Experiential Learning Courses Research Articles

Applying community of inquiry in a collaborative experiential learning course

A collaborative experiential learning course involves two or more learning institutions. Operational constraints in designing such a course, especially when the institutions are in different locations, motivated the application of Community of Inquiry (COI) with online components, which typically finds application in blended learning. This article describes a new application of COI in a collaborative experiential learning course with a case study that involved two universities at different countries. The course included students from a university learning about Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) in communities at the locality of another university. The application of COI was measured using factor pattern matrix (FPM). Students’ perceived learning was measured using reflection and course feedback. COI was rated well by students from both universities with indication of strong social and cognitive presences. The cognitive presence of visiting students appeared dominant through activities, while of host students through reflection. The study describes a new application of COI in areas other than blended learning.

Integrating Real-World Data into Actuarial Science Teaching: Examples and Challenges

With the increasing availability of data and advancements in statistical tools, the insurance industry is eagerly seeking students capable of performing data analysis and developing business solutions. To meet this growing demand, many universities and institutions are innovating their actuarial science programs. This trend has led us to develop two types of experiential learning courses that integrate real-world data: a case study with actuarial professionals and an actuarial science senior capstone. In this paper, we provide two specific examples and methodologies. Then we discuss the challenges faced along with recommendations derived from these project experiences.

Exploring the Possible Selves of Pre-Service English and Filipino Language Teachers: Insights into Language Teacher Preparation

Despite the growing interest in understanding the complex nature of possible selves among pre-service language teachers, an in-depth exploration into its intricacy and how this can directly inform language teacher preparation remains relatively scarce. Using qualitative-descriptive research design, this study provides a comprehensive analysis of the possible selves of pre-service English and Filipino language teachers, specifically focusing on identifying their hoped-for selves and feared selves as future language teachers. The participants were 20 pre-service language teachers from a state university in the southernmost part of the Philippines, evenly divided between Bachelor of Secondary Education-English and Bachelor of Secondary Education-Filipino, who were selected using purposive sampling technique. Data were collected through a reflective journal, an unstructured questionnaire which explored the participants’ experiences with 40-session practice teaching, and an experiential learning course which ran for 10 weeks. The reflective journals were analyzed thematically following an AI-assisted inductive thematic analysis procedure. The analysis revealed a complex panorama of pre-service English and Filipino language teachers’ possible selves, highlighting a myriad of their hoped-for and feared selves. The findings enhanced theoretical understanding of possible selves in language teacher education and further propounded the critical need for a multifaceted approach to language teacher preparation.

Job Satisfaction and Teaching Effectiveness in Emergency Remote Teaching among Higher Education Faculty

In the rapidly evolving landscape of 21st century education, teacher preparation programs play a significant role in shaping the educators of tomorrow. This qualitative study aims to reveal both the opportunities and limitations of incorporating action research into experiential learning courses within teacher education programs. The researcher conducted a comprehensive thematic analysis to examine and categorize the participants' responses. Through in-depth interviews with 30 senior education students at Batangas State University, The National Engineering University, JPLPC Malvar, Batangas, Philippines, during the academic year 2021-2022, it was revealed that the opportunities arising from action research include enhanced teaching skills and pedagogy, problem-solving and reflective practice, collaborative learning and peer interaction, as well as professional growth and ethical awareness. Moreover, participants also encounter limitations, such as time constraints, resource accessibility, and ethical dilemmas. To address these challenges and capitalize on the opportunities, the study recommends strategies for improved time management, equitable resource access, and ethical training and support within teacher education programs. The study also suggests future research avenues, including longitudinal studies and comparative analyses, to further enhance action research's role in shaping the educators of the future.

Expensive but Worth It: Live Projects in Statistics, Data Science, and Analytics Courses

Students in statistics, data science, analytics, and related fields study the theory and methodology of data-related topics. Some, but not all, are exposed to experiential learning courses that cover essential parts of the life cycle of practical problem-solving. Experiential learning enables students to convert real-world issues into solvable technical questions and effectively communicate their findings to clients. We describe several experiential learning course designs in statistics, data science, and analytics curricula. We present findings from interviews with faculty from the U.S., Europe, and the Middle East and surveys of former students. We observe that courses featuring live projects and coaching by experienced faculty have a high career impact, as reported by former participants. However, such courses are labor-intensive for both instructors and students. We give estimates of the required effort to deliver courses with live projects and the perceived benefits and tradeoffs of such courses. Overall, we conclude that courses offering live-project experiences, despite being more time-consuming than traditional courses, offer significant benefits for students regarding career impact and skill development, making them worthwhile investments. Supplementary materials for this article are available online.

