Experiential Learning Leadership & Community Involvement Geoffrey S. Whitcomb March 17, 2010

Experiential Learning What is Experiential Learning? One makes discoveries with knowledge and information first- hand, through direct experiences. One makes discoveries with knowledge and information first- hand, through direct experiences. The context for learning is an action or experience outside the lecture-driven classroom. The context for learning is an action or experience outside the lecture-driven classroom. Various contexts: Service-Learning; Internships; Co-op’s Various contexts: Service-Learning; Internships; Co-op’s

Experiential Learning

Core component pieces of E-L: 1) Classroom experience. Community-based experience. (what?) Community-based experience. (what?) 2) Guided reflection / evaluation experience. (so what?) evaluation experience. (so what?) 3) Guided application or envisioning experience. (now what?)

Experiential Learning yasmsanchee.myplace.nie.edu.sg/…KolbCycle.gif Accessed 15 Nov 2008.

Experiential Learning Texas Center for Service-Learning phics/cycle.gif

Experiential Learning Distinctions Among Types of Experiential Learning Programs Volunteer Service Service-Learning Internship Volunteer Service Service-Learning Internship Primary Focus Service Service and Learning Learning Primary Intended Recipient Recipient and Provider Recipient, Provider, Beneficiary Host Organization Intended Educ. Ethical, Civic, Career Civic, Academic, Career Civic, Academic & Career Purposes Development Development Development Integration with Peripheral Integrated Integrated and Curriculum Supplemental Nature of Based on a Based on an Based on Service Activity Social Cause Academic Discipline Academics and Career Source: Furco, Andrew (2002) “Is Service-Learning Really Better Than Community Service? A Study of High School Service Program Outcomes.” In Furco, Andrew & Billig, Shelly (Eds.). Service-Learning: The Essence of the Pedagogy. Information Age Publishing: Greenwich, CT. Also, Darrin Ford interview, Hegi Family Career Development Center, SMU, March 2010.

Experiential Learning What? Utilizing ‘experiential’ contexts for learning… Cross-generational tutoring and mentoring Cross-generational tutoring and mentoring Environmental engineering for organizations Environmental engineering for organizations Oral history interviews with seniors Oral history interviews with seniors Producing PR material with community groups Producing PR material with community groups

Experiential Learning What, cont. …which are built together with community… * Meeting actual community needs * Coordinated collaboratively with community * A two-way, reciprocal relationship

Experiential Learning What, cont. …and which are integrated into and/or with the curriculum. the curriculum. * Curricular and Extra-curricular. * Mandatory and optional. * Value positive/negative and value neutral.

Experiential Learning So What? - Guided Reflection and Evaluation – * Wherein information is consciously processed (Experiential Learning: overtly declared) * Facilitators vs. Instructors (androgogy vs. pedagogy; pragmatism) * Use of Benchmarking

Experiential Learning So What? - Guided Reflection and Evaluation – Cognitive learning: (critical) thinking skills Affective learning: attitudes & values Psychomotor learning: skills and abilities

Experiential Learning So What? - Guided Reflection and Evaluation – Assessment through Journals, Logs, Discussion, Brainstorming, Questions, Discussion, Brainstorming, Questions, Papers, Projects, Model Building. Papers, Projects, Model Building. ATHERTON J S (2005) Learning and Teaching: Experiential Learning [On-line] UK: Available: Accessed: 15 November

Experiential Learning Now What? - Application and Transfer – * Transferring new knowledge to existing self and situations * Envisioning new possibilities for self and situations * Creating new realities for self and situations

Experiential Learning Now What? - Application and Transfer – Use of Benchmarking, Part II Use of Benchmarking, Part II Engaging participants in newly informed service and learning Engaging participants in newly informed service and learning Shifting the locus of control Shifting the locus of control(handout)

Experiential Learning Wingspread Conference Principles of Good Practice in Combining Experience and Learning 1. Assign Academic Credit for Learning, Not for the Experience. 2. Uphold Academic Rigor. 3. Set Learning Goals for Students. 4. Establish (Academic) Criteria for the Selection of Community Experiences.

Experiential Learning Wingspread Conference Principles, cont. 5. Provide Educationally Sound Mechanisms to Facilitate Experiential Learning. 6. Provide Support for Students As They Engage in Experiential Learning. 7. Minimize the Distinction between the Student's Community Learning Role and the Classroom Learning Role. 8. Re-Think the Faculty Instructional Role. Adapted from: Howard, J., ed. (1993) Praxis I: A faculty casebook on community service learning. Ann Arbor, MI: Office of Community Service Learning Press, University of Michigan.

