CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, CHICO
Department of Recreation & Parks Management
RECR. 180
Prof. Michael Leitner
Leisure & Life
Office: Yolo 195, Phone: 898-6774
Spring 2011
Leave voice mail anytime!
COURSE OUTLINE
Do NOT call me at home and
Do NOT send e-mail or messages on Vista! Call or see me instead!
I do check voice mail frequently.
Office hours: M, W 9:30 a.m. – 12 noon
I.
Required Texts
Leisure Enhancement (3rd edition)
RECR 180 Class Notes. This packet has a brief course description, instructions for written
assignments and grading guidelines, and handouts/written exercises.
II.
III.
Course Goals - See course syllabus (“RECR 180 Class Notes”)
Grading System
Name tag (first month)
17 quizzes (Points vary)
Exercise journal
Final exam
Written assignments
Leadership/written exercises
Post-assessment of learning
Related to course goals
Attendance and class participation (essential!)
TOTAL
= 5 points
=153 points
= 20 points
= 52 points
=50 points (max)
=60 points
=10 points
= 50 points
=400 points
IV.
Quizzes
Quizzes are usually administered at the beginning of class. No excuses for lateness or absence, except
for verified medical reasons. Quizzes cover material in the assigned reading for the day, as well as
lecture material from the last class session or two. Be sure to take good notes in class! If you are ill, do
not come to class to take the quiz and then ask to be excused from class! If you are ill enough to not be
able to stay for class, then you should go to the Health Center, not to class to take a quiz! I'll gladly give
you a make-up quiz (must be within one week of your return to school). The Health Center gives free,
first-rate medical care. I can call them to verify the severity of an illness/inability to attend class. Just give
me the date and time of your visit, and the name of the person who examined you. Do NOT bother them
for a “doctor’s note.”
V.
Name Tag: Make a big name tag that makes it easy for everyone in the class to see your first
name. Wear it during the first month of the semester. Hopefully, we will learn each other’s names more
quickly with the help of these name tags.
VI. TOTAL POINTS
370 & above =A
360 - 369
=A350 - 359
=B+
330 - 349
=B
320 - 329
=B310 - 319
=C+
=_____
290 - 309
280 - 289
270 - 279
240 - 269
239 & below
=C
=C=D+
=D
=F
VII. Written Assignments
Follow the instructions in the RECR 180 class notes packet for each assignment. Attach the cover sheets
from the class notes packet to each written assignment. Note the due dates for each one (2 points
deducted per day late; 2 points extra for papers submitted in previous class session; 4 points extra for
meeting during office hours one week prior to due date to review draft version). All papers must be typed.
VIII. Tentative Calendar
Date
1/25
1/27
2/1
2/3
Reading assignment/quiz/writing
Topic
_____assignment due________
Activities, getting acquainted, leisure and life in action!
Orientation to the course & overview
of course requirements and topics; form study groups.
Icebreakers and personal introductions.
Introduction to recreation & leisure
Leisure education & its importance
Introduction to leisure and ethnic cultures
and prep for written assignment.
Quiz #1 (Ch. 1)
Reaction paper to course goals
Quiz #2 (Ch. 2)
2/8
Historical influences on leisure today
Quiz #3 (Ch. 3)
2/10
Leisure & recreation in the U.S. today
Overview of professional opportunities
in recreation & possible volunteer experiences
Quiz #4 (Ch. 4)
Ch. 5 (until Nash’s Pyramid)
2/15
Why people recreate
2/17
Why people recreate
All of Ch. 5
Group meetings to plan student-led activities
meetings with students on their progress in the course. Proposals due!
2/22 & 2/24
Leisure planning & time mgmt.
3/1
3/3, 8, 10, 22
Fitness & leisure
Q#7 (Ch. 7)
Fitness & leisure: Weather permitting, class will meet at _______________
Exercise journals due on 3/22
Leisure & stress reduction
Quiz #8
3/24
Q#5 on 2/22; Q#6 on 2/24
3/29
Recreation & social development;
Leisure & ethnic & racial minority groups:
socialization implications.
Quiz #10 (Ch. 10)
4/5 & 4/7
Leisure-related problems
Quiz #11 (Ch. 11)
4/12
4/14
Ethics & personal leisure philosophy
Personal leisure philosophy
Quiz #12 (Ch. 12)
4/19
Leisure & the life cycle;
Leisure in Later Life
Quiz #13 (Ch. 13)
4/21
Recreation for special populations
Quiz #14 (Ch. 14)
4/26
4/28 &
5/3
Outdoor & natural resources recreation
Leisure around the world
5/5
Leisure in the future
Quiz #15 (Ch. 15)
Quiz #16 (Ch. 16)
Post-assessment of learning related
to course goals due 5/5
Quiz #17 (Ch. 17)
5/10 & 12
Stress reduction through laughter; student-led
Activities. Review for final exam.
Quiz #9 (Ch. 9)
FINAL EXAM: 5/17 at 12 noon (9:30 a.m. class); 5/19 at 10 a.m. (11 a.m. class)
Important Due Dates
1/27
Reaction paper to course goals
2/17
2/22
2/17
2/22
2/24
2/24
3/10
3/29
4/7
4/14
4/28
4/28
5/5
Written Assignments Proposal – This is a REQUIRED assignment. Identify which
written assignment you wish to complete, and your rationale (why you are interested in the
assignment). You must meet with the instructor to get approval for your proposal before
submitting an assignment. Write your proposal on the back of the cover sheet for the assignment
and bring it to class on 2/17.
