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Exam Code: PSPO-I Practice test 2023 by Killexams.com team PSPO-I Professional Scrum Product Owner I Course Outline: Scrum PSPO-I Professional Scrum Product Owner I
I. Introduction to Scrum and Agile Principles
A. Overview of Scrum framework
B. Agile values and principles
C. Roles and responsibilities in Scrum
II. Product Owner Role and Responsibilities
A. Understanding the Product Owner role
B. Defining product vision and goals
C. Creating and managing the product backlog
D. Prioritizing and refining backlog items
III. Product Discovery and Stakeholder Engagement
A. User research and market analysis
B. Stakeholder identification and engagement
C. Gathering and managing product requirements
D. Techniques for effective product discovery
IV. Release Planning and Roadmapping
A. Creating release plans and timelines
B. Estimating and forecasting product delivery
C. Managing dependencies and trade-offs
D. Agile release management practices
V. Backlog Management and Refinement
A. Backlog grooming and refinement techniques
B. Story writing and user story mapping
C. Splitting and prioritizing backlog items
D. Techniques for backlog visualization and communication
VI. Sprint Planning and Execution
A. Sprint planning meeting and objectives
B. Collaborating with the development team
C. Acceptance criteria and Definition of Done (DoD)
D. Monitoring and adapting during the sprint
VII. Product Owner and Development Team Collaboration
A. Building a collaborative relationship
B. Effective communication and feedback loops
C. Empowering the development team
D. Resolving conflicts and making decisions
VIII. Product Owner and Scrum Team Alignment
A. Working with the Scrum Master and stakeholders
B. Understanding the Scrum events and artifacts
C. Maintaining transparency and accountability
D. Continuous improvement and self-organization
Exam Objectives:
- Understand the Scrum framework and its principles
- Demonstrate knowledge of the Product Owner role and responsibilities
- Apply techniques for product discovery and stakeholder engagement
- Create and manage the product backlog effectively
- Plan releases and roadmaps using Agile practices
- Refine and prioritize backlog items for optimal delivery
- Participate in sprint planning and collaborate with the development team
- Foster collaboration and effective communication within the Scrum team
- Align with the Scrum Master and stakeholders to achieve project goals
Syllabus:
The syllabus for the Scrum PSPO-I Professional Scrum Product Owner I course will cover the following topics:
- Introduction to Scrum and Agile Principles
- Product Owner Role and Responsibilities
- Product Discovery and Stakeholder Engagement
- Release Planning and Roadmapping
- Backlog Management and Refinement
- Sprint Planning and Execution
- Product Owner and Development Team Collaboration
- Product Owner and Scrum Team AlignmentProfessional Scrum Product Owner I Scrum Professional syllabus Killexams : Scrum Professional syllabus - BingNews
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https://killexams.com/exam_list/ScrumKillexams : Agile Scrum Basics for Professionals Course Details
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Agile Scrum Basics for Professionals Course Details
Agile Scrum Basics for Professionals is a seven-hour non-credit course designed for leaders and practitioners across a variety of industries to learn how the Agile Scrum methodology and framework can streamline your projects. Scrum is a highly collaborative method that can improve the development, management and delivery of complex projects. This course is the perfect place to start for agile project management beginners and those looking to start a path toward certification.
Cost: $199
In this Agile & Scrum course you learn:
The differences between an Agile approach and traditional methodology, and discover why Agile is more effective
How adopting Agile approaches can increase business value
The core practices and philosophies behind this way of working
This course is designed for:
Agile organizations
Project managers in a diverse range of industries
Senior leadership
IT and software professionals
Product managers
Contact Kena Sears-Brown, Director for more information: 215.571.3936 and ks3552@drexel.edu.
Fri, 19 Aug 2022 10:45:00 -0500entext/htmlhttps://drexel.edu/goodwin/academics/continuing-professional-education/courses/instructor%20led/agile-scrum/agile-scrum-basics/Killexams : Agile vs. Scrum vs. Waterfall
Agile vs. Scrum vs. Waterfall
When it comes to project management methodologies, it may seem like there are countless options that are always changing and advancing. The most common project management methods used in business and enterprise are Agile and Waterfall along with the implementation method of Scrum. There are differences and benefits between Agile, Scrum and Waterfall depending on your organization’s goals and the project at hand. Another common tool in project management is Kanban boards, which are most often used in Lean Six Sigma, a process improvement methodology.
