STUDENT

DEVELOPMENT
101
Northeastern Illinois University Orientation Leader Training
2016
F. Tyler McLoughlin
Graduate Student Intern- New Student and Transition Programs
LEARNING OUTCOMES
What is the purpose of higher education?
Learn the 3 developmental domains.
Learn difference between change, growth and development.
What are formal theories and informal theories?
Baxter Magolda and Self Authorship in relation to Orientation.
Recap of Multiple Dimensions of Identity.
Mike Posner Music Video Be As You Are
 WHAT IS THE GOAL OF
HIGHER ED?
Higher education has a responsibility to help young
adults transition from being shaped by society to
shaping society in their role as leaders in societys
future (Magolda, 1999, p. 630)
How do we do this?
Academia Knowledge
Developing students as a whole person
 THE GOAL OF HIGHER ED
CONTD
What does the whole person look like?
Biological Bodies are in continuous growth.
Cognitively How we actively think through situations.
Psychosocially The development of personality and
social skills, how we interact within this environment.

How has NEIU developed you as a whole person within

these domains?
 IMPORTANT CONCEPTS
Student Development Defined The organization of
increasing complexity. (Sanford, 1997, p. 47)
E.g., Being able to construct identity as intersectional

Change altered condition that may be positive or

negative. (Evans, Forney, Guido, Patton, Renn, 2010, p. 6)
E.g., Stop smoking because it is bad or start smoking because it is cool.

Growth refers to expansion which may be favorable or

unfavorable (Evans et al., 2010, p. 6).
A tree can grow 5 inches, we can physically measure it.
The process, the HOW and the WHY is development.
TYPES OF THEORIES WE USE
Formal Theories Theoretical concepts constructed within
research.
E.g., Piaget cognitive development theory

Informal Theories Our lived experiences, previous

standpoints or body of common knowledge.
E.g., Tyler RA example

Can any of my returners share an informal theory in

relation to orientation?
THEORIES RELATED TO
ORIENTATION
Theory 1: Baxter Magolda and the theory of Self-Authorship
Defined: Magolda (2008) defined self authorship as the
internal capacity to define ones beliefs, identity and social
relations
THE JOURNEY TOWARDS
SELF AUTHORSHIP
The idea simplified:
How do I know?
Who am I?
How do I want to construct relationships with
others?
4 Phases
 PHASE 1 - FOLLOWING
FORMULAS
In this first phase, young adults follow the plans laid out for
them by external authorities about what they should think and
know ( Evans et al., 2010, p. 184).

In this phase, students are most likely to:

Rely on external authorities for approval.
Society
Adults
Peers
Gaining approval of others is critical
How can we relate this phase to orientation?
 PHASE 2: CROSSROADS
In the second phase students discover that the plans
they have followed do not necessarily work well and
they needs to establish new plans that better suit
their needs and interest (Evans et al., 2010, p. 185).

In this phase students are most likely to:

Realize that the plan laid out by others is not necessarily in their best
interest.
They want to create their own sense of self.

What type of incoming students might be in this phase?

PHASE 3: BECOMING THE
AUTHOR OF ONES LIFE
In this phase, students have the ability to choose their beliefs
and stand up for them in the face of conflicting external
viewpoints (Magolda, 1998b, 2001).

In this phase students are most likely to:

Start to question their authority.
Renegotiate their needs and wants.
Carefully integrate relationship commitments.

Tylers freshman year example.

 PHASE 4: INTERNAL
FOUNDATION
In this last phase, students solidify a comprehensive system
of belief (Magolda, 2001, p. 155).

In this phase students are more likely to:

Realize beliefs are fluid and can change.
Life decisions are based on their foundation.
External influences are not greatly affected within their foundation.
For some individuals, this leads to new directions in their careers; for
others changes are made in their personal lives.

What type of incoming student may be within this stage?

WHAT STAGE ARE YOU IN?
Do any of these stages resonate with you? How so?
Can you provide an example of a time where you
believe you experiencing a specific stage?
How can we use these stages to better understand
our students?
Knowing the stages, how do you believe you could
use this in our work as the Orientation Team?
MULTIPLE DIMENSIONS OF
IDENTITY
IMPORTANT TAKE AWAYS
Environment plays an ENORMOUS role in
ones identity development and portrayal.
All students think different and make
meaning different.
Theory is NOT something to categorize
people.
Theory is to help US better serve our
students.
 MIKE POSNER- BE AS YOU
ARE
There are moments where you fall to the
ground
But you are stronger then you feel you are
now
Everybody plays the fool sometime

Music Video