Organized leisure activity/Volunteering proposals due (typed)
Proposals for Planning/Leading an Activity are due (typed)
Student-led activities group paper: Required of all students (12 points plus extra
credit for the writer/leader of the group). A) On 2/17 in class, each group will meet to
To choose a fun, laugher-inducing activity or activities to lead in class during the last week
of class in May. B) The writer/leader of the group will submit a paper on 2/22 that clearly
Describes the activity(ies) and the time needed (10-15 minutes), as well as the theories
and concepts to which the activity is related. C) Each group member will discuss one
theory or concept related to the activity(ies) and will help lead the activity on May 10 or 12.
Improving leisure by reducing television time 50% or more
Improving leisure by reducing recreational computer use/video games 50% or more
Organized leisure activity/volunteering (first round)
Experiment in eliminating binge drinking and/or other drug use
Analyzing the ethics of a leisure activity
Planning/Leading a Leisure Activity for RECR 180 students
Leisure and ethnic cultures
Organized leisure activity/volunteering (second round)
Post assessment of learning related to course goals
IMPORTANT: February 18th is the LAST day to add/drop classes using the regular COP process.
Students need a “serious and compelling” reason (see catalog) after this date and use the COP process.
No adding or dropping of classes or changing of grade option after 2/18 without a “serious and compelling”
reason approved by the instructor, department chair, and dean.
General Guide to Reading Assignments & Quizzes
Quickly read/skim the assigned chapter once. Go back to the beginning of the chapter and try to
answer the learning objectives of the chapter. Reread the chapter slowly (1 to 2 hours) until you can
answer the learning objectives. Write down questions about the learning objectives and the chapter
material for discussion at the beginning of class. Complete the written exercises in the chapter (BEFORE
COMING TO CLASS!), again writing down questions about the material. On the dates of your assigned
leadership, these exercises have to be very thorough and complete. On other dates, these will be
checked briefly during class and will count toward your class participation grade. Consistent effort and
thoroughness will enhance class participation and quiz grades; lack of effort will detract from class
participation and quiz grades. Trying to complete the written exercises during class
discussion/activity/lecture time in class is INAPPROPRIATE and will greatly detract from class
participation grades. You will receive zero credit for the exercises if you are working on them during class
discussion. Simple rule of thumb: It’s always best to do the work, but if you don’t, the worst thing you can
possibly do is to try to take credit for something you didn’t really do.
Quizzes/Exercises and Leadership Assignments (28 points for leadership + 20 points or more for
exercises (show me your work when you are not a leader) + 12 for group presentation = 60 points total
Ch./Q #
1
2
3
4
Points for Quiz
12
9
7
9
5
17
6
7
8
Group #
1
2
3
4
Points for Leaders
4
3
7
8
11
20
5 (5.1-5.4)
1 (5.5)
1
2
11
6
6
14
7
3
10
9
10
11
3
7
9
4
4
5
8
1 (11.2 only)
4
1, 4, & 5 (12.1 only)
3
12
6
2 (12.2-12.7)
11
13
7
3
8
14
7
1&4
5
15
7
5
6
16
8
3 (List questions)
3
17
7
4
8
NOTE: When it is your turn to be a leader, you need to do the following:
a. Arrive in class seven or more minutes early.
b. Bring the assigned written exercises, completed fully, in detail, all questions answered.
These will be checked by the instructor/assistants and discussed before class begins.
c. You will be called upon to be a leader in class discussion and in any small group activities
during the session. Try to make comments and ask questions that help classmates to
understand the material better.
Some notes regarding attendance and class participation
A.
The 50 points are "earned," not just "granted," which means:
1.
Near perfect attendance is expected. You enrolled for this course at a particular time and
days of the week, and the only thing that should keep you from coming to class is an
illness (verifiable) or death in the family (also verifiable). Leaving early or arriving late due
to other appointments or other reasons is also unacceptable. Our class meeting time is
the most important aspect of the course.
2.
Participation in discussions and activities is required of all students. Try to contribute
positively to the quality of the class discussions every time. This means making
thoughtful comments as much as possible. It also means refraining from being overly
outspoken and overbearing if that is your tendency, and refraining from distracting
silliness (good jokes are welcome, though) and side chatter.
3.
I notice everyone and everything that goes on in class. I won't necessarily say anything to
you or embarrass you, but do exert good judgment and refrain from reading other
materials or working on something for another class, or falling asleep.
4.
Since class sessions are based more on discussion and activity than on lecture, the
quality of the class depends on YOU.
5. COOPERATE during class activities. Don't be a "cool jerk" and ruin the activities for everyone
else. When everyone follows the rules, the games and activities are more fun for everyone.
6. No Cell Phones! Turn them off before class begins. Ten (10) point
penalty for looking at your cell phone for any reason at all during the
class session, even when we are in transition time between the
classroom and an activity.
B. Remember it's quality not quantity that counts, all semester long (you can't just "turn it on" at the
end). Attendance is also important -- the more absences, the lower your grade.
Excused absences/make-ups/late papers
- Bring in a doctor's note or date of visit to the Health Center for medical excuses.
- Talking with me prior to an extraordinary event (e.g., working at a conference) to request being excused.
- Tragedies in the family (death or illness). These can also be verified.
- Verifiable class-related commitments (bring note from instructor in advance) or university sports team
road trips (bring note from the coach IN ADVANCE).
Sorry! Not Excused!
- Didn't feel good, but didn't go to doctor or Health Center.; Telling me about a job interview, meeting, etc.,
after the fact.; "The only time I could see my adviser."; Long-term absence for short-term illness.
- My friend died; Failure to communicate with me regarding other problems or situations. Talk to me in
private, during office hours; it can be difficult to talk right before class, especially if others are around.