Agile vs. Waterfall
Agile is a project management methodology that focuses on adaptability and regular team and stakeholder communication throughout the life of a project. The iterative nature of Agile project management allows for greater adaptability during development. It is best used for projects where change is anticipated or expected throughout the lifespan. For example, in the IT world, developing a user interface application would require a lot of testing and regular feedback and improvements to meet the end user’s needs. Using an Agile approach allows development teams to incorporate beta testing to ensure the delivery of a more effective end product.
Waterfall is a project management methodology that relies on linear planning to differentiate tasks and eliminate variables. In waterfall, one phase of a project cannot be started until the previous has been fully completed. Unlike Agile, in which you can return to various points throughout a sprint or feedback cycle. Waterfall is effective in that it eliminates the need for change, whereas Agile incorporates change throughout development.
Before a Waterfall project begins, all assets, documents, requirements, tasks and expectations are collected and assigned to specific team members. Then, each phase of the project is completed in a linear and dependent fashion. For example, in a construction project where there are strict contracts and standards, a more linear approach may be required. Construction on a new building can’t begin until the architectural plans are complete, zoning and permit regulations are met and materials are acquired
Agile vs. Scrum
At Goodwin, we offer courses and professional skill tracks in Agile Scrum, as it is the project management methodology that is growing at a greater pace, leaving the more rigid rules of Waterfall behind. So what’s the difference between Agile and Scrum?
Scrum is a framework within Agile project management that utilizes short development “sprints” that are powered by iterative feedback from stakeholders and internal teams throughout the many phases of project development and delivery. Projects are broken out into smaller phases or milestones and once feedback is delivered and implemented, Agile teams can then move onto the next phase of development to reduce the need for redevelopment at the final phase of delivery.
Scrum is simply how Agile gets done. Agile Scrum focuses on conducting sprints, extracting feedback and clarifying tasks for each member of a team. Regular communication and collaboration across teams is a hallmark of Agile Scrum.
READY TO EXPLORE AGILE SCRUM TRAINING?
Drexel’s Goodwin College of Professional Studies offers professional pathways and courses to get up to speed about Agile Scrum. You can take two-day courses, ranging from beginner to advanced levels here on campus. Or, you can explore a professional skill track in Agile project management that includes on-campus courses and online essential skill training through The Skills Hub.
If your company is using waterfall and exploring adopting Agile, consider about Agile project management with Scrum training for your employees. Talk to us about getting a complimentary training skills gap analysis and our multiple employee discount.
Fri, 19 Aug 2022 10:45:00 -0500entext/htmlhttps://drexel.edu/goodwin/academics/continuing-professional-education/courses/instructor%20led/agile-scrum/agile-vs-scrum-vs-waterfall/Killexams : What Is A Scrum Master? Everything You Need To Know
Editorial Note: We earn a commission from partner links on Forbes Advisor. Commissions do not affect our editors' opinions or evaluations.
A Scrum Master is a team leader responsible for ensuring the team implements Scrum in theory and practice. Scrum is one of the most popular forms of Agile, a project management methodology created for software development. The Scrum Master is responsible for serving as a leader for the Scrum team and larger organization, according to the Scrum Guide.
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Scrum Master Responsibilities
In a Scrum practice, the team is composed of the Scrum Master, the product owner and the development team. The project owner is responsible for maximizing the end goal’s value, while the Scrum Master’s job is to ensure the team stays on track.
Melissa Boggs, Certified Enterprise Coach and former Co-CEO of Scrum Alliance, spoke to Forbes Advisor and explained that the Scrum Master’s role is to “help the team understand the value of Scrum and how Scrum can best serve the team, for the team to serve the customer.” The Scrum Master focuses on the team’s continuous improvement by introducing and using Scrum principles and practices, Boggs added.
