Department of Recreation & Leisure Studies
San Jose State University
Instructor: Suzy Ross, MS, CTRS
Office Location: SPXC #52
Telephone Number: 408-924-3007
Email: sross@casa.sjsu.edu
Office Hours: Mon & Wed: 8-10am
RECL 94: DYNAMICS OF OUTDOOR RECREATION
Wednesdays 2:30 - 5:15 pm
PREREQUISITES: none.
CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION: The complex interactions of social, economic, and
biological factors involved in recreation use of natural resources; public forests, parks, and
refuges. The principles of administering outdoor recreation resources, public and private.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: The student will learn:
I.
II.
III.
IV.
V.
VI.
Principles and practices essential to implement sound and effective management of
outdoor recreation/park resources including legal concepts, public relations and
promotion.
The scope of the leisure field and the type of outdoor facilities to be managed.
The characteristics of outdoor recreation users, including those with special needs
and disabilities.
An understanding of the philosophical differences between agencies that provide
outdoor recreation experiences, both public and private.
The impacts of leisure behavior and outdoor recreation on natural environment.
Sustainable development and its effects on outdoor recreation services and facility
design.
COURSE LEARNING MATERIALS:
Required:
Cordes, K.A., Ibrahim, H., 2002. Outdoor Recreation: Enrichment for a lifetime, 2nd
Edition. Sagamore Publishing, Il.
Field Trip Experiential Learning: All students are required to learn experientially. This
will require course fees ranging from $100-120 for the entire semester.
Recommended:
-Cordell, K. H. (2004). Outdoor Recreation for 21st Century America: A report to the
nation, the national survey on recreation and the environment. Venture Publishing, PA.
-Gartner, W.C., Lime, D.W. (2000). Trends in outdoor recreation, leisure and tourism.
CABI publishing.
LIBRARY LIASON
Rebecca Feind, Reference Librarian and Outreach Coordinator,
Rebecca.Feind@sjsu.edu, 408.808.2007
King Library Office 4020
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Instructor Book Loan Policy:
You may borrow books from the instructor's library overnight. All books must be
returned by the agreed upon date and the student phone/email will be entered into a
confidential database for the instructor. The student will pay for all lost/unreturned or
damaged books. Upon return of the book(s), the instructor will delete all personal
information in the database.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
A. THE FACE OF OUTDOOR RECREATION:
1. CURRENT OUTDOOR RECREATION ACTIVITY TRENDS:
i. Popular Media - Newspaper/Magazine article: Each student will find,
read and know the basic content of a media article that depicts current
OR trends. Be able to share it with competence to the group.
2. ACADEMIC ARTICLE: Each student will choose one academic article related
to the Outdoor Recreation Field and present it to the class in an informal
presentation. Hand in a typed bulleted outline of factual information.
3. CURRENT RECREATION BUSINESS/PROGRAMS: Each student will
investigate two outdoor recreation programs.
Assignment Purpose:
To understand as much information as possible about the enterprise or
program to the degree that you could begin the process of:
a. Replicating the program in your current job
b. Being able to determine how you would go about creating such a
business YOURSELF.
c. Demonstrate applied text knowledge
d. Knowing enough detail that you could prepare yourself now, to have
the skills to be an intern with this agency.
B. FIELD EXPERIENCES AND INTEGRATION OF LEARNING:
1. Group Field Experiences:
All students will be required to experientially learn via a minimum of 4 field
excursions that will allow for hands on learning. Students will be required to be
present during the entire field excursion unless verified through the instructor.
Students will be required to take notes during and after the excursion. You will be
given a detailed outline of the areas that are required in the "Reflective Learning
Paper". Reflective Learning will be handed in on the stated date following EACH
excursion as determined in class.
At the end of the semester at the date specified in class each student will write a final
reflection writing/drawing that concludes and brings closure to their experiences
during the semester. Below is an approximation of the type of information that will
be included in the writing:
a. Basic informational data regarding the excursion (logistical information)
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b. Personal reflection of feelings, thoughts, ideas and life experience during the
experience, immediately after, and one week following the excursion.
c. Personal observation of group experience regarding the excursion.
d. Personal observation of any leadership, management philosophies, practices
and ethics.
e. Identified major lessons personally and academically.
f. SUMMARY – What are your conclusion thoughts/lessons?
