scholarly journals Experiential Learning in MPA Programs: A Case for Complementarity between Internship and Service Learning Requirements

2016 ◽  
Vol 49 (01) ◽  
pp. 132-138 ◽  
Author(s):  
John David Gerlach ◽  
Tyler P. Reinagel

ABSTRACTExperiential learning is a growing practice in higher education today. Master of Public Administration (MPA) programs use experiential learning to expose students to application and reinforcement of academic theories and concepts. This most often is accomplished through a required internship. This article argues for the addition of service learning requirements to MPA curricula. A complementary relationship between internship and service learning requirements yields four primary benefits: (1) further involvement of pre-service and in-service students in experiential-learning activities; (2) additional exposure to real-life application of course concepts; (3) better and more targeted classroom reinforcement mechanisms; and (4) additional community benefit. Complementarity between internship and service learning requirements allows the best of each experiential-learning approach to augment the other. We contend that this produces better-prepared MPA graduates by exposing them to a more diverse set of immersive learning opportunities and application scenarios.

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S536-S536
Author(s):  
Marjorie A Getz

Abstract Aging is a distinct part of the life cycle. College students enrolled in courses in gerontology often have difficulty relating to aging, that part of life not yet experienced. They may not fully appreciate that adults become more unique, not more similar, as they age. We describe courses in an undergraduate gerontology certificate program that incorporate experiential learning activities with older adults across a hierarchical sequence of courses. These courses feature service learning opportunities focused on increased understanding of course content, broader appreciation of the discipline and improved sense of civic responsibility. Much like the course content of the curriculum, the incorporated experiential learning opportunities for each course level fit a hierarchy leading to student competence and skills development needed for success in the final independent practicum. For the described courses, students provided community service, experienced direct contact with older adults and used reflective practices to integrate course content into service learning activities. We report on qualitative data obtained from students enrolled in the foundational course, Biophysical Aspects of Aging and the third level course, Aging and Mental Health. Content analyses of reflective essays identified five themes: (a) insights about the realities of aging in America (b) perceptions concerning personal negative stereotypes about older adults; (c) feelings of accomplishment/awareness of new skills in providing community services; (d) understandings related to the importance/value of community service; and (e) successes in integrating the course work on aging into service-learning experiences. Other experiential learning activities incorporated into this gerontology certificate program are highlighted.


2010 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. 2-3
Author(s):  
Kiran Cunningham ◽  
Jayne Howell ◽  
Ronald Loewe

Conversations about how to create meaningful and significant experiential learning opportunities for students in international and intercultural contexts are increasingly commonplace in academic institutions. With over a century dedicated to the development and refinement of a powerful set of methodological, attitudinal, conceptual, and theoretical tools for cross-cultural understanding and engagement, anthropology has much to offer these conversations. Contributors to this issue of Practicing Anthropology draw on their experiences directing international offices, directing offices and study abroad programs, leading internationalization initiatives, establishing service learning programs, running international and intercultural field schools, and developing intercultural learning assessment instruments. They all interrogate teaching and learning outcomes, exploring the ways that the theories and methods of anthropology have been effective in enhancing intercultural learning and offering models and methodologies that others can use in their own work. The first four articles in the issue were individually submitted, and were ideal complements to the six articles Kiran Cunningham compiled.


Author(s):  
Susan Hirsch ◽  
Agnieszka Paczynska ◽  
Philip Gamaghelyan

For a number of years, a student/faculty team at the School for Conflict Analysisand Resolution has been developing experiential learning activities (ELAs) toincrease student learning, student engagement, and students' critical thinkingabilities. The team developed several new activities focused on improving studentlearning of research skills and conventions in the interdisciplinary conflict analysisand resolution field. During this session, presenters will discuss activities andmaterials developed for the program's capstone course, CONF 490, wheretheoretical readings and class activities that helped students prepare their finalresearch product were supplemented by examples of real-life research. 


2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 101-106
Author(s):  
Alim Harun Pamungkas ◽  
Vevi Sunarti

PAUD institutions are often interpreted as a place of learning for children who are only oriented to the skills and knowledge of reading, writing, counting, and drawing. PAUD institutions should focus on children's development related to religious and moral, physical, cognitive, language, social, emotional and artistic aspects. Thus the educational services provided by PAUD institutions must be able to facilitate all aspects of child development through enjoyable learning activities and help increase understanding of parents or the surrounding community about playing as a fun learning activity. Fun learning activities for early childhood need to be designed to help children get real life simulations in their daily activities. PAUD institution learning activities need to be adjusted to the stages of child development based on experiential learning model learning principles. On that basis, an activity is needed that facilitates the creation of learning experiences for managers and parents or community members in PAUD institutions about experiential learning.Keywords: Childhood Education (PAUD), Experiential Learning


2011 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 31 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ronald R. Sims ◽  
Edward L. Felton, Jr.

This paper is concerned with identifying keys to successfully teach ethics. The keys are: addressing the relevance challenge; striving to achieve a balance between the active engagement of students with issues and a critical analysis of choices in to be made in real-life situations; attending to or managing the learning process to include learning styles and experiential learning; debriefing experientially-oriented learning activities; and institutionalizing outcomes of ethics education objectives. The paper discusses results of a study that attempted to answer the question What is required to successfully deliver experientially-oriented ethics education


Author(s):  
Elisabeth Krimbill ◽  
Lawrence Scott ◽  
Amy Carter

As global citizens, we have an increasing international interdependence that now impacts the way we solve problems and interact with one another. Intentionally planed travel abroad has the potential to transform lives by creating a greater global and personal awareness, where adolescents see themselves as not just members of their local community, but also a global community. In an attempt to prepare students for an international and interdependent world, one inner-city nonprofit agency partnered with a local university in South Texas to provide overseas experiential learning opportunities paired with service-learning projects. Through one innovative program, more than 600 students have traveled to more than 20 countries as a full-immersion experience, most of which were centered on service-learning opportunities. The students in this program had the opportunity to examine their prejudices, assumptions, and fears while learning about themselves and developing deeper relationships with members of their school and local community through global outreach.