Additionally, their responsibilities include making sure the Scrum events take place and are positive and productive. They also help ensure Scrum is implemented by the team in a productive way and lead the team to adopt Scrum.
A Scrum Master can be either a dedicated position or a temporary role one of the team members takes on during a project. While some teams and organizations require a full-time Scrum Master, others who are further along and more mature in their Agile journey may elect someone on the team for the role, Boggs said. How the Scrum Master fits into the overall team “depends on the goals of the organization, the maturity of the teams and the capabilities of the Scrum Master,” she added.
How To Be an Effective Scrum Master
An effective Scrum Master will understand Scrum, the value of all its elements, their team and how to marry all of them in an emergent way, Boggs said. They will be effective leaders who understand the team’s needs and keep the team on track with their goals.
This means a Scrum Master is continuously learning and creating opportunities for the team to develop their skills. “They are excellent communicators, coaches and creators,” Boggs said. A Scrum Master must be able to integrate both the long-term and short-term strategy while managing the team. “They are able to see the big picture, but they also help the team to decompose the big picture into smaller, incremental chunks of value,” she added. An effective Scrum Master also helps the team create feedback loops and connections with their customers.
According to Boggs, curiosity and openness are two essential qualities for an exceptional Scrum Master. Effective leadership requires patience, focus and understanding that developing a high-performing team is a long-term game. “They are able to see the big picture, but they also help the team to decompose the big picture into smaller, incremental chunks of value,” she added.
Tools and Resources
There are various certifying bodies in the Scrum space, but two of the most well-respected are Scrum Alliance and Scrum.org. Boggs recommends that certification seekers spend time evaluating the certification and business models of the organizations before choosing one to invest in. Some differentiators to look out for during research are the price, reputation and community.
How To Become a Scrum Master
There are a variety of backgrounds that could prepare someone for the role of a Scrum Master. “We see everyone from QA Managers to engineers to school teachers that make excellent Scrum Masters,” Boggs said. It is common to see former project managers working in a Scrum Master role, she added.
Differences Between a Project Manager and a Scrum Master
While a project manager keeps track of different aspects of the team, the Scrum Master is focused specifically on the team and ensuring they are effective and achieve the project goals.
“The Scrum Master is not focused on time, scope and budget, but rather building and supporting an environment where a team can iteratively and incrementally build products and Boost their system,” Boggs said. “The Scrum Master is accountable for ensuring that the team has everything they need to be effective and that any impediments are removed from their path. They do not control what, how or when the products or projects are completed; those responsibilities are differently distributed in the Scrum framework between the team and the product owner.”
Scrum is often confused with a project management methodology in general. Instead, it is a “framework for developing and sustaining complex products,” according to the Scrum Guide. Scrum relies heavily on the idea of empirical process control and recognizes the complexity and uncertainty that is involved in product development.
How does the Scrum Master fit into the overall team or organization?
The specific way the Scrum Master integrates into the overall team is unique to each company. It is not uncommon for the Scrum Master to report to either the engineering organization or an Agile organization, according to Melissa Boggs, Certified Enterprise Coach and former Co-CEO of Scrum Alliance.
Is a Scrum Master the same as a project manager?
A project manager is different from a Scrum Master. While a project manager keeps track of different aspects of the team, including budget, resources and timelines, the Scrum Master is specifically focused on the team and ensuring it is effective and achieves the project goals.
What skills are essential for a Scrum Master?
An effective Scrum Master is knowledgeable and trained in Scrum. One way to gain the necessary skills is through certification. While there are many certifying bodies, the two most well-known and respected are Scrum Alliance and Scrum.org. Scrum Masters have a range of backgrounds and experiences, including software development, QA management or team leadership.
What makes an effective Scrum Master?
An effective Scrum Master will understand Scrum, the value of all its elements, their team and how to marry all of them in an emergent way, said Melissa Boggs, Certified Enterprise Coach and former Co-CEO of Scrum Alliance. A Scrum Master will be able to see the project’s big picture but can break it down into practical and shorter-term goals for the team.
