Experiential Learning Certificate Program
The Experiential Learning Certificate Program is an opportunity for faculty to do a deeper dive into experiential learning theory and pedagogy as well as gain additional knowledge and skills around best practices for experiential learning.
Learning Objectives
Faculty will…
- Gain an awareness of the theory and pedagogy around experiential learning, the different types of experiential learning, and how it fosters student learning
- Consider the implications of student readiness on experiential learning and develop a skill set to be able to design opportunities that are in alignment with a student’s development
- Develop an understanding of the importance of passion, purpose and career readiness in a students’ life
- Analyze the needs of the students in their own departments and develop a plan for experiential learning based on those needs
- Distinguish between teaching, leading, and mentoring experiential learning and assess their own strengths and skill sets for each role
- Develop a tentative action plan for increasing, enhancing, or creating experiential learning in their respective departments
- Gain ideas for how to assess experiential learning in their respective departments
- Acquire the preparation they need to become a pilot department in accordance with the career-bridge experiential learning initiative at Virginia Tech
Participation Benefits
- Familiarity with experiential learning and the QEP initiative that will be a part of Virginia Tech for the next 10 years
- Become a part of a community of scholars that can share in informed, collaborative, creative problem-solving to frame and facilitate strategies, expectations, and outcomes for experiential learning.
- Development of knowledge, skills, and assessment strategies related to experiential learning
- Develop confidence in creating and implementing experiential learning opportunities for students
Requirements
- Participants must have an interest in gaining knowledge and skills associated with experiential learning and be open to learning and reflecting on those skills as well as the teaching and learning process associated with experiential learning.
- Participants will be asked to support fellow faculty in the program, recognizing that levels of knowledge around experiential learning may vary.
- Participants need to have a willingness to be a participant in experiential-focused activities throughout the program.
- Participants may be from any department, unit, or college at Virginia Tech
- Participants can miss no more than one program session during the Spring semester
Schedule
The Experiential Learning Certificate Program will consist of one cohort. Meetings will be held on select Thursdays, 11am - 12:30pm in Spring Semester. Currently, all meetings will be virtual, but if participants decide they are comfortable meeting in person, this might be possible.
The schedule provides a general overview of topics that will be covered during the program, but it is subject to change based on cohort needs.
- February 11 - An Introduction to Experiential Learning
- February 25 - The Kolb Learning Style Inventory and Its Implications for Teaching
- March 4 - Purposeful Design of Experiential Learning in the 1st and 2nd Year
- March 18 - Purposeful Design of Experiential Learning in the 3rd and 4th Year
- April 1 - Best Practices and Operationalizing Experiential Learning
- April 15 - Mentoring and Reflection
- April 29 - Assessing Experiential Learning
Applying for the Program
Applicants for the Experiential Learnning Certificate must complete the online application process.
- Application Due Date: January 25, 2021
- Participants Notified: January 29,2021
- First Program Meeting: February 11, 2021
Access the online application for Spring 2021