Course Description and Competencies

What to Expect

In this course, you will work through four modules of content. These modules are broken into smaller lessons. Throughout the course, you will find readings and a variety of interactive elements. These include knowledge checks, reflections, and mindfulness exercises to help deepen your understanding of the content. Engaging with these activities reinforces new learning. It also complements the knowledge you bring to this area of study. 

Prerequisites:

This is an introductory course, and there is no prerequisite.

Course Competencies

This course covers the following competencies:

  • The learner applies mindfulness to promote self-discovery.
  • The learner applies mindsets, working styles, and energy dynamics to promote academic and professional success.
  • The learner communicates effectively in both oral and written format.
  • The learner uses communication strategies to foster a supportive peer community. 

Assessment

You will demonstrate competency through one performance-based assessment. You must achieve a ranking of Competent on the assessment to pass the course.

The assessment provides an opportunity to demonstrate your mastery of the competencies in this course. You may attempt the assessment two times before additional support is necessary. If you require further attempts, please contact your Student Experience Team.

1 performance assessment
2 Competency Units

Course Outline

ModuleUpon completion of this module, you will be able to:
Apply Mindfulness
  • Examine personal strengths and talents that will support your academic success.
  • Examine potential areas of personal growth that can be achieved while you are in school.
  • Examine potential obstacles and challenges to your academic success.
  • Explain how the brain learns, stores, and retrieves new information.
  • Identify strategies for maximizing learning potential, and examine times when you experienced a bioreaction. 
Mindsets, Styles, and Dynamics
  • Examine reasons for attending college and your decision to attend school using the success/satisfaction cycle.
  • Compare your perspectives on education and past learning opportunities against your ideal educational experience.
  • Identify the strengths and challenges of various working styles, and which working style you identify with most.
  • Explain the five energy dynamics and their connection to working styles.
  • Determine which energy dynamic you identify with most. 
Communicate Effectively
  • Explain how conversations with others can follow the cycle of waste or the cycle of value, and how you might contribute to a cycle of value in your communications with others.
  • Identify behaviors and language that create trust and distrust.
  • Explain the laws of conversation.
  • Explain how Maslow’s hierarchy of needs should inform communication with others.
  • Examine an emotional event in your life, and explain how you can account for both your emotions and the emotions of others while communicating.
Communication Strategies
  • Explain how the different levels on the ladder of listening relate to conversations with others.
  • Identify patterns of ineffective listening in conversations and different levels of engagement in conversations.
  • Describe ways to engage productively in communications and identify effective communication skills and behaviors of leaders.
  • Determine your personal level of communication courage and competence.
  • Explain the role of strategic planning in achieving the future you desire, and determine possible consequences to following a specific plan.

Key Contacts

Certificate Connect
Check out this online community to take advantage of course resources, including videos and tips from your educators. You can ask and answer questions, provide feedback on your progress, and interact with fellow students. You will find this platform in the Student Resources section of the course. Log on and do some exploring!

Tutor.com
If you need academic support, don’t hesitate to contact Tutor.com. There, you have access to thousands of tutors. And they are available 24/7 from any internet-ready device. You can also benefit from instructional videos, study tools, and other assistance. 

Technical Support
If you encounter technical issues, be sure to contact the Help Desk. Just submit a Support Request for assistance.

Program Support
Do you have questions about your account? Student Support has answers. They can help with billing, switching courses, and other requests. You can contact them at (888) 320-0540 or support@academy.wgu.edu.

Accommodations

WGU provides compliant and accessible learning experiences. If you require accommodation, please contact us at the start of the course. You can email disability@academy.wgu.edu.

We are committed to ensuring that all students with disabilities have equal access to WGU's services and materials. We strive to use best practices for accessibility. Our goal is to conform to existing U.S. laws, including the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 and Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act.

Our learning management system (LMS) platform is Open edX. Open edX’s commitment to accessible content is published in their Website Accessibility Policy.