What scrum master certifications are available?
There are several scrum master certifications that you can obtain. Some of the most common include Certified ScrumMaster (CSM), Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO), Certified Scrum Professional (CSP) and Certified Scrum Developer (CSD), which are offered by the Scrum Alliance; Professional Scrum Master I (PSM I) and Professional Scrum Product Owner I (PSPO I), which are administered by Scrum.org; and SAFe Scrum Master (SSM), which is offered by Scaled Agile. There are also more advanced certifications that you can obtain, including Advanced Certified ScrumMaster (ACSM), Certified Scrum Professional ScrumMaster (CSP-SM), Advanced Certified Scrum Product Owner (ACSPO), Certified Scrum Professional Product Owner (CSP-PO), Professional Scrum Master II (PSM II), Professional Scrum Master III (PSM III), Professional Scrum Product Owner II (PSPO II), Professional Scrum Product Owner III (PSPO III), Advanced Certified Scrum Developer (ACSD) and Certified Scrum Professional (CSP).
Fri, 31 Dec 2021 14:56:00 -0600Leeron Hooryen-UStext/htmlhttps://www.forbes.com/advisor/business/what-is-a-scrum-master/Killexams : Why is becoming a Scrum Master a great career option?
Why is becoming a Scrum Master a great career option?
As an Agile Consultant, I think this is a great question, and I’m often asked why becoming a Scrum Master is a great career choice. 🚀 So, in this article, I will address this popular question circling the Agile sphere.
So why is becoming a Scrum Master a great career option? 🤔
The Scrum Master – A Stellar Step on the Leadership Track
Here’s my perspective: Firstly, I feel like the Scrum Master is the first next step for a team member on the leadership track. 🌟
The Scrum Master role is the perfect stepping stone for any team member on their journey to leadership. Imagine donning the gold shirt in Star Trek – it signifies your ambition to move forward, take on more significant accountabilities and demonstrate your leadership capability. You want to demonstrate to your organization that you can lead.
Demonstrating Leadership Before Position
But remember, you have to demonstrate that leadership before you get the position. 🎯
Leadership isn’t granted with a title. It’s earned through action. If you’ve been a long-time team member, irrespective of your speciality – coding, testing, operations, or documentation, your focus should be enhancing your team’s effectiveness. 💼
Striving for Excellence in Your Domain
As a professional, you’ve been thinking, “How can you help your team be more effective?” as an individual, as an expert on that team. Logically, team members will look to you for some of those answers.
Now, what does this mean?
Let’s say you’re a whiz at automation. You’re demonstrating leadership if you’re constantly striving to make processes slicker to deliver more value to customers.
You’re showing that you’re knowledgeable and capable, and in doing so, you’re naturally transitioning into the Scrum Master role. 🌟And by adding more value, you are demonstrating that leadership ability. 🏆
Picking Up Accountabilities
Once the team respects you, and respects your ability to help them become way better, then that will be seen hopefully in the organization.
As a Scrum Master, you pick up accountabilities that perhaps nobody else addresses. Once you’re there and your team respects your ability to enhance their effectiveness, your leadership will go from strength to strength. 🎯
Scrum Master – Your First Step on the Leadership Ladder
So, if you ask me, the Scrum Master role is the starting point on the leadership track for any team member. From there, your journey can take you wherever you wish to go within your organization.
Remember, every organization has a unique flow, but the Scrum Master is a universally recognized and respected step on the leadership ladder. 📈
Intrigued about becoming a Scrum Master?
Join our Agile and Scrum courses to gain more knowledge and skills and make your first move on your leadership journey!
Master the skills needed to excel in your role and help your team to deliver excellent results.
Keep leading, keep growing! 🚀
Naked Agility is an #agile consultancy that specializes in #scrumtraining, #agilecoaching and #agileconsulting to help teams evolve, integrate, and continuously improve.
We recognize the positive impact that a happy AND inspired workforce can have on customer experience, and we actively help organizations to tap into the power of creative, collaborative, and high-performing teams that is unique to #agile and #scrum environments.
