Dr. Denyse Lafrance Horning, Teaching Chair of EL Dr. Patrick Maher, Dean of Teaching

March 12, 2020

EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE

SESSION AGENDA

• Welcome – Dr. Pat Maher

• EL Past & Present – Dr. Denyse Lafrance Horning

• EL Future – Dr. Pat Maher

• Open Discussion / Q&A

EL Past & Present at NU

• What is EL?

• Why EL?

• What is EL at NU?

• Teaching Chair Activities & Observations (2018-2020)

WHAT IS EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING (EL)?

• Simple but complicated…

• “The process whereby knowledge is created through the transformation of experience” (Kolb, 1984).

• “A philosophy that informs many methodologies in which educators purposefully engage with learners in direct experience and focused reflection in order to increase knowledge, develop skills, clarify values, and develop people's capacity to contribute to their communities." (Association for Experiential Education.)

• “Challenge and experience followed by reflection leading to learning and growth” (Association for Experiential Education).

• “EL supports students in getting hands-on learning that helps them transition to employment” (Ministry of Advanced Education & Skills Development, MAESD).

WHAT IS EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING (EL)?

It’s bridging theory and practice.

It’s learning by doing.

It’s applying classroom lessons in concrete, hands-on ways.

It’s more than just an experience…

“Merely exposing students to an experience is not EL.”

IT’S AN EXPERIENCE WITHIN AN INTENTIONAL LEARNING CYCLE

Experiencing

Reflecting Thinking

Acting

MAESD’s Guiding Principles

MANY TYPES OF EL ACTIVITIES

WHY EL? • Government Mandate – That every student has at least one

EL activity by the time they graduate from a publicly funded postsecondary institution.

• SMA3 Funding Metric • Number and proportion of graduates in programs who participated in at least

one course with required EL components.

• Benefits for Students, Instructors, Institutions, Community (Reference EL Bulletin #2)

Student Voices

“I had the opportunity to practice real world skills that are difficult to learn in a classroom.”

“I learned more about accountability and leadership than I did in all of my courses combined.”

“I learned the value of volunteerism and community spirit.”

“I can now provide potential employers with proof of real world experience. And this landed me a

job in my field!”

“Larger universities don’t always offer undergraduate students hands on lab work with world-

class researchers. My experience in the psychology lab is unique and has given me the

confidence to pursue grad school!”

“This placement allowed me to work in a team-based setting and helped me build self

management and problem solving skills. When my placement was done, I was offered a real job

with this organization!”

“I experienced a truly heart warming teaching moment that solidified my desire to be a teacher.”

EL at Nipissing University • EL Pilot Tagging Study (2017-2018)

• Undergraduate, face-to-face courses only (excluded directed/independent studies, consecutive Ed, BScN Nursing SPP )

• Measured Yes/No EL and EL Types (pre-defined)

• 100/223 responses (44.8%)

• Of the 801 course sections reviewed for this pilot project 424 had at least one type of EL within the course (53%).

• Case Studies was the most popular EL type observed (196 course sections), followed by Labs (171) and Applied Research (98)

Weak response rate Misunderstanding and incomplete

listing of EL types Excluded many courses and EL

activities…under-reported presence of EL at NU

Valuable Learning Guidance for curriculum

development and review Insight for SMA3 planning

EL at Nipissing University • Always present…but a well kept secret?

• EL Spotlight Series

• Examples to share?

Teaching Chair Activities (2018-2020) INFORMATION SHARING • EL Fan Club (78 members)

• EL Bulletins • Distribution of EL Resources

FACULTY SUPPORT • Faculty Meetings / Guidance • EL Spotlight Series • Teaching Hub planning, launch support, access

EL PROMOTION • Events (Sparrow Centre, Student Centre, Open House, OUF, Recruitment, etc.)

• Media Coverage, NU News • Voice of Students Survey

EL NETWORKING • Conference Presentations and Session Participation • Laurentian University Co-Op Program and Teaching Chair

SCHOLARSHIP OF TEACHING & LEARNING

• Active EL Applications • STLHE (D2L) Innovation Award Submission • Research Project

1. EL is a priority! Everyone should embrace, adopt and evolve.

2. We are great at EL! We need to further promote and broadly share our efforts.

3. We have been scattered. There is a need for leadership (vision), collaboration (input), and strategic planning (action and resources).

Now over to Dr. Pat Maher, Dean of Teaching….

Teaching Chair Observations