UNDERGRADUATES’ PERCEPTION OF COMMUNITY SERVICE COURSE-NARRATIVES ON CHALLENGES AND INITIATIVES AT TECHNICAL ENGINEERING UNIVERSITY

Community service is an important co-curricular course which is offered to university students in many countries to develop critical thinking skills, awareness, empathy and soft-skills like management and communication. How such as course is able to instill in students the desired traits requires more study. This study aims to investigate the perception of undergraduates participating in community service course, the challenges that they have to face and their initiatives as mitigation strategies in achieving the goals of community service. Data for this study is elicited via a simple mix-method approach that combines elements of quantitative and qualitative research. The 68 undergraduates who served as purposive samples were enrolled in a 14-week co-curricular course called community service and were surveyed, interviewed and physically observed as they undertook the assigned tasks. All the community service groups were able to plan and execute four main projects. The study found five types of main challenges that the students have to face namely i. sourcing for funds and financial support, ii. logistics and manpower, iii. group dynamics, communication and cooperation, iv. time management and v. task planning and distribution. Initiatives and mitigation strategies undertaken by the students are having more specific meeting and discussion, exploring all possible options, appointing capable group leader who knows roles well and referring to and consulting lecturers. These insights from this study are useful for tertiary level curriculum planners to further enhance the effectiveness of such experiential learning course to further actualize the potential of the university students.

Pivoting an Entrepreneurship Experiential Learning Module Online: Applying a Concrete Experience Framework

Experiential learning has gained in popularity over the past 20 years in many fields and in entrepreneurship education in particular, where many educators posit that it is essential. Delivery of experiential learning activities and courses became extremely difficult and nearly impossible in some countries during the COVID-19 pandemic due to government imposed lockdowns and restrictions, forcing educational institutions to adapt and many opted to move their teaching online. How these changes impacted positively or negatively on experiential learning and students’ ability to adapt and learn has yet to be fully understood. This paper introduces a concrete experience framework and describes how it was applied to the process of pivoting an MBA experiential learning module online. It contributes by demonstrating how educators can adopt the framework in their efforts to adapt or create online courses that aim to deliver experiential learning.

A Community Mental Health and Well-Being University Level Course: Design and Implementation

Background: Community mental health is growing discipline in psychology that recognizes the importance of creating a community that fosters wellness. Although universities provide many individuals a sense of community, little research has examined how community mental health interventions can be implemented into a classroom setting. Purpose: This paper provides a proof of concept of a university course that was created to give students the opportunity to interact with their campus community while receiving course credit over two semesters. Approach: In the first semester, the course provided students with content and theory as it relates to community mental health, well-being, and health promotion. The second semester implemented experiential learning, where students applied knowledge and skills to a placement related to mental health and well-being within their university. Conclusions: This university course can provide benefits to the university (e.g., cost-efficiency), the students (e.g., networking), and the community (e.g., accessible mental health services). This research presents a course framework that other post-secondary institutions can build upon and implement into their own programs. Implications: Future research should focus on implementing experiential learning courses that provide opportunities in the mental health field for undergraduate psychology students to facilitate post-graduate student success.

Sustainable innovations by design thinking: An experiential learning course implemented by students

How to promote sustainable practices and practical learning at universities? The course Design Thinking Challenges at the University of Graz, initiated by students, incorporated student-centered pedagogies like experimental learning and critical reflection. The goal was to empower students to address sustainability issues, foster collaborative learning, and develop problem-solving skills. The article offers a personal perspective on the experience of implementing the course, and shares achievements, challenges, and recommendations.

Applying Kolb's Experiential Learning Theory to an Event Management Course: Practical Guidelines for Educators

While experiential learning is well established in higher education, several scholars called for more studies on how to embed it for event management students. This article aims to answer these calls by investigating student and instructor perspectives on delivering a live event for a postgraduate course in an English university. It uses primary as well as secondary data from previous studies to suggest how to plan an experiential learning course. Findings provide practical recommendations to educators in relation to four elements: teaching content; resources and support; assessment; and links to employability. While doing so, Kolb's cycle is reviewed and a new model of experiential learning for event management students is suggested. Thus, this article expands the current debate on experiential learning and suggests practical guidelines for event management educators.