Tue, 15 Aug 2023 20:56:00 -0500en-GBtext/htmlhttps://nkdagility.com/blog/why-is-becoming-a-scrum-master-a-great-career-option/Killexams : Professional Development Courses
In addition to the Master’s degree programs described elsewhere, Project Dragonfly offers a number of online and hybrid courses that, along with our suite of Earth Expeditions global field courses, can be taken on their own for professional development and lifelong learning, outside of a degree program.
Tue, 06 Sep 2022 15:59:00 -0500entext/htmlhttps://miamioh.edu/cas/graduate-studies/project-dragonfly/professional-development-courses/index.htmlKillexams : Professional Studies, Master of
As traditional fields and disciplines continue to overlap, there is a growing demand for a workforce with knowledge in more than one area of study. As part of Saint Louis University's Master of Professional Studies, you will use applied research skills, evidence-based problem solving and the integration of theory and practice across two or more disciplines. By choosing a primary area of study paired with a secondary area of focus, you can diversify your education and gain a unique combination of skills to meet today’s workplace demands.
Whether you’re looking to advance into a leadership role in your current organization or pursue a graduate degree before entering the workforce, SLU's Master of Professional Studies can be tailored to build the experience you need for your specific career path.
Faculty
As a student in the School for Professional Studies at Saint Louis University, you’ll learn from exceptional faculty who are leading experts in their fields. They bring real-world knowledge to the classroom and are dedicated to your professional success. Learn more on our faculty page.
Curriculum Overview
Unlike traditional graduate programs that focus on a single discipline, SLU's multi-disciplinary Master of Professional Studies program allows you to choose from a range of professionally focused concentrations. You will choose a primary and secondary area of concentration in consultation with your academic coach.
Examples of the Master of Professional Studies structure include (but are not limited to) concentrations in the following areas:
The two standard courses include ORLD 5050 Ethical, Evidence-Based Decision Making and AA 5221 Applied Analytics & Methods I. The standard capstone includes a series of three one-credit master’s research project coursework, where you will be expected to demonstrate competencies from both your primary and secondary concentration.
Careers
SLU's multi-disciplinary Master of Professional Studies structure prioritizes applied research skills, ethical evidence-based problem solving, and the integration of theory and practice across two or more disciplines. By engaging a multi-disciplinary approach to problem-solving, students will develop their capacity to identify, delineate and research key problems, building an empowered learning approach to enhance their professional careers.
Scholarships and Financial Aid
For priority consideration for graduate assistantship, apply by Feb. 1.
Undergraduate degree (most successful applicants have an undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 or better)
Official transcript from a degree-granting institution
Statement of purpose (about 500 words)
Resume or curriculum vitae
External reference recommendations (encouraged but not required)
Upon admission, a new online student* must successfully complete a virtual meeting with their academic coach to be enrolled in first term coursework.
Requirements for International Students
All admission policies and requirements for domestic students apply to international students along with the following:
Applicants must demonstrate English language proficiency. Some examples of demonstrated English language proficiency include minimum score requirements for the following standardized tests:
Paper-based TOEFL: 550
Internet-based TOEFL: 80
IELTS: 6.5
PTE: 54
• Academic records, in English translation, of students who have undertaken postsecondary studies outside the United States must include the courses taken and/or lectures attended, practical laboratory work, the maximum and minimum grades attainable, the grades earned or the results of all end-of-term examinations, and any honors or degrees received. WES and ECE transcripts are accepted.
Students must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 in all graduate/professional courses.
Roadmaps are recommended semester-by-semester plans of study for programs and assume full-time enrollment unless otherwise noted.
Courses and milestones designated as critical (marked with !) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation. Transfer credit may change the roadmap.
This roadmap should not be used in the place of regular academic advising appointments. All students are encouraged to meet with their advisor/mentor each semester. Requirements, course availability and sequencing are subject to change.
