Giving Students a Voice at the Table: An Entertaining Lesson the Art of Conversation

1. Giving Students a Voice at the Table: An Entertaining Lesson the Art of Conversation Career Conference: Putting Theory and Research into Practice April 13, 2018 Dr. Miriam Frolow & Dr. Lillie Hibbler University of Phoenix Jersey City Campus NJ Center for Student Success - Career Conference

2. Agenda • What is Intellectual Curiosity • Overview of the Mock Dinner Party • The Mock Dinner Party • Debrief about the Experience • Next Steps to Running a Mock Dinner Party at Your Campus NJ Center for Student Success - Career Conference

3. Introductions • Your Name • What was your undergraduate major? • What is your current occupation? NJ Center for Student Success - Career Conference

4. Education Should: According to Baehr (2013) education should aim to foster: • Curiosity • Open-mindedness • Attentiveness • Intellectual carefulness • Intellectual courage • Intellectual rigor • Intellectual honesty NJ Center for Student Success - Career Conference

5. Bring the World into the Class Include facts and statistics Value diversity Promote change Seek the greater good Life application NJ Center for Student Success - Career Conference

6. Skills Needed in the Workplace NJ Center for Student Success - Career Conference

7. Skills Required For Employment Per Regan (2016), the following skills have been identified as required from graduates by hiring managers and colleges and universities: • Written and oral communications skills • Making decisions and problem-solving • Collaborating with others • Working with diverse groups of people • Analytical and research skills • Adaptability/managing multiple priorities • Planning and Organizational Skills • Technical skills associated with the job NJ Center for Student Success - Career Conference

8. Developing Skills Required The art of conversation will help to develop some of the skills that employers are seeking in college graduates. NJ Center for Student Success - Career Conference

9. The Art of Conversation According to Kerwick (2015) a liberal arts education supplies students with: • The habit of attention • The art of expression • The art of assuming at a moment’s notice a new intellectual position • The art of entering quickly into another person’s thoughts • The habit of submitting to censure and refutation • The art of indicating assent or dissent in graduated terms • The habit of regarding minute points of accuracy • The art of working out what is possible in a given time • The ability to develop intellectual curiosity about life and people NJ Center for Student Success - Career Conference

10. The Art of Conversation • What holds your interest when interacting with someone? • Why do you associate with the people you associate with (outside of family members)? • What is typically your impression of someone you have had a good conversation with? NJ Center for Student Success - Career Conference

11. The Art of Conversation and Leadership • Smart leaders engage with employees in a manner that resembles person-to-person conversations instead of commands from an authoritative perspective (Purse and Cowley,2016). • Communications that is genuine and authentic gives leaders an emotional connection to their employees (Purse and Cowley,2016). • Emotional connections build trust. • Trust increases employee loyalty and productivity. NJ Center for Student Success - Career Conference

12. The Art of Conversation: Preparation • A skilled conversationalist has a sincere interest in people, they are equipped to engage with people (Ogilvie, 2005). • Preparation can be achieved by: • Reading one local newspaper per day • Read the headlines if pressed for time • Read the business section thoroughly • Look at the sports section • Read newsletters and professional journals • Research meeting attendees • Keep current with industry changes • Understand political impact on business NJ Center for Student Success - Career Conference

13. The Art of Conversation: Engagement • It is easier to do business with people when you have a relationship with them (Johnson and Geal, 2014). • During the interview lunch and/or the walk to the elevator after your interview, the hiring manager wants to connect with you and not the actor (Johnson and Geal, 2014). • To connect during an interview, research the individuals that are conducting the interview as well as the organization, this will help prepare your conversation. • Intellectual curiosity will help deepen understanding of individuals and enrich the conversation. NJ Center for Student Success - Career Conference

14. What is Intellectual Curiosity? It’s the characteristic ability to question, challenge, look at an issue from multiple perspectives, seek more information before rushing to judgment, raise questions, deliberate, and craft well- reasoned arguments (Maki, 2002). NJ Center for Student Success - Career Conference

