UTC RAVE Alert

Susan Eckelmann Berghel

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Susan Eckelmann Berghel headshot
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Students at a museum in Birmingham
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The Innovation: What motivated your teaching experiment and what specific practice did you bring to your class?

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Students observing an exhibit at a museum
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Student Reaction: How did your students respond to the innovation? Were they open? Was there any resistance? What improvements did you notice in their learning?
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Students being given a lesson at museum exhibit
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The Future: Will you continue using this innovation in the future? Are there any modifications that you will make?
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Experiential Learning: What value do you see in experiential learning? Do you have any advice for a colleague who might be skeptical about such innovations?

Most students recognize the importance of learning beyond an assignment and a semester.  They learn to solve problems or complete tasks that require a range of different skillsets. At its best, applied-learning demands a degree of humility (from faculty and students alike) and a willingness to invest in a project beyond its formal deadlines and intended course outcomes. Experiential learning allows students to hone their ability to work in teams and develop a range of skillsets.

My two cents for faculty who shy away from experiential learning:

Learning beyond the classroom is manageable, especially when planning ahead and collaborating with others.  Importantly, the activity or assignment doesn’t have to be perfect on the first attempt. On that score, experiential learning activities offer other valuable lessons, including the possibility of failure (and how to process and move on from it) and the challenges of teamwork and time-consuming projects (and how to overcome these challenges). Navigating these potential obstacles during experiential learning activities promise to better prepare students for the demands of today’s professional world.

My advice to students who remain skeptical:

Teamwork is tough, and, yet, most jobs require a degree of collaboration. Effective teamwork and communication need to be rehearsed. College is a laboratory where you can hone these skills without the high stakes an actual job presents.

Most projects, especially those with lasting and meaningful outcomes, require time and investment beyond a semester or 4-year college degree. Most project deadlines exceed academic frameworks.  Complete work because it means something, not simply because it has deadline.

Trust your professors (a bit more). They may not always get the assignment perfect, but their best intentions are an investment in your education and your ability to succeed well beyond finals.  That’s a gift that will bring dividends in years to come.

Walker Center for Teaching and Learning

Walker Center for Teaching and Learning

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