100% Online Roadmap
Plan of Study Grid
Year One
Fall
3
ORLD 5050
Ethical, Evidence-Based Decision Making
3
Credits
6
Spring
3
3
Credits
6
Year Two
Fall
3
3
1
Credits
7
Spring
AA 5221
Applied Analytics & Methods I
3
3
1
Credits
7
Year Three
Fall
3
3
1
Credits
7
Total Credits
33
Hybrid Roadmap - MPS Information Systems Leadership
Plan of Study Grid
Year One
Fall
IS 5000
Enterprise Architecture and Systems Infrastructure
3
IS 5100
Information Systems Strategy and Management
3
IS 5200
Software Development
3
Credits
9
Spring
AA 5221
Applied Analytics & Methods I
3
IS 5400
Managing a Secure Enterprise
3
ORLD 5050
Ethical, Evidence-Based Decision Making
3
Credits
9
Year Two
Fall
ORLD 5010
Contemporary Organizational Leadership
3
ORLD 5350
Team Leadership
3
IS 5961
Masters Research Project I
1
Credits
7
Spring
ORLD 5100
Prof Leadership Development
3
IS 5962
Masters Research Project II
1
ORLD 5650
Future-Focused Leadership
3
IS 5963
Masters Research Project III
1
Credits
8
Total Credits
33
Tue, 13 Jun 2023 23:13:00 -0500entext/htmlhttps://www.slu.edu/professional-studies/programs/professional-studies-mps.phpKillexams : Highest paying jobs that you can get with just A-levels – with salaries of up to £90,000 a year
HIGH paying jobs don't always need top qualifications, and they could even earn you up to £90,000 a year.
For many positions "knowledge and skills are far more important than formal education", according to Andrew Hunter, the co-founder of Adzuna.
Andrew said: "A degree is no longer a prerequisite for securing a junior job with an attractive salary.
"Employers are increasingly looking past educational background and instead focusing on candidates with great skills and sufficient hands-on experience.
"Jobseekers with A-levels could consider taking professional certification courses or apprenticeships to hone job-specific skills and build hands-on experience, such as programming or technical skills."
The job with the highest annual salary which pays workers up to £90,000 a year is the role of casino gaming manager.
Scrum masters, for example, are earning upwards of £62,000 a year.
A scrum master acts as a project manager for IT and tech development.
Commercial pilots, ethical hackers and air traffic controllers are also among the jobs paying around £60,000 a year.
And while a degree isn't needed for most of these jobs, there may be other requirements.
For example, you don't need to study at university to become a commercial pilot, but you'll usually need five GCSEs including English, Science, and Maths.
With the cost of a university education adding up to £57,000 on average, it could pay to pursue one of the high-paying careers that avoid taking on student loan debts and studying costs.
The average wage in the UK in the last tax year was around £33,000.
Those in the following roles can also expect to earn salaries between £50,000 and £60,000 a year:
Software developer
Train driver
Construction manager
Oil Rig operative
Security manager
Games developer
Project manager
Eight other jobs pay workers without formal education salaries between £43,000 and £46,000 a year:
Plus, if you're looking for more flexible hours, these are the jobs that can get you up to £70,000 - and some don’t need qualifications.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk.
You can also join our new Sun Money Facebook group to share stories and tips and engage with the consumer team and other group members.
Thu, 17 Aug 2023 23:26:00 -0500Ellie Smithermanen-gbtext/htmlhttps://www.thesun.co.uk/money/23531918/highest-paying-jobs-a-levels-salaries/Killexams : Scrum injury risk in English professional rugby union
If you wish to reuse any or all of this article please use the link below which will take you to the Copyright Clearance Center’s RightsLink service. You will be able to get a quick price and instant permission to reuse the content in many different ways.
Sat, 18 Jun 2022 03:00:00 -0500entext/htmlhttps://bjsm.bmj.com/content/48/13/1066Killexams : Professional Writing
Here are some other options instead:
Thu, 25 Aug 2016 03:24:00 -0500en-gbtext/htmlhttps://www.uab.edu/cas/english/undergraduate/professional-writingKillexams : Taylor Swift on the syllabus? Her songbook is now required memorizing for some college courses
"They wouldn’t teach you that in prep school so it’s up to me."
