CaliforniaStateUniversity, Sacramento

School of Health and Human Services

Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies

RLS 30

RECREATION AND LEISURE STUDIES IN CONTEMPORARY SOCIETY

COURSE DESCRIPTION – Fall2006

Instructor:Dr. Steve GrayEmail Address:

Office:Solano Hall 4012Office Phone: 278-6858

Office Hours:Tues. 10:00-11:30 Th. 10:00-11:30 or by appointment

CATALOG DESCRIPTION:

Orientation to the nature, scope, and significance of the leisure, parks and recreation services movement in today's world.

Analysis of philosophical and related elements essential to the effective delivery of leisure services, including the role of affective, cognitive and social motivations and outcomes.

THE GOALS OF THE COURSE:

1.Define the role of the parks and recreation movement in today's world and its dimension for quality living.

2.Investigate, analyze and discuss the aspects contributing to successful leisure experiences.

3.Provide the student with the working knowledge of the art and science of producing enriching and fulfilling leisure experiences for themselves and others through the recreation and leisure delivery system process.

4.Participate in the personal leisure education process of understanding leisure, learning about themselves and discovering the meaning of leisure in their own lives.

5.Examine the roles of the professional recreation practitioner and park manager in their managerial performances and the organizational effectiveness in their delivery services.

  1. Understand our Department's curriculum and assess one's interest in pursuing a career in a given aspect of an exciting and challenging field.

OBJECTIVES OF THE COURSE:

Students will be able to demonstrate:

  1. Knowledge and understanding of the meaning and significance of leisure, recreation, play and games for all populations and settings (8.01).
  1. Understanding of the psychological, sociological, and physiological significance of play, recreation and leisure from a historical and cultural perspective of all populations, settings, and services(8.02).
  1. Understanding of the technical, economic, political, and cultural significance of play, recreation and leisure in contemporary society(8.03).
  1. Understanding of the significance of play, recreation, and leisure throughout the life cycle relative to the individual’s attitudes, values, behaviors, and use of resources (8.04).
  1. Knowledge of the interrelationship between leisure behavior and the natural environment (8.05).
  1. Understanding of environmental ethics, the relationship of environmental ethics to the philosophy of planning, design, and development, and the potential impact of planning, design, and development upon the environment.(8.06)
  1. Understanding of the history and development of the leisure services profession (8.07).
  1. Understanding of contemporary professional issues and the trends impacting leisure and human service agencies (8.08).
  1. Understanding of the concept of a profession and professional organizations and the responsibilities of professionals in leisure and human service agencies(8.09).
  1. Understanding of ethical principles and professionalism as applied to all professional practices, attitudes and behaviors in leisure service delivery (8.10).
  1. Understanding of the importance of maintaining professional competence and use of resources for professional development(8.11).
  1. Understanding of and ability to use diverse community, institutional, natural, cultural and human service resources to promote and enhance the leisure experience(8.12).
  1. Understanding of the roles and interrelationships of diverse leisure service delivery systems, including such specialties as the therapeutic recreation and business enterprise systems (8.13).
  1. Understanding of inclusive practices as they apply to the design and operation of recreation programs, services, and facilities(8.14).
  1. Ability to promote, advocate, interpret, and articulate the concerns of leisure service systems for all populations and services (8.15).
  1. Knowledge of the role and content of leisure programs and services (8.16).
  1. Understanding of human growth and development throughout the human lifecycle including the contributions of leisure to growth, development and self-expression(8.18).
  1. Understanding of group dynamics and processes and the ability to use various leadership techniques and strategies to enhance the individual’s recreative experiences.(8.19).
  1. Understanding of the concept and use of leisure resources to facilitate participant involvement. (8.20)
  1. Ability to utilize effectively the tools of communication, including technical writing, speech and audio-visual techniques (8.35).
  1. Knowledge of the legal foundations and responsibilities of leisure service agencies, and of the legislative process and the impact of policy formation on leisure behaviors and service in all levels of government, community organizations, and business enterprise (8.37).
  1. Field experience prior to internship (8.41).
  1. Knowledge of behaviors in a task oriented group.

22.Ability to efficiently and effectively collaborate in group situations.

