POWER UP! The Power Process Series

Instructor’s Guide

The Power Processes are among the most unique and effective features of the Master Student program. Appearing at the end of each chapter, they augment the chapter tools by inviting students to consider a broader conceptual strategy that can be used to enhance their success in college, career, and in life. In order to maximize the effectiveness of these tools, we recommend that instructors use some class time to discuss the Power Processes and, time permitting, do an in-class exercise to bring them alive for students.

The Power Up! DVD contains segments illustrating each of the Power Processes. Each segment can break up a class lecture period by using it as a “guest speaker,” or an in-class individual or group activity. The segments can alternatively be used for outside assignments by housing the DVD in your library’s media center and assigning students to view the segments as homework. There are suggested Process Questions on the website for each segment. They are in Word format so you can edit, add, or delete individual questions before assigning them to your students.

The segments are short, allowing you time for in-class discussion. You may want to show one at a time, as you complete each Power Process, or direct your students to the website to watch them online.

The Power Processes DVD includes segments on the following 13 Power Processes:

Discover what you want - Introduction (7 minutes)

Ideas Are Tools - Chapter 1 (7 minutes)

Be Here Now - Chapter 2 (10 minutes)

Love your problems - Chapter 3 (9 minutes)

Notice Your Pictures - Chapter 4 (7 minutes)

I Create It All - Chapter 5 (11 minutes)

Detach - Chapter 6 (10 minutes)

Find a Bigger Problem - Chapter 7 (7 minutes)

Employ Your Word - Chapter 8 (8 minutes)

Choose your conversations - Chapter 9 (9 minutes)

Risk Being A Fool - Chapter 10 (8 minutes)

Surrender - Chapter 11 (9 minutes)

Be it - Chapter 12 (10 minutes)

Here are four ideas to build motivation for your students as they watch the segments,

  • Remind students of the Be Here Now Power Process as a tool to get the most out of the video program.
  • Include a quiz question on the next quiz about the segment, and tell students that this will happen.
  • Before showing the segment put some or all of the video Process Questions on the board, on an overhead, or in a handout to prompt students’ thinking and notetaking while watching the video.
  • Offer extra credit points for turning in written answers to one or more of the Process Questions.
Instructor Information For Each Segment

Each Power Process segment includes a basic two-part structure: a campus scenario and a workplace interview.

Power Process ON CAMPUS: In the campus scenario, your students can learn about applying the Power Process in situations that they are likely to face while in school.

Power Process AT WORK: The personal interview illustrates through personal testimony how the Power Process strategies can be used beyond the classroom.

Throughout each segment, a host introduces the Power Process and summarizes each of the main points. Here is a look at each Power-Up segment.

DISCOVER WHAT YOU WANT (Introduction Power Process)

Introduction to the Power Process. Using an analogy of choosing of TV channels, planning and focus are identified as two strategies to “Discover What You Want.”

Power Process on Campus Example 1. Scenario: A student asks his Residence Advisor for advice as he’s deciding between two different options for a summer internship.

Power Process on Campus Example 2. Students answer the question, “What do you want?” and share how the college experience is going to contribute to their future career and their life.

IDEAS ARE TOOLS (Chapter 1 Power Process)

Introduction to the Power Process: Be open-minded to new ideas. If you think of an idea as a tangible tool, it's less abstract and easier to use. Ideas don't have to be right or wrong, just useful in a specific situation.

Power Process on Campus. Scenario: Two physics students try to convince a classmate to try a new idea—a study group.

Power Process at Work. Interview with Michelle Caldwell, Manager, Carrier Corporation. Michelle discusses meetings, ideas, thinking about strategies, and the creative process at work.

BE HERE NOW (Chapter 2 Power Process)

Introduction to the Power Process: Focus your attention to succeed in college and in life. Do what you’re doing when you’re doing it.

Power Process on Campus. Scenario: An adult student studying at home deals with distractions from his daughter and wife.

Power Process at Work.Interview with Wesley Morris, film critic for the Boston Globe. He talks about loving your job, but it still has boring elements. You have to concentrate to do your job well. It’s part of your job.

LOVE YOUR PROBLEMS (Chapter 3 Power Process)

Introduction to the Power Process. Several examples of problems that one should face, not avoid, introduce this problem-solving power process.

Power Process on Campus. Scenario: A military veteran discusses with a friend her frustration in college and why she is considering dropping out.

Power Process at Work. Cheryl Vines, Executive Director of a family services agency, talks about how embracing a serious problem at the Family Center created a better future for her agency.