These "Better than Revenge" lyrics capture something higher education has picked up on: Taylor Swift songs are their own school of life. The singer-songwriter's ballads are valuable academic tools, especially in an era of evermore online students catching up from years of virtual learning during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Alexandra Wormley, a PhD student at Arizona State University's department of psychology.
"We can start to reimagine what classrooms are supposed to look like," said Wormley, who will be teaching "Pscyhology of Taylor Swift" this fall.
After seeing Swift's Eras Tour opening night in Glendale, Arizona, this year, Wormley was sitting in her office with students chatting about the show. They started brainstorming what a psychology class that also talked about Swift would be like.
"We wrote up the syllabus that day," she said. "We went through a different album of hers and talked about related psychology topics."
Now the class has a waitlist for the fall semester. The course joins a series of Swiftie courses ranging from literature to social psychology at schools like Ghent University in Belgium,University of Texas at Austin,New York University, Stanford. All of these universities have offered or are currently offering a course focused on Swift’s lyrics, discography, as well as her potential impact.
But the proliferation of Swiftie courses begs the question why her music is having an academic moment.
Educators know she's hugely popular right now. Swift's mega Era's Tour has garnered millions of dollars and hearts this summer, treating fans across the nation (and soon around the world) to an intimate show that feels more like friendship hug than fan event. Even those who didn't attend the shows felt Swift's effect. And she hints at no sign of slowing down. With her announcement of "1989 (Taylor's Version)" coming this October, people are paying attention to Swift and her community, maybe making it just a little easier to pay attention in class.
Wormley said these trends have left higher education instructors with a creative assignment: How do they help students catch up academically and socially, while showing them their degrees have real-world value?
Swift's writing helps students make person connections and prompts deeper discussions, said Elly McCausland, assistant professor of English literature at Ghent University. Her course "Literature: Taylor's Version" will be held this fall and intends to make the "archaic" language of Chaucer, Shakespeare and other canonical writers more understandable to her students, many of whom do not speak English as a first language.
"If I can provide a way into those texts, that might support them through that kind of alienation, then that's really important to me," she said.
Swift studies are not about dumbing down the academics, proponents say, but elevating something popular.
"These students are not showing up for a three hour Taylor Swift fan club," Wormley said. "This generation of students has been through so much. And if this is what it takes to get them back in the classroom and get them engaged, then I'm so happy to do this with them."
The syllabus for a new course, named Psychology of Taylor Swift – Advanced syllabus of Social Psychology offered in the fall semester at Arizona State University.
Wormley is most excited for week three of her class, which will focus on "Fearless," Swift's album about her roots. The record's discussion about growing up, first love and nostalgia for childhood freedom will be a venue for students to learn about social development theories.
"I think it's especially relevant for these students because they're leaving that period of adolescence," she said.
Taylor Swift performs for the fourth night of the Eras Tour in Los Angeles on Aug. 7, 2023. Swift is ending the first U.S. leg of her tour with a six-night stint at SoFi Stadium.
The "Fearless" lesson will discuss family, friendship and new romance in the context of research by Seanna Leath, a professor at Washington University at St. Louis who studies experiences of Black women and girls.
Swift's whiteness is worth addressing in these classes, said McCausland, especially when fields like literature are already so dominated by white creators. She's going to use "Betty," "August" and "Cardigan" from the "Folklore" album as a way to teach the technique of "writing back," a method to tell the untold side of a story the audience has already heard.
"[These three songs] invoke questions of language, power and voice and authority," she said. "Whoever has the language and has the voice has the power. We're using Taylor's songs as a springboard to explore that."
It was Wormley's intention to include work by underrepresented voices in her syllabus, not only to introduce students to diverse academic rockstars but to legitimize that they, too, can find their voice in the field of psychology, she said.
"Part of it is building a classroom environment where students feel comfortable bringing themselves and their background to the space and being like, 'Hey, maybe this is what the academic literature says growing up is like but in my community and my culture, it's actually really different,'" she said. "We're all going to interpret these lyrics different and we're all going to attend to different things … I like to think Taylor would be totally into this."
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