For this module on tBanned Books and Information Scarcity, here's a compilation of information that will cover the key learning outcomes:

Suggested Readings/Viewings:

• Readings: 

  1. American Library Association (ALA) Office for Intellectual Freedom Report - Challenge Reporting

  2. The Library Book by Susan Orlean (selected chapters on the vulnerability of physical collections). 

     1. https://www.theguardian.com/books/2019/feb/16/the-library-book-review-by-susan-orlean 

  3. Recent information from the American Library Association Banned & Challenge Books website

Viewings & Multimedia Links

• Banned Together: The Fight Against Censorship (Documentary) 

  • Viewings: Banned Together: The Fight Against Censorship (documentary on Apple TV) or 

  • Film Context: LibbyLife recently published a great breakdown of the film and all 97 books featured in it: Books Featured in "Banned Together"

• Banned Books Week Coalition Recorded Panels The coalition archives all of its national panel discussions, author interviews, and "Banned Books From the Big Chair" read-outs directly on their official YouTube channel.

  • YouTube Channel: youtube.com/bannedbooksweek

Assignment 1: Foundational Reflection on Banned Books and Information Scarcity

Objective: This assignment provides an opportunity to explore the historical and cultural impact of censorship through the lens of banned books. Your response should reflect your personal and academic interest in intellectual freedom, the role of libraries in defending access to information, and the consequences of information scarcity. You will analyze the provided module resources alongside your own perspectives to create a comprehensive reflection, demonstrating your ability to synthesize historical context with contemporary issues of censorship before we dive into the technical aspects of archival preservation.

Assignment Details: Choose one of the following formats to present your reflection:

• Written Paper: 3-5 pages, double-spaced, APA format.

• Presentation: 5-10 slides, accompanied with presenter notes or actually giving the presentation.

• Video Essay: 5-10 minutes, addressing the key points with visual aids and narration.

Questions to consider in your reflection:

1. Personal and Academic Connection:

   • What draws you to the study of banned books and censorship?

   • Discuss a specific banned or challenged book that has impacted your understanding of intellectual freedom.

2. The Cultural Impact of Censorship:

   • How does the banning of books shape cultural narratives and historical memory?

   • Analyze the motivations behind censorship efforts. Who benefits from information scarcity, and whose voices are typically suppressed?

3. The Role of Libraries and Archivists:

   • In what ways do libraries function as defenders of free information in an era of increasing censorship?

   • How do the American Library Association (ALA) core values intersect with your personal philosophy on access to information?

4. Information Scarcity and Preservation:

   • How does the physical vulnerability of collections (as seen in resources like The Library Book or the Banned Together documentary) emphasize the need for robust preservation strategies?

   • Transitioning into our next modules, what ethical concerns do you anticipate as we move from physical book bans to digital archives and AI?

Submission Guidelines:

1. Include a cover page or title slide with your name, date, and assignment title.

2. Use headings and subheadings to organize your paper or presentation.

3. Cite all sources using APA format; include a bibliography or reference slide.

4. For video essays, ensure clear audio quality and include subtitles.

Evaluation Criteria:

• Comprehensiveness: Depth and breadth of reflection covering all guiding questions.

• Clarity and Coherence: Logical flow of ideas and clear articulation of personal and academic perspectives.

• Critical Thinking: Ability to connect personal insights with broader themes of censorship and library ethics.

• Creativity: Originality in presentation or paper style and reflective arguments.

• Source Utilization: Effective use of provided Module 1 materials and external sources to support your reflection.

Notes:

• Students are encouraged to use AI tools for brainstorming and initial structuring of ideas but must conduct the actual analysis and creation of the final deliverable independently.

• Ensure that your final submission is free of plagiarism and represents your original work.

For the module on the Disney Guest Experience & Management Philosophy, here's a compilation of information that will cover the key learning outcomes:

1. Understanding Disney’s Guest Service Philosophy (“The Disney Difference”):

   • Disney's approach to customer service, often referred to as "The Disney Difference," emphasizes exceeding guest expectations through personalized service and attention to detail. The Disney Institute's book "Be Our Guest" provides a comprehensive look at these principles, focusing on understanding guest needs and integrating services to create a seamless experience​

     • Be our guest : perfecting the art of customer service​

2. The Role of Storytelling in Guest Experience Design:

   • Disney utilizes storytelling as a central theme in creating immersive guest experiences. Every aspect of the guest interaction is framed within a narrative context, enhancing the emotional connection and making each experience memorable​.

