“One of the fundamental things for every student to learn while they are on this campus is how to be an effective leader,” says Debbie Hippolite-Wright, vice president for Student Development & Services. “I think every student on the BYU–Hawaii campus needs to leave feeling they have explored that area of study and those [leadership] principles very well, before they return to their home countries.” Hippolite-Wright’s words exemplify a principle on which the BYU–Hawaii administration has placed a renewed focus: student leadership development. The result of that focus is an online leadership resource which has been under construction for the past year. The resource, called iLead and found at ilead.byuh.edu, was launched on November 1 of this year and is now available for use by BYU–Hawaii students and faculty.
The iLead concept originated from Dr. Peter Chan, associate professor of instructional design and development (IDD). Chan and his class of IDD students began in 2009 to produce short videos about leadership principles. They were anxious to use their multi-media experience to develop an effective online leadership program for students at BYU–Hawaii. Since that time, iLead has been reshaped and refined through the work of three volunteer senior couples, BYU–Hawaii alumni, and student specialists.
The website is now intended to be a “one-stop-shop” resource, with a wealth of videos, articles, and activities that aid students in their quest to get involved and develop leadership skills in all areas of their lives. David Lucero, director of Student Leadership & Honor, states, “Every BYU–Hawaii graduate should be prepared to lead – in the home, community, workplace, and Church. The iLead web resources, training certification, and face-to-face workshops, can help every student fulfill that mission… [iLead] helps students gain knowledge and confidence to get involved.”
iLead uses a certificate system to guide users through the site in a meaningful order. “Foundation for Leadership,” level one in the certification, directs students through a checklist of seven items. The checklist includes tasks such as watching short videos and submitting responses, taking self- and peer- assessments on personal leadership qualities, and giving ten hours of community service. At the end of the experience, participants document their findings in the format of their choice (PowerPoint presentation, essay, video, etc.), and reflect on the new concepts they have learned. In the future, students will have the opportunity to progress through multiple levels of the program; level two will be available in 2011.
James Sinkovic, iLead content specialist and BYU–Hawaii alumnus, envisions the future of iLead as a resource for more than simply BYU–Hawaii students. “I see iLead affecting more than just the students trying to learn leadership here,” he says. “It will always be a resource for those who want to fulfill [President] David O. McKay's prophecy, wherever they may be.” [Click here to read President McKay’s speech and other BYU–Hawaii foundational speeches]
Because the website is available to the general public, it provides a free leadership development program for other universities, organizations, and individuals. “What iLead does,” comments BYU–Hawaii President Steven Wheelwright, “is challenge people to open themselves up to new possibilities, new ideas, new insights, and then to act on faith and move forward.”
[Click here to access the iLead web page]