Give your student leaders hands-on experience to improve their skills

Madison, Wis.—January 29, 2009 — How do you measure the success of the retreats you’ve held for student leaders? Do you:
        A. Count the number of attendees?
        B. Assess how much the students learned?
        C. Measure what students did with what they’ve learned during the retreat?

Darin Eich, Ph.D., who first identified the attributes of successful student leadership programs in his Ph.D. research, and now helps campuses develop their leadership programs, had specific recommendations for those who are looking for ways to improve their retreats.

He believes that students learn best by doing—not by hearing or seeing, but by creating and implementing ideas.

For example, Eich recommends that instead of asking students to listen to people tell their leadership stories, or even asking students to recall their own leadership stories, they should make a new story happen at the retreat.

For Eich, it’s all about hands-on leadership. That’s why he recommends that students first learn how to plan and run the retreat—and then do it.

Of course, they have to be equipped with tools and projects, and Eich shared many ideas that participants in the online seminar were able to take away, including:
• How to do a “Leadership Problem-Learning Collage Project”
• When to supplement with “Leadership Development Journals”
• Planning a “Mobile Dance Party”
• How to do a “Labyrinth Silent Walk Self-Discovery Reflection”

A package of supplemental materials accompanied the PowerPoint handouts.

If you missed the live event you can purchase the CD to get the research-based knowledge and practical insights that you need to:
• Create a new retreat or strengthen an existing one.
• Structure a retreat that emphasizes learning and relationships.
• Get better results without using lectures.
• Implement retreat activities successfully.
• Improve retreat assessment and planning.

If you missed the seminar and would like to purchase it for your institution, you can order the program in CD or print transcript format, both of which include the presenter's handouts.

Magna Publications is a leading publisher of newsletters and other information products in the higher education segment. Magna also manages onsite and online conferences on topics of interest to higher education.

For more information please contact David Burns, Publisher, Magna Publications, Inc., at 608-227-8109, or dburns@magnapubs.com.