University Presentation Showcase: Graduate Division
Training Recreation Program Leaders in a Digital Age
Presenter Hometown
Lexington, KY
Major
Recreation and Park Administration
Department
Recreation and Park Administration
Degree
Graduate
Mentor
Dr. Jon C. McChesney
Mentor Department
Recreation and Park Administration
Recommended Citation
Jackson, Nicholas C. and Minerich, Ethan, "Training Recreation Program Leaders in a Digital Age" (2021). University Presentation Showcase Event. 22.
https://encompass.eku.edu/swps/2021/graduate/22
Abstract
Technology is playing a greater role in every occupational field. Likewise, virtual avenues for education and training are becoming more commonplace. Recreation programming leaders are no exception. As meetings go virtual, PowerPoint-style modules replace lectures, and other technological augmentations become integrated into traditional teaching methods, the programming leader is confronted with a paradox. Leadership in recreation programs is akin to social work and often operates in the arena of high touch vocations. How can leaders gain the necessary skills and experience to produce quality results to recreationists and consumers in a traditionally intimate setting? We often see cell phones, GPS devices, even virtual reality devices used in some way, as people are growing ever more dependent on mobile technology. There are estimated over 5.2 billion people in the world who use a mobile phone (Digital Around the World, 2021). One would be hard-pressed to find someone who was taking a guided hike, a historical tour, or even playing an outdoor sport, without their cell phone. Technological advancements can often make valuable connections for the impaired, non-fluent, or remote. The intention of this review is to identify the best technological strategies to train recreational program leaders and make recommendations for achieving quality outcomes regarding the more thoughtful and humane elements of the recreational experience.
Presentation format
Poster
Training Recreation Program Leaders in a Digital Age
Technology is playing a greater role in every occupational field. Likewise, virtual avenues for education and training are becoming more commonplace. Recreation programming leaders are no exception. As meetings go virtual, PowerPoint-style modules replace lectures, and other technological augmentations become integrated into traditional teaching methods, the programming leader is confronted with a paradox. Leadership in recreation programs is akin to social work and often operates in the arena of high touch vocations. How can leaders gain the necessary skills and experience to produce quality results to recreationists and consumers in a traditionally intimate setting? We often see cell phones, GPS devices, even virtual reality devices used in some way, as people are growing ever more dependent on mobile technology. There are estimated over 5.2 billion people in the world who use a mobile phone (Digital Around the World, 2021). One would be hard-pressed to find someone who was taking a guided hike, a historical tour, or even playing an outdoor sport, without their cell phone. Technological advancements can often make valuable connections for the impaired, non-fluent, or remote. The intention of this review is to identify the best technological strategies to train recreational program leaders and make recommendations for achieving quality outcomes regarding the more thoughtful and humane elements of the recreational experience.