If students are unable to attend a group outdoor recreation experiential learning
session, you MUST schedule a meeting with the instructor immediately to determine
the possibility of an independent learning session(s).
D. WRITTEN HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS:
Each student will read the assigned readings and follow the learning objectives/goals.
Students will demonstrate critical thought and analysis in response to the reading as well as
provide personal insight or learning as requested. Students will outline the following:
1. Read the required chapter/article.
2. Identify and write: 3 conceptual points of data critical to the subject.
3. Identify and write: 3 words that are critical to comprehending what the author
was trying to relay in this Chapter/article. Explain why.
4. What do you have to say now that you have read this chapter?
5. Think critically, and write a provocative question. What question could you ask,
based upon why you read, that might stimulate conversation?
E.
EXAMINATION OF KNOWLEDGE:
One (1) Final Examination will assess your understanding of assigned readings and
information presented/experienced in class. Format to be determined.
ASSIGNMENT POLICIES:
Student Responsibility:
Class participation and assigned readings are important. Students will be prepared to discuss
class topics from the readings. If you are unable to attend class, please make certain that
you contact the instructor, either by phone or through a classmate. Students who arrive to
class after attendance is taken are responsible to notify the instructor at the end of class to
update the record. Students are responsible for any class work missed including handouts.
Due Dates:
Assignments are due at the beginning of class. Class assignments accepted after the
assigned due date will be marked down as follows: (MD note required for waiver)
One day late:
10%
Two days late:
25%
Three days late:
50%
Not accepted
A day is considered a calendar day, not a school day or when class meets. Assignments not
handed directly to the instructor must be stamped with date received and placed in
instructor's mailbox in the department office. Negotiation of alternate due dates will be
considered on an individual basis and must occur no less than two weeks prior to the
assigned due date.
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Writing Competency:
In all of the assignments that will be submitted to the instructor, the student's' ability to
effectively communicate using writing skills is very important. The instructor will evaluate
the efforts of each student not only for the content presented but also for spelling, grammar,
punctuation, neatness and organization of thought. All homework must be typed and is
expected to be scholarly work. You may be asked to resubmit a paper of inadequate quality.
Grading is based upon meeting minimum content requirements stated prior to assignment
and in this syllabus.
ASSESSMENT OF LEARNING: EVALUATION AND GRADING
Grading Rubic: In general the following criteria/philosophy will be used to grade student work.
Grade
A
B
C
D
F
Criteria/Philosophy
Excellent, scholarly, perfect grammar, APA or MLA format, original, creative ideas and delivery,
impressive, exceeds requirements
Very good scholarly work perfects requirement, creative, thought provoking, grammar is solid.
Met requirement could improve in grammar, depth, consistency, and originality of thought.
Needs attention to required content, grammar, content, sentence structure and syntax, and assignment
objectives. Talk to instructor about improving.
Failed to meet assignment requirements. Talk to instructor about improving.
Course Content and Assigned Point Value:
Percent
Assignment
Total Possible Points
2%
Media Article
5
4%
Academic Article
10
6%
Homework
110
10%
Recreation Business Analysis
20
60%
Field Experience Reflection Papers
80
30%
Group Field Learning Experiences
80
12%
Final Exam
45
_______________________________________________________________
100%
Total Points
250
Extra Credit: Go to an REI slide presentation in February and write a brief one-page
summary of your experience and learning. (See in-class overhead and email)
Grade Scale: Letter grades will correspond to the following percentage scale of values.
