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The mission of empowered leaders requires
effort at both the national and chapter levels
to conduct educational programming toward that
end. A new direction for Kappa Omicron Nu introduced
at Conclave 1999 is the concept of our honor society
as a learning community. The paper, “Making a Learning Community,” presents
the theoretical foundation.
In a nutshell, a learning community is a group
linked by common interests—a group that is
described by ongoing action and perpetual curiosity
(engagement and growing). As a learning paradigm,
it gives primacy to the learner and learning outcomes.
In KON, the notion of a learning community places
high value on learning beyond the classroom and
on building on student interests, on critical
thinking, and on problem solving.
Integrating KON and Academic Goals - A
recent survey of Deans and Department Chairs documented
interest in developing a partnership of Kappa
Omicron Nu with the academic program. Plans are
being made to develop a Web site resource to share
implementation ideas. Stay tuned for a posting
announcement. Chapters are invited to submit examples
of partnerships.
New Focus on Undergraduate
Research – In collaboration with
Michigan State University, Kansas State University,
and University of Maryland—Eastern Shore,
Kappa Omicron Nu will participate in a pilot project
to create an Undergraduate Research Conference
conducted alternately with the KON Conclave. The
project will sponsor cross-institutional undergraduate
research teams that focus on integrative, cross-specialization
research projects. An on-line peer-reviewed and
edited publication will also be developed. Invitations
to participate in the project will be issued to
other institutions after the first year. This
project will build upon the KON undergraduate
research paper award program and take undergraduate
research to a new level nationally.
Mini-Program - From suggestions
by advisers, Kappa Omicron Nu will offer mini-programs
for chapter programming; each will be structured
for a one-hour session. The first one, titled
“Leadership
101” features leadership guru Max
DePree’s notion of organizations as places
for realized potential. The program includes
the facilitator script, an activity, and a transparency
mini-lecture. Each user is asked to e-mail dmitstifer@kon.org to share outcomes.
Watch for announcements of other mini-programs.
Resources - The resources, Leadership:
Reflective Human Action, Leadership for a Culturally
Diverse Society, and Mentoring: The Human Touch,
offer many activities that could be used for chapter
programs. Because these are state-of-the-art leadership
perspectives, KON members will have an advantage
professionally and personally.
State-of-the-Art Resource - Directions
are available on the Web for the popular group
process: Open
Space Technology. See “Open Space
Process,” “Open Space Conveners Kit,”
and “Open Space Transparencies.”
Open Space is a state-of-the-art group process,
and Kappa Omicron Nu is alone among organizational
leaders in offering a program package for the
process. There’s not a lot of risk—just
use it and help your members experience REAL PARTICIPATION
and satisfaction of following their PASSION.
New online course - Self-Managed
Mentoring. This course was adapted from
the educational module, Mentoring:
The Human Touch, by Susan S. Stratton,
owner of Leading Edge Mentoring, and Lisa H. Wootton
and Dorothy I. Mitstifer of Kappa Omicron Nu.
Self-Managed Mentoring offers four choices
of depth: knowledge only, knowledge and selected
experiences, self-managed life change, and life
change facilitated by telementoring or e-mail
mentoring. It can also be used for academic credit
as a special problem, as a course or component
of a course, and for continuing education or professional
development units. Offered as a 'freebie' to members
and the public for self-managed personal development,
other uses require the usual permission for copyrighted
material. A fee may be charged if facilitation
by telephone or e-mail is desired.
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KAPPA OMICRON NU HONOR SOCIETY