NOTICE YOUR PICTURES (Chapter 4 Power Process)

Introduction to the Power Process: Your mind is full of pictures that reflect your expectations, real or imaginary. These pictures can help you get where you're going, or pose as major roadblocks. Let go of preconceived notions. You may need to let them go more than once! Note that the picture may have been put in your mind by an external source.

Power Process on Campus: Three students who are new to college ponder what to do on Friday night: go to the library or go to a party.

Power Process at Work: Interview with Jeanette Lackley, Human Resources Manager, at Mays Chemical Company. As a minority owned company, they recognize diversity. Her goal is to understand customers and coworkers as the individuals they are.

I CREATE IT ALL (Chapter 5 Power Process)

Introduction to the Power Process: Taking self-responsibility empowers you to understand what happened and create your own future

Power Process on Campus: A tutor wants to give up when all of his students don’t achieve the level of success he wants for them. He gets advice from his advisor.

Power Process at Work:Jessica Cunningham from the Massachusetts Eating Disorder Association discusses her eating disorder addiction. She talks about how much of her time and energy was spent defining herself by the way others defined her. Now she is re-framing her experience so that she does not think of herself as a victim.

DETACH (Chapter 6 Power Process)

Introduction to the Power Process: The benefits of detaching from obsessive behaviors frame two video segments that illustrate this power process.

Power Process on Campus: An artist has a discussion with her husband about values and priorities when it comes to finishing a painting.

Power Process at Work: Classical singer Paulo Carminati talks about detaching before and during a performance.

FIND A BIGGER PROBLEM (Chapter 7 Power Process)

Introduction to the Power Process: Obstacles occur in school, work, and life. You can try to avoid, try to eliminate, or go around problems. Or you can look for a bigger problem. Forcing your focus on a bigger problem can help put smaller problems in perspective, and may even give meaning to your life.

Power Process on Campus: Three students discuss options regarding a group volunteer service project in their class. One student is excited, one is skeptical, and one is ready to drop the course over this assignment.

Power Process at Work: Interview with Rita Johnson-Mills, President and CEO, Managed Health Services. Rita talks about her experience obtaining her job, and how she makes her decisions at work. When she helps someone else, she feels like her life has more of a purpose.

EMPLOY YOUR WORD (Chapter 8 Power Process)

Introduction to the Power Process: The world works by agreements. By making and keeping agreements, you create your future.

Power Process on Campus: A student has to break an agreement for dinner plans because an assignment is due, and her friend is hurt by the broken commitment.

Power Process at Work:Ming Tsai, celebrity chef, talks about the role of making and keeping agreements with clients in his restaurant. He explains how he makes commitments to his employees, and how he deals with clients when he has to break a commitment.

CHOOSE YOUR CONVERSATIONS (Chapter 9 Power Process)

Introduction to the Power Process: Choosing your conversations wisely and with respect introduces two video segments, one related to college, and one to the workplace.

Power Process on Campus: Scenario: Two friends in a computer lab talk about a non-drinking party group one of the students is starting on campus.

Power Process at Work: Barry Nolan, Executive Producer of Backstage, an entertainment show, talks about how he plans his show segments around the concept of conversations being the most important music of your life.

RISK BEING A FOOL (Chapter 10 Power Process)

Introduction to the Power Process: Part of the college experience is taking risks, such as trying new courses or getting involved in student activities. When you take a chance, you might look smart or you might look foolish. Foolishness can be the motivating factor behind courage. This process is not a ticket for hazardous behavior.

Power Process on Campus: Scenario: An adult prospective college student shares his anxiety about returning to college after two previous failed attempts.

Power Process at Work: Dave Dugan, Professional Comedian, talks about dealing with awkward situations daily in his job, getting up in front of an audience and hoping they will laugh. As a comedian, he is not afraid of being a fool and learn from his mistakes.

SURRENDER (Chapter 11 Power Process)

Introduction to the Power Process: Discussion of recognizing when it’s time to Surrender… when the struggle to control a problem becomes so overwhelming, that the problem ends up controlling you.

Power Process on Campus: A student athlete with an injured knee pushes herself too hard, until a teammate points out that it is time to surrender.

Power Process at Work:Deborah Contu works with terminally ill patients at a hospice. She shares about her experience watching her patients learn to surrender, and her personal experience surrendering as well.

BE IT (Chapter 12 Power Process)

Introduction to the Power Process: Using this power process as a tool to make satisfying career decisions introduces two additional segments that explore this creative way to discover your calling.

Power Process at Work: Over dinner with a friend, a man with a career in decline, discusses options for changing careers.

Power Process at Work: Susan Tuveson, owner of Cacao, discusses how her education, previous careers, and life led her from her training as an attorney to her current enterprise.