A+ = 96.5-100%
A = 92.5-96.4%
A- = 89.5-92.4%
B+ = 86.5-89.4%
B = 82.5-86.4%
B- = 79.5-82.4%
C+ = 76.5-79.4%
C = 72.5-76.4%
C- = 69.5-72.4%
D+ = 66.5-69.4%
D = 62.5-66.4%
D- = 59.5-62.4%
F Less than 59.5%
STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES CLAUSE:
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Students who need accommodation due to a disability must register with
SJSU's Disability Resource Center (DRC). The Center will work with the
student to determine the disability, document it, and determine the
services and accommodations necessary for student success. The DRC
will contact the instructor to determine the types of consideration
necessary. Students must register with the Center during the first three
weeks of the semester.
UNIVERSITY, COLLEGE, OR DEPARTMENT POLICY INFORMATION:
a) Academic integrity statement (from Office of Judicial Affairs):
“Your own commitment to learning, as evidenced by your enrollment at
San José State University and the University’s Academic Integrity
Policy requires you to be honest in all your academic course work.
Faculty are required to report all infractions to the Office of Judicial Affairs.
The policy on academic integrity can be found at http://www2.sjsu.edu/senate/S04-12.pdf
b) Campus policy in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act:
“If you need course adaptations or accommodations because of a
disability, or if you need special arrangements in case the building
must be evacuated, please make an appointment with me as soon as
possible, or see me during office hours. Presidential Directive 97-03
requires that students with disabilities register with DRC to establish a
record of their disability.”
COLLEGE OF BUSINESS POLICIES AND PROCEDURES:
Please check the url at http://www.cob.sjsu.edu/cob/5_STUDENT%20SERVICES/cobpolicy.htm
To ensure that every student, current and future, who takes courses in the Boccardo Business Center, has
the opportunity to experience an environment that is safe, attractive, and otherwise conducive to learning,
the College of Business at San José State has established the following policies:
Eating:
Eating and drinking (except water) are prohibited in the Boccardo Business Center. Students with food will
be asked to leave the building. Students who disrupt the course by eating and do not leave the building will
be referred to the Judicial Affairs Officer of the University.
Cell Phones:
Students will turn their cell phones off or put them on vibrate mode while in class. They will not answer
their phones in class. Students whose phones disrupt the course and do not stop when requested by the
instructor will be referred to the Judicial Affairs Officer of the University.
Computer Use:
In the classroom, faculty allow students to use computers only for class-related activities. These include
activities such as taking notes on the lecture underway, following the lecture on Web-based PowerPoint
slides that the instructor has posted, and finding Web sites to which the instructor directs students at the
time of the lecture. Students who use their computers for other activities or who abuse the equipment in
any way, at a minimum, will be asked to leave the class and will lose participation points for the day, and,
at a maximum, will be referred to the Judicial Affairs Officer of the University for disrupting the course.
(Such referral can lead to suspension from the University.) Students are urged to report to their instructors
computer use that they regard as inappropriate (i.e., used for activities that are not class related).
Academic Honesty:
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Faculty will make every reasonable effort to foster honest academic conduct in their courses. They will
secure examinations and their answers so that students cannot have prior access to them and proctor
examinations to prevent students from copying or exchanging information. They will be on the alert for
plagiarism. Faculty will provide additional information, ideally on the green sheet, about other
unacceptable procedures in class work and examinations. Students who are caught cheating will be
reported to the Judicial Affairs Officer of the University, as prescribed by Academic Senate Policy S04-12.
APPENDIX:
• In addition to my specifically posted office hours, I am available on Tuesdays by arrangement.
• You are responsible for understanding the policies and procedures about add/drops, academic renewal,
withdrawal, etc. found at http://www2.sjsu.edu/senate/S04-12.pdf
• Expectations about classroom behavior; see Academic Senate Policy S90-5 on Student Rights and
Responsibilities.
• As appropriate to your particular class, a definition of plagiarism, such as that found on Judicial Affairs
website at http://www2.sjsu.edu/senate/plagarismpolicies.htm
• If you would like to include in your paper any material you have submitted, or plan to submit, for another
class, please note that SJSU’s Academic Integrity policy S04-12 requires approval by instructors.
•
• Please follow SJSU evacuation plan if there is any disaster.
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