APPENDIX B: LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Now that you have taken a personal inventory relative to your skill sets, it is time to think about and to formalize some learning objectives. Note that the failure to be proactive in identifying these objectives will be your biggest obstacle to learning! Since co-op is largely self-directed, you will be accepting the majority of the responsibility for your own development. Determining specifically what it is precisely that you would like to gain through your co-op position will increase the chances of personal and professional growth in areas that are significant to you.

Even though you will be trained in the department in which you work, it is unlikely that anyone you report to will have enough time to really ask you about your growth. It is, then, up to you to take the initiative and to figure it out for yourself before you even start! Please complete the Learning Objectives Proforma by (date to be confirmed by email). The blank Proforma appears on the page that follows.

It is our hope that you will “aim high” and that the majority of your objectives will relate more to personal growth, supervisory, and managerial skills than they will to professional skills. It is, however, acceptable to list some professional skills as part of your learning objectives. We list some examples of learning objectives below.

Personal Growth Objectives

  • learn not to second-guess myself
  • to decide if I prefer working in hotels or in restaurants
  • to establish myself as an exceptional employee
  • learn to maintain enthusiasm in repetitive jobs

Supervisory Skills

  • learn about employee-interviewing
  • learn about employee-scheduling
  • learn about employee performance evaluations
  • learn about dealing with angry guests

Managerial Skills

  • learn about motivating employees
  • learn about communication within the department
  • learn about communication with other departments
  • learn about interpreting reports
  • learn about managing change

Professional Skills

These will relate specifically to the position that you have selected. If, for example, you have opted to be at the Front Desk, some of your objectives might be:

  • learn to check in a guest
  • learn how to carry a tray properly

APPENDIX B: LEARNING OBJECTIVES (CONTINUED)

Below you will find an example of a completed Learning Objective Proforma. The actual Learning Objective Proformas that you are to complete and submit to the Externship Office are included on the pages that follow.

Please note that you are asked to identify 10 learning objectives and the strategies that you will use to succeed. Naturally, the outcomes portion of this proforma can only be completed at the end of your co-op placement and you will re-submit the completed forms.

Exhibit B-1: Example of a completed Learning Objective Proforma

Learning Objective #1:
To practice interviewing skills for candidate recruitment
Strategy:
I will ask the Director of HR about how to develop these skills and I may ask if it would be possible to sit in on some interviews
Outcomes:
You cannot complete this at this point because you do not know what the outcomes are. It might, however, look like this:
I was privileged to sit in on 3 interviews and have seen the formula that the organization follows for structured interviews. I also recognize now the importance of preparing for the interview beforehand by being familiar with the candidate’s resume and by having called 2 references before the interview.

Exhibit B-2: Learning Objective Proforma

Please complete and copy the ten Learning Objective and Strategy sections by May 1st and forward to your co-op advisor. You will complete the Outcomes section as you go.

Learning Objective #1:
Strategy:
Outcomes:
Learning Objective #2:
Strategy:
Outcomes:

Exhibit B-2: Learning Objective Proforma (continued)

Learning Objective #3:
Strategy:
Outcomes:
Learning Objective #4:
Strategy:
Outcomes:

Exhibit B-2: Learning Objective Proforma (continued)

Learning Objective #5:
Strategy:
Outcomes:
Learning Objective #6:
Strategy:
Outcomes:

Exhibit B-2: Learning Objective Proforma (continued)

Learning Objective #7:
Strategy:
Outcomes:
Learning Objective #8:
Strategy:
Outcomes:

Exhibit B-2: Learning Objective Proforma (continued)

Learning Objective #9:
Strategy:
Outcomes:
Learning Objective #10:
Strategy:
Outcomes: