experience Record: MSU’s customizable co-curricular record that showcases student learning in co-curricular experiences that can be requested through the Registrar’s Office.
Registrar: The officer on a campus responsible for official academic and related records.
My Spartan Story: The interactive platform that captures student learning experiences in MSU out-of-class activities including but not limited to leadership programs, student employment, undergraduate research positions, internships, and civic engagement opportunities.