Exploring students’ perceptions of self-assessment in the context of problem solving in STEM

Central goals of higher education in STEM domains include learning of problem solving and self-assessment skills. To achieve these goals, we propose a novel self-assessment method called the Solve-Correct-Assess-Negotiate (SCAN) method of assessing problem solving that includes both formative and summative elements. We study students’ learning experiences in courses involving different methods of assessing problem solving (Course 1 including teacher-led assessment, Ntrad = 53; Course 2 including SCAN method, NSCAN = 56) and specifically associations between these learning experiences and students' perceptions of the SCAN method. We found that the students relied on teacher-led assessment more than the self-assessment. The perceived utility of the self-assessment was positively associated with a deeper approach to learning in Course 2 than in Course 1. Students who found the self-assessment less beneficial also perceived less support from the learning environment. Our findings suggest that the successful implementation of novel self-assessment-based practices for problem-solving requires personalized support for self-assessment, teachers’ awareness of the different perceptions that students have towards these practices, and discussion among teachers and students on the rationale, utility, and reliability of the different practices.

Using multidisciplinary, conflict-based experiential learning to train students on how to address controversy at the public-private land interface

Agricultural and natural resource managers face complex problems that involve thinking across multiple disciplines, particularly in North America where professionals often have to work in multi-use landscapes containing both private and public lands. Here we describe a multidisciplinary, conflict-based experiential learning course we developed to prepare students to address complex issues facing future managers working at the public-private land interface. Using both pre- and post-course surveys and qualitative analysis of reflective essays, we observed that following our course students (1) were more aware of conservation needs and more sensitive to perspectives of various stakeholder groups concerning those needs, (2) embraced complexity and multidisciplinary thinking needed to address management challenges at the public-private land interface, and (3) showed appreciation of and became more comfortable discussing controversial issues with stakeholders and the general public. Students also became more willing to travel, work independently, and take a leading role in peer groups. By embedding students in a charged learning environment with multiple competing perspectives, our course has been able to build a more knowledgeable, empathetic and confident cohort of future employees who are better prepared to address complex issues facing agricultural and natural resource managers working at the public-private land interface.

Utilizing experiential learning to deliver substance misuse prevention education and impact local communities

ABSTRACT This two-year study examined whether an experiential learning course (N = 3) can effectively train Bachelor of Social Work students (N = 61) to provide substance misuse prevention services and make a quantifiable impact on their campus and surrounding community. The results showed that the course effectively trained students to engage in prevention activities with a 97% cumulative class average and an 80% pass rate for engaged students on an internationally accredited prevention exam. The course also produced several significant outputs such as collecting 7.6 tons of garbage from the local community, distributing public health materials to over 7,000 students, and saving a community member’s life through the administration of Naloxone for an overdose. Overall, implications from the study suggest that social work academic programs can utilize experiential learning to effectively train students to engage in substance misuse prevention while also producing significant and measurable outcomes for local communities.

Hospitality and tourism management student satisfaction with their majors and career readiness amid the COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic outbreak impacted hospitality and tourism management (HTM) program offerings that typically attract students, such as experiential learning courses, field trips, and internships, which were canceled or postponed. This transition has raised concerns about whether student satisfaction with their major and their perceived career readiness were impacted by the modified curriculum. Therefore, this study investigates how perceived curriculum, campus support, and self-efficacy affect HTM student satisfaction with the major and career readiness during the COVID-19 pandemic. Consequently, perceived curriculum, campus support, and self-efficacy positively influenced student satisfaction with their major. Self-efficacy has a positive impact on career readiness.

Communication and relationship building in pharmacy education: Experiences from a student-patient buddy project

Background and purposeIn order to deliver patient-centred pharmaceutical care, pharmacy students need to develop the appropriate competences and skills. During their regular study program, they have limited long-term patient contact. We therefore implemented a student-patient buddy project to give students opportunity to practice and learn from the patient contact. Educational activity and settingA student-patient buddy project was implemented in a 10-week first-year master experiential learning course, including a community pharmacy internship. The pharmacist paired the student with a community-dwelling patient. Student learning activities included: (1) three meetings at the university to prepare and discuss buddy contact moments, (2) three buddy contact moments, (3) discussion with the internship providing pharmacist, and (4) a written reflection report. FindingsIn total, 66 students participated from April to June 2021. Most students found patient contact fun and a useful learning experience. Students mentioned that patients were very open and there was opportunity to build a relationship. The first conversation was experienced as exciting and sometimes difficult. Understanding the person was perceived as important. Internship pharmacists were positive about the project and saw learning benefits for students, as well as added value for the pharmacy, mainly because patients seemed to appreciate the contact. SummaryA student-patient buddy project is a good way to expand the limited long-term “real” patient care experiences of pharmacy students. This enables them to practice communication and building relationships with patients.