     • 5 Lessons Learned from Be Our Guest: The Art of Disney’s Customer Service.

     • Imagineering In a Box | Creating Worlds | Lesson 1.1 - Story

     • How Disney Goes Beyond Storytelling

     • The Art of Disney Storytelling Panel Highlights | D23 Expo

     • Storytelling Through Characters at Disney Parks I SXSW 2023

3. Innovations in Customer Engagement and Technology:

   • Disney's use of technology, such as the MagicBands, illustrates their innovative approach to enhancing guest experience without replacing the human element. These technologies streamline processes while allowing for personal interactions that build lasting relationships with guests​

     • Riff Digital Engagement

     • Doug Lipp | Disney University | Keynote Speaker | SpeakInc

     • Disney & Technology: A History of Standard-Setting Innovation

4. Disney’s Management Practices: “Leadership is action, not position”:

   • Disney’s leadership philosophy focuses on action and influence rather than formal authority. This approach is evident in their emphasis on role modeling and exceptional service standards that guide their staff in decision-making processes​.

     • Inside the Magic

     • The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15… by Robert Iger · Audiobook preview

     • The Walt Disney Company Former CEO and Chairman Robert A. Iger | Full Interview | Code 2022

     • Leading with Magic: Unveiling Walt Disney’s Timeless Leadership Lessons

5. The Importance of Employee Training (e.g., Disney University):

   • Disney University plays a critical role in training employees to meet Disney's high service standards. The training programs are designed to ensure that all employees, referred to as Cast Members, are equipped to provide service that anticipates guest needs and exceeds expectations​

     • Disney Insights

     • The Disney way: inspiration, creativity, and having faith in your team | Tom Craven | TEDxACU

     • A Lesson in Customer Service from Disney World | How to Ensure Employees Give Great Customer Service

6. Building Culture and Retaining Talent within the Disney Organization:

   • Disney's strong organizational culture is key to retaining talent. Their focus on a positive workplace environment, continuous learning, and development opportunities helps maintain high levels of employee engagement and job satisfaction​

     • Disney Insights

     • Disney's Approach to Employee Engagement

     • May Leadership Huddle : Disney Institute Take Aways

These resources provide a well-rounded foundation for exploring the intricate details of Disney's guest experience and management philosophy, emphasizing how these elements contribute to the brand's success in the hospitality and tourism industry.

Assignment: Observational Study of Disney Guest Experience

Assignment Description:

This observational assignment requires you to visit various Disney properties in Orlando, including theme parks and resort areas, to analyze and understand the intricacies of the Disney guest experience firsthand. Students will observe and gather insights into Disney's service philosophy, the role of storytelling in guest interactions, innovative uses of technology, management practices, employee training, and organizational culture. The objective is to correlate theoretical knowledge with practical observations and understand how Disney creates magical guest experiences.

Objectives:

• Understand Disney's Guest Service Philosophy: Observe and document examples of how Disney's service philosophy — "The Disney Difference" — is implemented across various touchpoints in the theme parks and resorts.

• Study Storytelling in Guest Experience Design: Identify and describe how storytelling is integrated into the park design, character interactions, and attractions to enhance the guest experience.

• Analyze Innovations in Customer Engagement and Technology: Note the use of technologies like MagicBands and app integrations, observing how they contribute to a seamless guest experience.

• Evaluate Disney’s Management Practices: Observe the interactions between leaders and staff within the parks to gauge how leadership is action-oriented rather than positional.

• Assess the Importance of Employee Training: Gather observations on how employee behavior reflects their training, particularly in managing guest interactions and service delivery.

• Explore Building Culture and Retaining Talent: Understand how Disney's organizational culture is communicated through employee engagement and teamwork observed on site.
  
  

Methodology:

• Pre-Visit Preparation: Read selected material from "Be Our Guest" and other provided resources to familiarize yourself with key concepts and practices.