LEARNING ACTIVITIES AND METHODS OF INSTRUCTION:

The above listed objectives and other course objectives that may be drafted by the class members will be fulfilled by:

  1. Reading the required course textbook, assigned readings and research in the CSUS Library as well as printed handouts distributed in class.

2.Introspective written assignments, class lectures, experiential learning activities, presentations, and discussion.

3.Student interaction with leisure experience settings, events, and practitioners.

4.Observing and listening to visual and audio aids as well as tapes, slides, and films.

CLASS POLICY:

  1. Attendance is considered an integral part of the learning process and while formal attendance will not be taken all students are expected to attend on a regular basis. Tardiness is unacceptable because of the interruption it causes in the classroom and 5 points will be deducted for each tardy.
  2. Class Etiquette: learners are expected to show consideration to fellow classmates, as well as the professor during all class activities. NO EXTRANEOUS CONVERSATIONS are allowed while either the professor or other students have the floor. Your fellow students cannot learn in an environment in which side conversations are occurring.
COURSE TEXT

1.Leisure and Life Satisfaction Foundational Perspectives, Edginton, Jordan, Degraaf, and Edginton.

  1. Course Notes For RLS 30, Gray.

GRADING POLICY:

1.Semester Assignments and Grading Point Values

AssignmentPoints

Writing Exercises200

Ropes Course Report100

Visitation and Interview100

Quizzes/Text: Individual, Group200

1st Examination200

2nd Examination (May 16th)200

TOTAL1000

Final (2nd Exam)Tuesday December 19, 2006

REVIEW OF THE ASSIGNMENTS:

1.Course Writing Exercises

You will be doing a significant amount of writing in this course, including both in and out of class assignments. All out of class writing assignments should be word processed. All of your writing assignments will be placed in an 8 1/2-X-11" loose-leaf folder or ring binder. At the end of the semester you will be given a table of contents to be placed at the beginning of the journal.

As noted in the Grading Section, this series of exercises will account for 350 points of your point total. Not all of the writing assignments will receive a letter grade. Some will just be given a check mark; others will be rated either excellent, good, ok, or unacceptable. Finally, more important written assignments will receive letter grades and will be weighted according to importance. Late assignments will be accepted but will be penalized 20% per class meeting late. You will be notified how each assignment will be graded prior to the due date. All class assignments will be included in a binder which will be turned in on May 16th, final examination day; late journals will be penalized 20 points per day.

2.Ropes Course

The ROPES course is an extraordinary event oriented toward experiential learning and personal growth. The participants overcome obstacles of increasing difficulty though group interaction and personal challenge in a non-threatening, cooperative environment. Participants share their capabilities and overcome their perceived limitations to reach goals and realize feeling of achievement, fulfillment, satisfaction, excitement and happiness. At the end of the day, participants have a heightened sense of personal accomplishment and an expanded view of their potential opportunities for success in future endeavors. The ROPES course is scheduled for ______, 8:30 a.m. at On Course, Inc. in Grass Valley, CA. The cost will be $35.00. All students are encouraged to go on this trip, but if you are unable to make this excursion, alternate trips to the course will be offered. You must attend the ROPES Course to receive credit for RLS 30. There are no exceptions.

3.Career Development, Visitation and Interview

You will complete an appraisal report on a leisure service delivery site of your choice within a variety of settings: governmental (federal, state, or local land management/program provision agency), commercial and private, not-for-profit, and therapeutic. You will tour the site while carefully assessing service elements discussed prior to your appointment. In addition you will interview a recreation and park practitioner who is responsible for the planning of the recreation site development, planning and supervising the delivery services, or the maintaining of this site.

This assignment is an excellent opportunity for you to plan your future in the field of recreation and leisure. You will be able to explore a setting where you might be interested in gaining working experience or even determining the possibility of selecting the site as a potential Directed Field Experience or Internship Assignment. This assignment is due on May 2nd (as long as this report is given to instructor by May 16th, no late penalty will be added).

4.Quizzes

Quizzes (multiple choice/true-false) will be given covering each of the chapters in the text. You will first take the test individually. Next, you will meet with your group and develop a group answer set for the quiz.

6.1ST & 2nd Exams

The 1st and 2nd exams will measure understanding of the concepts and elements that will be covered in the course lectures. Objective question (multiple choice/true-false) and essay questions will measure content covered in the text and lectures.