The Birdhouse Project as Experiential Learning Tool for College Students and Beyond

Abstract

This study details the use of a project-based experiential exercise in a 4-year university Sociology of Death and Dying classroom setting in a large public institution in the United States. The Birdhouse Project was implemented with 436 student participants from 15 senior-level Death and Dying classes across six regular semesters over a 3-year span. Findings clearly indicate the efficacy of the project in both educational and clinical settings for encouraging growth in knowledge building, insight or compassion building, and skills building. Additionally, through implementation of the project, participants experienced improved articulation of bereavement issues around both death and nondeath losses.