BUS216 Completing Week 5 into the Spring 2017 Semester

BUS216 Group Discussion Session

This new business course that I am teaching this semester is already into the sixth week. The students have had completed five quizzes, two major component of the course, and the other group project assignment just started. The first few weeks was tough for most of the students but they slowly got adjusted with the pace of work in the class. I have scheduled the weekly lessons in such a way that they are equally spread out in the full thirteen weeks.

Team Discussion

With this new business course, my work load seems to be much more as I also provided out of class support during my office hours. I have been filling up with appointments during the past few weeks in my office hours. Normally, I will be busier during midterms and final exams or around those times. A part from my business students, I have another group of students that will seek my support with their extra curricular activities.

FIC Spring 2017 Universal Case Competition

One of the Participating Teams

The first rounds of the Universal Case Competitions concluded today with thirteen teams taking part viewing for the the eight spots available in the final rounds. We have extended invitations to six FIC alumnus to participate as coaches as well. All the coaches were assigned to two teams each and each coach will recommend one of their charges to proceed to the final rounds. The organizing committee will pick the other two teams to join the six coaches' choice in the finals.

Leonid from Kazakhstan

This semester's competition saw an increase in participating teams, comparing to the same semester last year. We initially planned the first rounds over three consecutive days of competition but the snowstorm that hit the campus caused the campus authorities to shut down the campus for half a day from noon on Wednesday. So, that day of competition had to be postponed. Quickly, the organizing committee combined the teams presenting on Wednesday to Thursday.

Felix from China

The first round case topic for this semester was "Discovering Alternative Energy Source for The Future Consumption of a Over Populated World". Just like in the previous semesters' competition, the participants stepped up to the occasion. Some of the teams' presentation quality was really beyond that of first year university students. With the first round concluded, the finalist teams will receive a new topic and have one week to prepare for the final rounds.

Snow Day Campus Closure

At the Start of the Snowstorm

We have been hit by a snowstorm so bad that causes the SFU authorities to close the campus from 2.30pm onwards. The road conditions were bad enough to cause the campus closure. Even the buses stopped operating and many students were stranded on the campus. The bus service may operate again at a later time depending on road conditions. I was still in class when instructed to allow students to go home before getting stranded.

An hour later in the Snowstorm

The only other time the SFU campus was closed was during last semester's exam period. Also due to bad road conditions from snowstorm. This winter season has seen the most campus closure in a very long time. Bad road conditions are not seen only on the Burnaby mountain but in many parts of British Columbia's lower mainland. Even the SFU Surrey campus was closed due to bad road conditions.

Spring 2017 Progressing Well

Individual Presentation

The Spring 2017 semester is progressing well into the fourth week of classes. I am teaching the newly introduced BUS216 Essentials of Business Communication course this semester. In the BUS216 course, we are already in the second quarter of the course with individual presentations just started last week, and at the final phase of executive summary, a business writing component in the course. Students in the BUS216 course have also been introduced to their respective teams in preparation for the team project.

Team Discussion

As for the FIC Instructor Mentorship Program, I have been assigned with thirty three students this semester which I have yet to meet them all. But, last week I had the opportunity to meet with some of the students that have accepted my invitation to meet up during my office hours. This mentorship program help students to discover alternative plans to accomplish their career goals and aspirations. The program presents a unique opportunity for the students to tap on the experiences and expertise of the different instructor mentors.

Team Project

I have also conducted the first two of the Moodle Learning Session for Instructors. And in between the Mentorship Program, Moodle Learning Sessions, and my assigned sections, the UCC Case Competition is progressing well into the third stage. On top of all these, I am involved with the Royal Canadian Air Cadet League of Canada, in their Effective Speaking Program as a volunteer facilitator. This program has just started about two weeks ago.

Presentation Skills Workshop for the Spring 2017 UCC Participating Teams

Prof. Daryl Fuller

The FIC Spring 2017 Universal Case Competition is progressing well into the second stage which is the Presentation Skills workshop. The organizing committee has invited a faculty member of the college to share his experience and expertise on the subject. Prof. Daryl Fuller is an accomplished speaker having taught pre-university and first year university courses for the past several years with Fraser International College.

Giving Instructions to Participants

Among the topics shared were the effective uses of presentation slides, verbal and non-verbal presentation skills. Right after the presentation skills workshop, the participating teams were introduced to their respective coaches. While they were discussing about goals and strategies, the teams were furnished with more detailed instructions on the competition rules, responsibilities of team members and coaches, dates and times of competition, and competition procedures.

A Participating Team

The organizing committee also took the opportunity to thank Prof. Daryl Fuller for his support of the Spring 2017 UCC Case Competition. With the conclusion of today's workshop, the Spring 2017 UCC Case Competition officially starts with twelve participating teams with six coaches competing for eight final round spots. Each team has one week to prepare for their first round presentation in the first week of next month.

FIC Spring 2017 Universal Case Competition Information Session

UCC Information Session

An information session for the Universal Case Competition was held for the participants to learn about the benefits of participating in the case competition and also to organize them into teams if they have done so yet. Approximately forty students attended the information session which was managed and presented by the Spring UCC organizing committee and their volunteers. Just like in previous semesters, this semester's Information Session has attracted a good number of participants and volunteers.

Spring 2017 UCC Participants

After the presentation, the organizers briefly went through the dates, times and regulations for the case competition again, as well as organizing the participants into teams of three. One very significant different with the participants from the previous semesters was that the students this semester signed up to participate as individuals. We only have recorded two complete teams on the sign up list. Therefore, more time were required to organized them into teams.

At the end of the information session, we managed to commit thirteen teams to participate which is an improvement of five teams in comparison to Spring semester of last year. With the information session and the grouping done, the organizing committee will start to plan for judges, coaches, invitations, case study topics and the next presentation skills workshop which is just a week from today. This one week a head until next, is an excellent opportunity for participants to get to know each other and start planning strategies.

FIC International Students MIC Night

Spring 2017 FIC Mic Night

Students from the various FIC student support organization celebrated the Spring 2017 semester MIC Night in the Atrium of Discovery 1. The even was full of colors and music. There were dances, music playing, and singing from the different participants. This is one of the events that kicks off the new semester. Also, allows the students time to relax, have some fun and make friends before the datelines, assignments, exams and presentations set in.

Student Rendering a Popular Song

I was in attendance and stayed through the whole event. The crowd were well behave and very orderly, better that I had expected. There were approximately fifty international students present. The performance were entertaining and what I enjoyed most was watching the students getting out of their comfort zones. Doing things they normally would not do or not have a chance to express themselves in a positive and open way. Good work for the organizers.