This Course at MIT

This Course at MIT pages are part of the OCW Educator initiative, which seeks to enhance the value of OCW for educators.

Course Overview

This page focuses on the course ESD.801 Leadership Development as it was taught by Professor Dava Newman in Fall 2014.

This course is a required experience for first-year students in the Technology and Policy Program (TTP). It is designed to help students develop their leadership capabilities. An initial Outward Bound experience builds trust, teamwork and communication skills. Classes are held in a seminar environment and readings and assignments emphasize the characteristics of desired leadership skills. Global leaders participate in the “Leadership Lunch” story-telling series to share experiences and to provide recommendations. Discussions help explore and further probe leadership development. The learning experience culminates in a personal leadership plan.

This is a partial term course and meets on an irregular schedule during the first 11 weeks of the 15-week semester.

Course Outcomes

Course Goals for Students

  • Assess leadership characteristics in a variety of professional and social environments
  • Analyze and reflect on instances of leadership in our everyday lives
  • Articulate and communicate a personal leadership vision that is goal-oriented
  • Synthesize a personal blueprint or check-list for action (a personal leadership plan)

Possibilities for Further Study/Careers

ESD.801 prepares students for further study in the Technology and Policy Program.

 

Curriculum Information

Prerequisites

Permission of the instructor

Requirements Satisfied

Core requirement in Technology and Policy SM Program

Offered

Every fall semester

The Classroom

  • A typical classroom with rows of seats, as well as chalkboards and a projector screen at the front of the class.

    Room 1 of 1

    Lecture

    ESD.801 was taught in a traditional classroom equipped with sliding chalkboards and projectors.

 

Assessment

The students' grades were based on the following activities:

The color used on the preceding chart which represents the percentage of the total grade contributed by the third assignment. 20% Assignment 3: Elevator Speech (PDF)
The color used on the preceding chart which represents the percentage of the total grade contributed by the fourth assignment. 30% Assignment 4: Personal Leadership Plan (PDF)
The color used on the preceding chart which represents the percentage of the total grade contributed by class discussion. 20% Class discussion
 

Student Information

40 students took this course when it was offered in Fall 2014.

Breakdown by Year

Graduate students

Breakdown by Major

First year graduate students in the Technology and Policy Program.

 

How Student Time Was Spent

During an average week, students were expected to spend 8 hours on the course, roughly divided as follows:

In Class

2 hours per week
  • Met 1 time per week for 2 hours per session; 13 sessions total; mandatory attendance.
  • Students participated in discussion group sessions and Leadership Lunches, in addition to a two-day Thompson Island Outward Bound Leadership Laboratory experience.
 

Out of Class

6 hours per week
 

Semester Breakdown

WEEK M T W Th F
1 No classes throughout MIT. No classes throughout MIT. No session scheduled. No session scheduled. Lecture session scheduled.
2 No session scheduled. No session scheduled. No session scheduled. No session scheduled. No session scheduled.
3 No session scheduled. No session scheduled. No session scheduled. No session scheduled. Outward Bound session held, Friday-Saturday.
4 No session scheduled. No session scheduled. No session scheduled. No session scheduled. Class discussion scheduled.
5 No session scheduled. No session scheduled. No session scheduled. No session scheduled. Lecture session scheduled.
6 No session scheduled. Leadership lunch held. No session scheduled. No session scheduled. Class discussion scheduled; leadership lunch held.
7 No classes throughout MIT. No session scheduled. No session scheduled. No session scheduled. No session scheduled.
8 No session scheduled. No session scheduled. Leadership lunch held. Alum chat held. No session scheduled.
9 No session scheduled. No session scheduled. No session scheduled. No session scheduled. Lecture session scheduled.
10 No session scheduled. No session scheduled. No session scheduled. No session scheduled. Lecture session scheduled; leadership lunch held.
11 No classes throughout MIT. No classes throughout MIT. No session scheduled. No session scheduled. Class discussion scheduled.
12 No session scheduled. No session scheduled. No session scheduled. No session scheduled. No session scheduled.
13 No session scheduled. No session scheduled. No session scheduled. No classes throughout MIT. No classes throughout MIT.
14 No session scheduled. No session scheduled. No session scheduled. No session scheduled. No session scheduled.
15 No session scheduled. No session scheduled. No session scheduled. No classes throughout MIT. No classes throughout MIT.
16 No classes throughout MIT. No classes throughout MIT. No classes throughout MIT. No classes throughout MIT. No classes throughout MIT.
Displays the color and pattern used on the preceding table to indicate dates when classes are not held at MIT. No classes throughout MIT
Displays the color used on the preceding table to indicate dates when lecture sessions are held. Lecture session
Displays the color used on the preceding table to indicate dates when class discussions are held. Class discussion
Displays the color used on the preceding table to indicate dates when an alum chat is held. Alum chat
Displays the color used on the preceding table to indicate dates when no class session is scheduled. No class session scheduled
Displays the color used on the preceding table to indicate dates when leadership lunches are held. Leadership lunch
Displays the color used on the preceding table to indicate dates when the Outward Bound experience was held. Outward Bound experience (Friday/Saturday)
 

Course Team Roles

Students climbing a series of boards suspended by cables in an indoor exercise.

ESD.801 students participate in an Outward Bound experience to build trust, leadership, and communication skills. (Image courtesy of Alexandre Jacquillat. Used with permission.)

Lead Instructor (Prof. Dava Newman)

  • Oversees teaching of the course
  • Introduces the Sloan Leadership Model
  • Lectures on Creativity and Improvisation

Discussion Leaders (Upper-year students)

Lead small groups of students in discussing key readings and case studies

Teaching Assistant

Support the lead instructor in teaching the course

Guest Speakers (Global Leaders)

Share leadership stories and experiences during Leadership Lunches