1 / 11

Three Rocks & a Well-Worn Keyboard: Gaining Competencies in the NIU MPA Program

Three Rocks & a Well-Worn Keyboard: Gaining Competencies in the NIU MPA Program Dr. Kurt Thurmaier Professor and Director Northern Illinois University Division of Public Administration. Three Rocks for a Successful MPA. Theory AND Practice Work Experience IS a Classroom

Download Presentation

Three Rocks & a Well-Worn Keyboard: Gaining Competencies in the NIU MPA Program

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript


  1. Three Rocks & a Well-Worn Keyboard: Gaining Competencies in the NIU MPA Program Dr. Kurt Thurmaier Professor and Director Northern Illinois University Division of Public Administration

  2. Three Rocks for a Successful MPA • Theory AND Practice • Work Experience IS a Classroom • Take Time to Invest in Yourself

  3. Theory AND Practice • The Portfolio Approach • Build a collection of achievements • Self-assessment at beginning and end of MPA • Competencies-based Curriculum • Collaboration is a Key Competency • Writing is a Key Competency

  4. Writing in the NIU MPA Program • One of the most important value-added competencies of the MPA degree at NIU. • Still most effective form of communications • Still most highly prized competency of employers

  5. Writing in the NIU MPA Program • Difficult to write for different audiences • Efficiency of writing top value of decisionmakers • Read/Write, Listen/Speak • Look at memos, professional articles (PM), scholarly journals • Mimic the styles • Just in time writing is often poor quality • Need gel time • Need proofing time

  6. NIU MPA Writing Framework • Chicago Manual of Style, 2007, for all courses. In bookstores under PSPA 699 • Perfection is NOT a weakness! • Every blemish, every sloppiness, each degrades the integrity of YOUR work.

  7. Multiple Types of Writing • Short Memos • Case Papers • Term Papers • Capstone Paper Follow the format guidelines in the course syllabus Good practice for grant applications. Different writing than other papers

  8. Writing Resources • The MPA Website: Current Students • The NIU Writing Center • Free NIU or online citation software (such as RefWorks) for citations/bibliographies • USE THEM!

  9. Work Experience IS a Classroom • A 2 Year Internship Program • Mid-career Enhancement • Our capstone program • Theory AND Practice • Systems view of problems • Recommend practical solutions • Teach the professor something • Writing is different than for most course papers

  10. Take Time to Invest in Yourself • Writing Takes Time • Thinking is Hard Work…It Takes Time • Reflection Time is Essential

  11. Summary • Learn how to balance practice and theory. On the job and in the classroom. Your internship or your job is not a viable learning experience without classroom learning—especially reading the assignments. • Make sure you use your internship and job experience as a classroom. Find a mentor—we can help. Reflect on how the theories you learn in the classroom can help you do a better job. • Take time for yourself. Protect thinking time. Exercise regularly to stay healthy.

More Related