Fostering Resilience in Experiential Learning Courses

A focus on resilience in experiential education provides students in pre-professional programs opportunities to reflect upon their experiences as interns while also supporting their mental health and professional growth. Faculty must help students to identify strategies to manage stress and develop professional norms needed to thrive in a variety of work environments – whether in-person, hybrid, or remote. Capstone internship experiences offer an ideal setting to help students develop practical skills to support their personal and professional growth and identify their personal values and priorities. Field experience courses can foster student resilience by incorporating time for student journaling and reflection into all class meetings, encouraging students to identify strategies to forge a healthy work-life balance, and focusing on professional socialization by curating their online presence and mastering online collaborative tools such as Microsoft Teams that are vital elements of hybrid and remote work settings.

대학의 자기 주도적 융합교육과정 동향

This study examined self-directed interdisciplinary curriculum trends in higher education by delving into the self-directed interdisciplinary curricula (SDIC) of Korean universities, compared to those of U.S. universities. Data sources included SDIC information from the individualized studies program websites and hyperlinked documents. The analysis centered on (1) whether a student should include interdisciplinary independent study and experiential learning courses and (2) whether a student was given support in curriculum design and course study. Results revealed that U.S. and Korean universities enacted SDIC under different names to make the traditional curriculum diverse and flexible. The former required students to develop course plans, including interdisciplinary independent study and experiential learning courses. The latter encouraged students to design course plans to improve their multidisciplinary expertise and skills. Both SDIC were oriented toward the shared object: to foster individuals equipped with creativity and interdisciplinary competencies to meet the needs of society and industry. U.S. universities provided diverse aids to students who planned to take the SDIC. Korean universities gradually secured professionals to help students design and complete the SDIC. Based on the results, I suggested management systems of SDIC in higher education.

Emotional Variance Analysis: A new sentiment analysis feature set for Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning applications.

Sentiment Analysis (SA) is a category of data mining techniques that extract latent representations of affective states within textual corpuses. This has wide ranging applications from online reviews to capturing mental states. In this paper, we present a novel SA feature set; Emotional Variance Analysis (EVA), which captures patterns of emotional instability. Applying EVA on student journals garnered from an Experiential Learning (EL) course, we find that EVA is useful for profiling variations in sentiment polarity and intensity, which in turn can predict academic performance. As a feature set, EVA is compatible with a wide variety of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) applications. Although evaluated on education data, we foresee EVA to be useful in mental health profiling and consumer behaviour applications. EVA is available at https://qr.page/g/5jQ8DQmWQT4. Our results show that EVA was able to achieve an overall accuracy of 88.7% and outperform NLP (76.0%) and SentimentR (58.0%) features by 15.8% and 51.7% respectively when predicting student experiential learning grade scores through a Multi-Layer Perceptron (MLP) ML model.

Enhancing management education: How do experiences outside the classroom matter?

We use principles of participatory action research (PAR) to investigate differences in learning by business students resulting from an experiential course in their curriculum. Our research is framed by Fink's (2013) learning framework classifying student learning into cognitive and behavioural dimensions. As part of PAR, the students participated in this type of action learning through engaging with a community, reflecting on their experiences and participating in the research process. Through a content analysis that explores student learning reflections through the lens of Fink's taxonomy, we explore learning that is linked to the development of humanistic management. We compare how course delivery methods impact the learning of the students and how this difference is manifested along the human dimension. We find that a field-based experiential learning course provides a different learning experience, richer in the humanistic perspective than a traditional on-campus lecture. As part of the PAR, students reflected on their significant learning experiences a year after their initial experiences and demonstrated learning along the human dimension that had lasted and influenced their career decisions. We contribute to the literature on experiential learning in the context of a business curriculum by expanding the importance of place-based learning as a way of learning humanistic principles. We find that over time, students reflect more on behavioural rather than cognitive experiences.

How to assess? Student preferences for methods to assess experiential learning: A best-worst scaling approach.

Transitioning from traditional in-person classroom formats to online instructional delivery methods and online student assessments during the COVID-19 pandemic was a significant challenge to effective teaching, learning, and evaluation. Although there is a growing literature assessing the relative efficacy of different online teaching techniques, previous literature has not analyzed, from the student perspective, what methods are preferred for evaluating performance in experiential learning courses. How students perceive assessment methods is critical because it can affect their learning experience and academic achievements. To better understand student preferences for assessment methods, the best-worst scaling approach was used in two online surveys of 218 undergraduate students enrolled in experiential learning-based programs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Analysis of student responses indicates students’ highest levels of support for assessments that emphasize the development of critical thinking skills and professional skills, such as case studies. Most students would prefer assessments that are driving (develop different skills such as creative thinking) and realistic (develop skills transferable to the real world), while only a few (< 1%) prefer assessments that are fast (involve little time), frequent, safe (has preventive measures to eliminate cheating), or strategic (high probability of getting good grades).