Title:
Lessons Learned: How to Avoid the Biggest Mistakes Made by College Resident Assistants
Author: John D. Foubert
Intended Luminstruct Audience:
New Resident Assistants
Book Summary:
Lessons Learned is designed for use in training programs for newly hired resident advisors or assistants (RAs). Its uncomplicated format allows users to select from among several dozen issues of importance to a particular campus. This volume is the ideal tool for residence life professionals who are responsible for training college Resident Assistants. Over three dozen common RA mistakes are discussed, chapter by chapter, in individual letters written by experienced RAs to new staff members. Each chapter includes resources and thought-provoking questions, allowing residence life professionals to choose which material they will cover to stimulate reflection and lively dialogue. This is an easy-to-use manual for an interactive, learning-centered RA training program at any level.
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Luminstruct Review:
Lessons Learned serves as an amazing training tool for first year RAs. Covering topics ranging from tips on how to build a healthy community, to how to handle various safety and security scenarios, this book provides clear explanations in a simple and easy to read format. Each chapter serves as a stand alone story written from the viewpoint of a different RA handling a situation. This makes it easier to skip around for the reader if needed. Although all stories are written by Foubert, it is easy to be swept away by the different character personalities and the type of institution they come from. Each chapter starts with an introduction from the RA and describes who they are and what their institution/students are like, they then set the scene and describe a scenario where they didn't handle a situation well. The story then continues with "Getting some advice" from their supervisor or mentor and how they fixed the problem. The final part of each chapter summarizes the "Lessons Learned", provides "Discussion Questions", "Available Resources" (books/websites) and any "Additional Tips" on handling the given situation. Although written in 2007 (second edition written in 2013), the topics described in this book are still just as relevant today as they were a decade ago. We decided to use the first edition simply because it was cheaper for staff members to buy in bulk for an RA class or for individual RAs to purchase at a cheaper rate for themselves. Especially with the discussion questions at the end, this serves as a great resource for summer reading assignments, RA class presentations or a tool to review when creating RA training sessions. We would highly recommend this novel and would encourage Foubert to publish a "Lessons Learned" version for New Professionals and Mid-Level Staff in a similar format.
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Ratings:
Goodreads: 3.2/5
Barnes and Noble: N/A
Amazon: 4.8/5
Luminstruct: 4.5/5
Ratings Average: 4/5
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Next Month's Book:
Lessons Learned: How to Avoid the Biggest Mistakes Made by College Resident Assistants
Author: John D. Foubert
Intended Luminstruct Audience:
New Resident Assistants
Book Summary:
Lessons Learned is designed for use in training programs for newly hired resident advisors or assistants (RAs). Its uncomplicated format allows users to select from among several dozen issues of importance to a particular campus. This volume is the ideal tool for residence life professionals who are responsible for training college Resident Assistants. Over three dozen common RA mistakes are discussed, chapter by chapter, in individual letters written by experienced RAs to new staff members. Each chapter includes resources and thought-provoking questions, allowing residence life professionals to choose which material they will cover to stimulate reflection and lively dialogue. This is an easy-to-use manual for an interactive, learning-centered RA training program at any level.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Luminstruct Review:
Lessons Learned serves as an amazing training tool for first year RAs. Covering topics ranging from tips on how to build a healthy community, to how to handle various safety and security scenarios, this book provides clear explanations in a simple and easy to read format. Each chapter serves as a stand alone story written from the viewpoint of a different RA handling a situation. This makes it easier to skip around for the reader if needed. Although all stories are written by Foubert, it is easy to be swept away by the different character personalities and the type of institution they come from. Each chapter starts with an introduction from the RA and describes who they are and what their institution/students are like, they then set the scene and describe a scenario where they didn't handle a situation well. The story then continues with "Getting some advice" from their supervisor or mentor and how they fixed the problem. The final part of each chapter summarizes the "Lessons Learned", provides "Discussion Questions", "Available Resources" (books/websites) and any "Additional Tips" on handling the given situation. Although written in 2007 (second edition written in 2013), the topics described in this book are still just as relevant today as they were a decade ago. We decided to use the first edition simply because it was cheaper for staff members to buy in bulk for an RA class or for individual RAs to purchase at a cheaper rate for themselves. Especially with the discussion questions at the end, this serves as a great resource for summer reading assignments, RA class presentations or a tool to review when creating RA training sessions. We would highly recommend this novel and would encourage Foubert to publish a "Lessons Learned" version for New Professionals and Mid-Level Staff in a similar format.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ratings:
Goodreads: 3.2/5
Barnes and Noble: N/A
Amazon: 4.8/5
Luminstruct: 4.5/5
Ratings Average: 4/5
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Next Month's Book:
Title:
Radical Candor: Be a Kick-Ass Boss Without Losing Your Humanity
Author: Kim Scott
Intended Luminstruct Audience:
Mid-Level/Senior Staff
Book Summary:
Radical Candor offers a guide to those bewildered or exhausted by management, written for bosses and those who manage bosses. Taken from years of the author's experience, and distilled clearly giving actionable lessons to the reader; it shows managers how to be successful while retaining their humanity, finding meaning in their job, and creating an environment where people both love their work and their colleagues.
Radical Candor: Be a Kick-Ass Boss Without Losing Your Humanity
Author: Kim Scott
Intended Luminstruct Audience:
Mid-Level/Senior Staff
Book Summary:
Radical Candor offers a guide to those bewildered or exhausted by management, written for bosses and those who manage bosses. Taken from years of the author's experience, and distilled clearly giving actionable lessons to the reader; it shows managers how to be successful while retaining their humanity, finding meaning in their job, and creating an environment where people both love their work and their colleagues.
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