• Site Visits: Spend several days at different Disney locations as is appropriate and affordable (you have an annual pass, right?), including resorts, transportation systems, and as many different parks  (Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney's Hollywood Studios, and Disney's Animal Kingdom) as possible.

• Observations: Focus on employee-guest interactions, storytelling elements, usage of technology, and overall atmosphere.

• Documentation: Keep detailed notes and use a structured observation sheet to record instances that exemplify Disney's management and service philosophies.

Submission Requirements:

Paper - 5-10 pages addressing the following

1. • Initial Goals and Expectations: Prior to the visit, outline what you aim to discover and understand about Disney's guest experience. You might want to think about the different locations and types of expectations.

   • Post-Visits Reflections: Post-visit, synthesize your observations with course materials to discuss how Disney's practices align with their philosophies and the impact on guest satisfaction and business success.

• All papers should be submitted in MSWord format.

• Use headings and subheadings to organize your paper.

• Cite all sources using APA format; include a bibliography.

Evaluation Criteria:

• Depth of Analysis: Clear and detailed analysis of observations with direct correlations to theoretical concepts.

• Understanding of Concepts: Accurate application of concepts from the readings and their manifestation in real-world settings.

• Quality of Reflection: Insightful reflections that demonstrate a deep understanding of the material and observations.

This assignment is designed to provide a comprehensive, real-world understanding of how theoretical hospitality and service management concepts are applied in one of the world's most renowned entertainment companies.

Capstone Project Outline: Analyzing Disney's Hospitality and Tourism Model

Project Overview:

This capstone project is designed for you to apply your knowledge and select a focus of a topic of your choosing through an in-depth analysis of Disney's innovative hospitality and tourism model. The project will focus on a specific aspect of Disney’s model, encouraging a detailed exploration of how Disney creates unique guest experiences, integrates technology, manages operations, and maintains its brand leadership in the global market.

Project Design:

• Selection of Topic: Choose a specific aspect of Disney's hospitality and tourism operations to explore. This could include guest experience management, role of technology in enhancing guest services, employee training and culture at Disney, sustainability practices, or leadership and management strategies or another topic of your choosing. This will happen in consultation with the instructor.

• Research Question: Develop a clear, focused research question that the project will address. Example: "How does Disney's employee training program contribute to overall guest satisfaction?"

Research Methodology:

• Literature Review: Conduct a comprehensive review of existing literature on Disney's hospitality practices and similar practices in other leading global companies.

• Primary Research:

  • Interviews: Arrange and conduct interviews with Disney professionals or industry experts who have firsthand experience with the Disney model. Focus on gathering insights related to your specific topic.

  • Observations: Use your work in the last module with visits to Disney resorts or theme parks to observe the implementation of the practices being studied.

• Data Analysis: Analyze the data gathered from interviews and observations to draw conclusions about the effectiveness and uniqueness of Disney's model.

Deliverables (Choose one of the options below):

1. Written Research Report:

   • Introduction: Overview of Disney's hospitality model and justification for the chosen topic.

   • Methodology: Detailed description of research methods, including how interviews were conducted and data was analyzed.

   • Findings: Presentation of findings from the literature review, interviews, and observations.

   • Analysis and Discussion: Critical analysis of how the findings address the research question; comparison with industry standards.

   • Conclusion and Recommendations: Summarize key insights and propose recommendations for future practices or studies.

   • Appendices: Include interview transcripts, data charts, and other relevant materials.

2. Oral Presentation:

   • Prepare a 20-30 minute presentation summarizing your research and findings.

   • Use visuals like slideshows, videos, or charts to enhance the presentation and clearly convey key points.

   • Schedule a session to present to peers, faculty, and possibly industry professionals.

Evaluation Criteria:

• • Relevance: How well does the chosen topic represent a key aspect of Disney’s hospitality model?

  • Depth of Analysis: Is the research thorough and does the analysis provide new insights into the chosen topic?

  • Professionalism: Quality of the written report and the oral presentation, including clarity, structure, and use of evidence.

  • Innovation: Originality of conclusions and practicality of recommendations.

Timeline:

• • Proposal Submission: End of the second module.

  • Progress Report: Mid-semester check-in to report on initial findings and adjustment of research direction if necessary.

  • Final Submission: End of the semester.