Watson Lab Syllabus

Course Overview

The Watson Lab is the space in which Scholars pilot, prototype and scale ideas. In the Lab,
Scholars are connected to world-class mentors, partners, and funders and receive personalized
coaching with support from the Preceptors and Master Course teachers. The Lab experience is
tailored to each scholar. Students design their own project, idea, or venture and use the Lab as
the grounds to apply the knowledge and skills they are practicing in the context of a real-world
project.
Each scholar will design their Lab experience based on their specific venture, organization,
campaign, etc. Scholars have the opportunity, if desired, to use part of the lab time to work at
relevant apprenticeships, internships, and/or consulting work that aids in their personal,
professional, or project development.
Finally, each student will receive mentorship and complete reflection exercises led by the
Watson Preceptor. The structure of the mentorship and reflection exercises serves to enrich and
maximize learning and is based on methodologies that are on the forefront of experiential
education.
Schedule: Tues, Wed, Fri, Sat 9-6pm (individual schedule may vary, but each student will
devote approximately 30-40 hours per week to their Lab time)
30-40 hours per week, 8-12 CR


Core Learning Outcomes:
1. Learn through real world experience how to better create, launch, or scale projects and ventures.
2. Utilize and put into action the frameworks of Transformative Action and Transformative Entrepreneurship.
3. Decide when and how to partner with others (employees, boards, funders, partnerships, etc.) and
use management tools for maintaining healthy relationships
4. Manage your time and that of your teams more efficiently to produce better results.
5. Ideate, collaborate, prototype, and test ideas or assumptions in relation to the scholars personal
project.
6. Reflect regularly on the process of applying learned skills to real-world situations and evaluate
success in ability to do so.
Assessment
The four assessment tools below will be used to assess each students Lab experience:
1. Time commitment: Students will spend 30-40 total hours per week engaged in their lab
experience. Of the total, approximately 25 hours per week will be the creation and
implementation of a students venture, campaign, organization, etc. Approximately five hours
per week will be reflection time which is composed of guided reflection by the Preceptor
combined with personal reflection through exercises such as journaling. The mentorship and
reflection methodology is informed by the theories on the forefront of what comprises effective
experiential education. Students receive an A-F grade, awarded by the Preceptor.
3. Goals: Preceptor and scholars together will set ambitious yet achievable goals for progress to
be made by the student in his or her Lab experience. Goals have the ability to change and evolve
throughout the semester. At the end of the semester, the Preceptor will determine the extent to
which the student achieved those jointly-set goals. Scholars will receive an A-F grade, awarded
by the Preceptor, based on the extent to which they set and achieved their goals.
4. Participation: Students will be assessed by the professor based on the level to which they
devoted themselves to the Lab experience, similar to a participation score. The professor awards
an A-F grade for participation (see criteria below).
A students final grade for the Lab experience will be determined by a combination of:
1. The number of hours committed by students and depth of ongoing reflection both through
journals and mentorship sessions with the professor (33%)
2. Extent of completion of jointly-set goals (33%)
3. The participation grade (33%)

Participation Grading Scale
A - You are an outstanding, invaluable contributor to each session. The class would be considerably
poorer without your presence. You speak often, engage your fellow students, and always offer intelligent,
thoughtful opinions. Your level of energy and enthusiasm is very high. You are passionate about
learning; you always show great motivation and interest. You come to every session and you are always
on time. You know the names of all of your fellow students and empower other people to do their best.
You care about your classmates and how they are doing in class.
B - You are an active participant in each session. You seem to be showing a great deal of interest, even if
you are a naturally quiet person. You are a very active listener, and you appear to respect the opinions of
your fellow students. You often contribute many intelligent ideas to each session. You go beyond what is
required of you. You are absent or late to no more than 2 sessions. You know at least 80 percent of your
classmates names.
C - You have an acceptable level of participation in each session. You occasionally participate in a
discussion, although not very actively. If you are a naturally quiet person, you at least seem to be paying
attention and showing interest. You are absent or late to no more than 4 sessions. You know at least 67
percent of your classmates names.
D - You are physically present in each session, but your mind seems to be somewhere else. You do not
seem to pay attention (or even to disguise your boredom). You rarely participate in discussions. Even
when called on to answer a question, you have very little to say. Sometimes you seem to be on the verge
of sleeping, or melting into your chair. You are late or absent more than 4 times. You know less than 67
percent of your classmates names.
F - You miss sessions often. You do not participate at all. You show no interest whatsoever in the
sessions. Overall, you put no effort into the sessions. You are absent or late to sessions more than 7 times.
You know less than 50 percent of your classmates names.









Grading and Other Policies
GRADING POLICIES

Each assignment will be read and graded by the instructor responsible for teaching the course.
The instructor will also decide upon the final grade. If you are not content with the grade you
receive you must contest it with the professor with specific examples of why you deserve a
different grade. There is a 24-hour waiting period upon receipt of grades.
SYLLABUS CHANGES:
The professor reserves the right to change aspects of the syllabus (speakers, readings,
assignments) due to unforeseen circumstances.
GRADE SCALE:
93-100 % A 90-93% A- 87-90% B+
84-87% B 80-84% B- 77-80% C+
74-77% C 70-74% C- 67-70% D+
64-67% D 60-67% D- 0-60% F

ATTENDANCE POLICY:
This course depends on participation. Attending and participating in each reflection session and
scheduled meetings is expected from all scholars. Each unexcused absence from a mandatory
function results in an automatic 5% deduction from your final grade. Absences are excused on a
case-by-case basis by the professor and must be submitted at least 2 weeks in advance.
Typically, an absence will be excused for a family emergency, a serious personal illness, or a
unique extracurricular opportunity such as the chance to present original work at a professional
conference.
Truancy and tardiness will be reflected negatively in your participation grade.