Author(s):  
Katie L. Treadwell ◽  
Brian R. Mitra

This chapter explores how experiential learning opportunities, specifically service-learning, foster career exploration, development of transferable skills, and readiness for employment and/or higher education among community college students. By drawing upon experiences leading service-learning opportunities, career development, faculty partnerships, and leadership development at urban community colleges, the authors present an approach to community college education rooted in experiential learning. The chapter proposes the use of Usher, Bryant, and Johnston's model of learning from experience to develop students' vocational practices and help “learners become more empowered to respond to their changing vocational environments” (Merriam, Caffarella, & Baumgartner, 2007, p. 68). These impacts are illustrated through the programs and student voices of a community college recognized for its service-learning opportunities. Colleges and corporations share responsibility to prepare citizens (Holton, 1998). Community colleges must take the lead in developing these partnerships and designing learning environments that benefit students and community, in turn creating a next-generation workforce.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 254-268
Author(s):  
Stephanus Fajar Pamungkas ◽  
Indah Widiastuti ◽  
Suharno

Abstract This study evaluated the use of an experiential learning design for vocational education in mechanical engineering. The research objective is to analyze students’ attitudes and responses after participating in learning activities using a worksheet designed according to Kolb's stages by considering Felder-Silverman's student learning styles. This research was conducted using a case study research employing qualitative data analysis. The data were collected using a purposive random sampling technique with 28 respondents in a 10th grade. The datawere analyzed using descriptive qualitative analysis. The experiential learning activities were carried out concrete experience, reflective observations, abstract conceptualization, and active experimentation. It is shown that students have a positive attitude and response. Experiential activities help students in learning Basic of Mechanical Engineering and they enjoy participating in the learning activities. Experiential learning activities are considered to be fun, interesting, and easy to be understood. The students could relate the course material to real-life situations, which may benefit the students to enhance learning and connect the knowledge they learned to their own experiences. It is suggested that the experiential design is effectively used and could explore the relationship between learning theory and practice in Vocational High School.


2012 ◽  
Vol 54 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marion Engrand-O'Hara

This article is based on the principle that traditional in-class teaching does not have to be radically overhauled for individualised learning to take place. The premise is that students need to be trained as effective independent learners so that, having recognised a specific learning need, they are empowered to fulfil it rather than wasting time searching for the perfect bite-size course. To this effect, the FL section of RHI has been requiring a Portfolio of Independent Study from students on all courses since September 2002. The Portfolio has been developed, and constantly revised, not only as part of a learner-centred approach to teaching and a drive to increase student motivation, but also as a lifelong learning tool. Considerations such as tutors' workload and the limitations imposed by quality assurance procedures also had to be taken into account. RHI offer an Institution-Wide Language Programme, where courses last 11 weeks and can be taken as part of a degree. However, most students take them as an elective, and most are international students. With such a variety of backgrounds and needs, a learner-centred approach was a necessity. By completing a Portfolio of Independent Study, students are given a chance to take charge of their own learning by assessing their current level / capabilities; setting realistic goals for themselves; planning learning activities; selecting relevant, level-appropriate materials to work from; evaluating the effectiveness of an activity; assessing their own progress both in terms of language competence and in terms of learner-training; setting new goals for themselves and taking advantage of learning opportunities arising in daily life. Over the last eight years, we have been in tune with the students' reaction to what is seen as an unconventional learning approach. This article thus highlights the difficulties and successes of this endeavour.


2019 ◽  
Vol 97 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. 179-179
Author(s):  
William B Smith

Abstract Experiential learning is a feature common to post-secondary agricultural education. Similar to experiential learning opportunities, incorporation of service learning into post-secondary coursework is being encouraged more often. Our objective was to determine how community engagement and introduction of real-world problems in a species-specific production course would affect student performance and outlooks on community service. This experiment was conducted as a completely randomized design within the beef cattle production class during the spring 2019 semester at Tarleton State University. Thirty-eight students were enrolled in the course across two laboratory sections. Students in the first laboratory section were used as a control group. In the control, students were asked to draw from a selection of possibilities a description of herd size, sire and dam breed type, and county. Groups were asked to develop a management plan for a commercial cow-calf operation. Students in the second laboratory section were asked to brainstorm the most prevalent barriers to implementation of best management practices in cow-calf production. Groups were randomly assigned to each topic and were tasked with developing a tri-fold brochure addressing the barrier. They were instructed that this was being done as a service to the greater beef community and would be evaluated by industry representatives. Students in CON had more (P < 0.05) students that reported performing community service weekly or monthly prior to the study than TRT. Groups were similar (P ≥ 0.41) in their assessment of community needs and the role of college students in community service. Likewise, CON and TRT had similar (P ≥ 0.41) responses in having less time available for coursework and their service contributing to the betterment of the overall community. Results are interpreted to mean that incorporation of service learning opportunities does not influence student views on community service.


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