Title: P1246990956IonCq
1They Cant Win If You Dont Play Why Undecided
Students Need Advisors Who Gamble
David Spight Vonya Baldridge Academic
Advisor Academic Advisor Transitional Advising
Center The College of Natural Sciences The
University of Texas at Austin
2005 NACADA National Conference Concurrent
Session/113
2OUR PHILOSOPHYWe Believe
- Advising Undecided Students is not just about
helping students to choose a major or a career - All students need some level of major/career
advising - No two students are exactly alike
- Gambling(on your advisees) can be a good
addiction to have
3The Game of MACAO
- MACAO stands for
-
- Maximizing
- ACademic
- Advising
- Outcomes
4OBJECT OF MACAO
- Be the academic advisor willing to gamble the
most on your undecided students
5SETTING-UP THE GAME Terminology
- The Undecided Student-a student who is uncertain
about educational and/or vocational choices
enroll in college without a chosen major - For the purpose of playing MACAO, advisors may
use their own house rules and terminology, i.e.
undeclared, open-option, exploratory, deciding,
etc
6SETTING-UP MACAO Equipment Resources
- One MACAO Advising Die
- 1 Answer Pad per player or team
- Relevant Literature, Theories, and Models
- General Resources
- Institutional Resources
- Personal Resources
7SETTING-UP MACAO Resources
- Relevant Literature, Theories, and Models
- Sanford (1967) Challenge and Support
8SETTING-UP MACAO Resources
- Relevant Literature, Theories, and Models
- Gordon (1992) Model for Exploration
- Self-Knowledge
- Educational Knowledge
- Occupational Knowledge
- Decision-Making Knowledge
9SETTING-UP MACAO Resources
- Relevant Literature, Theories, and Models
- Student Development and Career Development
Theories
10SETTING-UP MACAO Resources
- General
- Self Exploration Activities
- Educational Exploration Activities
- Occupational Exploration Activities
- Decision-Making Exploration Activities
11SETTING-UP MACAO Resources
- Institutional
- Tests and Assessments
- Career Centers
- Faculty and Staff
- Catalogs, Bulletins, Online resources
- Advising Associations (ex ACA _at_UT)
- Alumni Associations (ex Texas Exes Career
Network) - Workshops and Informational Sessions
- Student Organizations
- Others?
12SETTING-UP MACAO Resources
- Personal
- Your Own Experience
- Experiences of other advisors
- Basic Skills (communication)
- Other?
13CAUTION Advisor Myths!!!
- Advisor Myth 1
- Exploration is just a matter of developing the
vocational maturity of the student.
14CAUTION Advisor Myths!!!
- Advisor Myths 2 and 3
- Undecided students should choose a career first,
then find an appropriate major, so Ill send them
to the campus career center first. - OR
- Undecided students should choose a major first,
then find an appropriate career choice.
15CAUTION Advisor Myths!!!
- Advisor Myth 4
- Undecided Students should complete an assessment
to determine what career or major to pursue.
16CAUTION Advisor Myths!!!
- Advisor Myth 5
- After just taking a couple of courses to explore
majors, an undecided student should be able to
choose a major.
17CAUTION Advisor Myths!!!
- Advisor Myth 6
- All undecided students are indecisive.
18CAUTION Advisor Myths!!!
- Advisor Myth 7
- The objective of the exploration process is
simply the eventual choice of a major and/or a
career.
19HOW TO PLAY MACAO Rules
- MACAO can be played in three possible versions
- by one advisor (Solitaire),
- with 2 or more advisors (Group Play), OR
- with one advisor and one or more advisees
-
- All three versions are played in rounds.
During each round, advisors follow the steps
listed below. Games may consist of one or more
rounds, as desired, or as necessary.
20HOW TO PLAY MACAO Rules
- ADVISOR SOLITAIRE/GROUP PLAY (for each round)
- Step 1 Review student record, or fictional
student scenario - Step 2 Roll MACAO Advising Die
- Step 3 Using your answer pad, write as many
questions as you can come up with, to ask the
actual or fictional student, beginning with the
question word shown on top face of die - Note For Quick Play, limit each round using a
timer.
21HOW TO PLAY MACAO Rules
- ADVISOR/ADVISEE PLAY (for each round played)
- Step 1 Review student record(s) prior to, and
during individual appointment/group advising
session - Step 2 Roll MACAO Advising Die
- Step 3 Using your answer pad, or other blank
paper, write one of more question, to ask the
student(s) beginning with the question word
shown on top face of die - Note Quick Play may be necessary, as rounds may
be limited by large advising loads, so be wary of
time.
22WINNING THE GAME OF MACAO
- For the purpose of todays session, the team with
the most questions wins a special prize, but - The actual winners of the game of MACAO are the
students whose advisors roll the - dice and gamble on them
23LETS PLAY!!!
24Any Questions?