15. Overview of the Mock Dinner Party How would you describe a dinner party? • Who attends? • What is served? • What is discussed around the table? What is a mock dinner party? NJ Center for Student Success - Career Conference

16. Our Mock Dinner Party In groups of 5 people, designate one person as the leader. • The leader will use the cards to start the discussions. • After 3 minutes, please switch to another discussion topic card. • Everyone must participate in the conversation (while enjoying the snacks we provided). • For fun, try to answer the questions as if you were an undergraduate student studying in your major again. • Make sure to take turns challenging the status quo. NJ Center for Student Success - Career Conference

17. How to Set Up a Mock Dinner Party at Your Campus • Who can set-up and a mock dinner party? • Table leaders – recruit faculty from different disciplines across campus or alumni who work in different industries. • Create a list of sample topics for the table leaders. • Provide a “real” meal. A buffet is great. • Use real plates and silverware. If you don’t have the budget for it, get good quality plastic ware that looks and feels “real.” NJ Center for Student Success - Career Conference

18. Mock Dinner Party – A Proposed Timeline Plan for a 1.5- to 2-hour event: • 15 minutes for the introduction and instructions • 15 minutes for participants to get food and get settled at a table • 30 minutes to discuss various topics while eating • 30 minutes to discuss what the students experienced, felt, and thought about their discussions (debrief) • 30 minutes on how to transfer the experience to their careers, their job searches (including interviews during a meal), and life. NJ Center for Student Success - Career Conference

19. What Were Your Experiences, Feelings, and Thoughts during Your Discussions? (Debrief) • Tell us about your conversations around the table. • Key Points to Remember: • Giving your students a voice in the classroom and around campus will help them find their voice “at the table” and in the workplace. • Encourage your students to be prepared for and have face-to-face conversations that stimulates intellectual curiosity. NJ Center for Student Success - Career Conference

20. The 7 Traits of Intellectually Curious Leaders • They challenge the status quo • They build high performing networks, not teams • They seek to build careers of the people around them • They are risk takers • They ask the right questions • They promote openness of discourse • They are effective at combining dreams with details NJ Center for Student Success - Career Conference

21. Questions/Discussion NJ Center for Student Success - Career Conference

22. References Baehr, J. (2013). Educating for Intellectual virtues: From theory to practice. Journal of Philosophy of Education, 47(2), 248-262. doi:10.1111/1467-9752.12023 Bapat, V. (2014). The 7 Traits of Intellectually Curious Leaders. D!gitalist Magazine. Retrieved from http://www.digitalistmag.com/lob/human-resources/2014/10/21/7-traits-intellectually-curious-leaders-01592307 Johnson, B. and Geal, M. (2014). The art of conversation. Training Journal, 22-25. Kerwick, J. (2015). The liberal arts as conversation. Academic Questions, 28(2), 159-164. doi:10.1007/s12129-015-9495-y Maki, P. (2002). Moving from paperwork to pedagogy, channeling intellectual curiosity into a commitment to assessment. AAHE Bulletin, 54(9), 3-5. Ogilvie, R.A. (2005). The art of conversation. Charter 76(10), 22-23. Purse, N. and Cowley, N. (2016). The art of conversation. Training Journal, 25-28. Regan, T. (2016). College to career: Exploring the relationship between college degrees and career success. The Chronicle of Higher Education. NJ Center for Student Success - Career Conference

23. Thank you!Note: If you want a copy of this presentation, please leave your business card or sign the sheet. • Dr. Miriam Frolow • Director of Academic Affairs Jersey City Campus • University of Phoenix • (201) 234-3141 • Miriam.Frolow@phoenix.edu • Dr. Lillie Hibbler • Lead Program Chair, School of Business • Jersey City Campus • University of Phoenix • (201) 234-3148 • Lillie.Hibbler-Britt@phoenix.edu NJ Center for Student Success - Career Conference