Experiential Learning Leadership and Community Involvement (LCI) Working with students, faculty, staff, and community organizations to develop leadership and service activities on campus and in the Dallas community and beyond. Working with students, faculty, staff, and community organizations to develop leadership and service activities on campus and in the Dallas community and beyond. Experiential Learning Leadership programs Experiential Learning Leadership programs Service-Learning consulting and facilitation Service-Learning consulting and facilitation Volunteer Service projects and placements Volunteer Service projects and placements Centralized facilitation for the entire University Centralized facilitation for the entire University(handout)

Experiential Learning Challenges for Experiential SMU Changing the various Educational Paradigms (pedagogical to androgogical; Changing the various Educational Paradigms (pedagogical to androgogical; communication to collaboration or buy-in) communication to collaboration or buy-in) Developing Educator’s Skill Sets (pedagogical to androgogical) Developing Educator’s Skill Sets (pedagogical to androgogical) Resources Resources Personnel – administration, research, coordination, Personnel – administration, research, coordination, training, vetting, facilitation. training, vetting, facilitation. Financial – ongoing support, training, software, transportation; Financial – ongoing support, training, software, transportation; faculty course load, tenure and promotion. faculty course load, tenure and promotion.

Experiential Learning Building on the theory and experiences of… John Dewey (Pragmatic education) Kurt Lewin (Field Theory and Learning, 1942) Kurt Hahn (Gordonstoun, Outward Bound, United World Colleges) Ralph Tyler (using ‘real experiences’ for learning; Basic Principles of Curriculum and Instruction, 1949) Basic Principles of Curriculum and Instruction, 1949) David Kolb (Experiential Learning, 1983)

Experiential Learning Some Student Benefits of SL Participation. 1) Has a positive effect on student personal development such as sense of personal efficacy, personal identity, spiritual growth, and moral personal efficacy, personal identity, spiritual growth, and moral development. development. 2) Has a positive effect on interpersonal development and the ability to work well with others, leadership and communication skills. well with others, leadership and communication skills. 3) Has a positive effect on sense of social responsibility and citizenship skills. 4) Students or faculty report that SL has a positive impact on students’ academic learning. 5) Has an impact on such academic outcomes as demonstrated complexity of understanding, problem analysis, critical thinking, and cognitive development.

Experiential Learning Some Student Benefits of SL Participation, cont. 6) Students or faculty report that SL improves students’ ability to apply what they have learned in ‘the real world.’ learned in ‘the real world.’ 7) It contributes to career development. 8) Students engaged in SL report stronger faculty relationships than those who are not involved in SL. involved in SL. 9) It improves student satisfaction with college. 10) Students engaged in SL are more likely to graduate. Eyler J S, Giles D E Jr., Stenson C M, Gray C J, At a Glance: What We Know about The Effects of Service-Learning on College Students, Faculty, Institutions and Communities, , Third Edition. Vanderbilt University, 31 August 2001.

Experiential Learning SL Impact on Communities. Provides useful service in communities. Provides useful service in communities. Develops enhanced town-gown relations. Develops enhanced town-gown relations. SL Impact on Faculty. Commitment to research. Commitment to research. Satisfaction with quality of student learning. Satisfaction with quality of student learning. Eyler J S, Giles D E Jr., Stenson C M, Gray C J, At a Glance: What We Know about The Effects of Service-Learning on College Students, Faculty, Institutions and Communities, , Third Edition. Vanderbilt University, 31 August 2001.

Experiential Learning The Communities Increasingly diverse Increasingly diverse Increasingly connected to the institution and the campus Increasingly connected to the institution and the campus More open to utilizing all of their resources due to economic shortfalls More open to utilizing all of their resources due to economic shortfalls SL provides useful service in communities. SL provides useful service in communities. SL develops enhanced town-gown relations. SL develops enhanced town-gown relations. Eyler J S, Giles D E Jr., Stenson C M, Gray C J, At a Glance: What We Know about The Effects of Service-Learning on College Students, Faculty, Institutions and Communities, , Third Edition. Vanderbilt University, 31 August 2001.

Experiential Learning The Students SL more often required in high school SL more often required in high school More frequently looking for ‘real-world’ involvement, application of knowledge More frequently looking for ‘real-world’ involvement, application of knowledge Many are like the Susquehanna River (PA) Many are like the Susquehanna River (PA)