Niagara College Canada

What is experiential learning?

Experiential Learning is an educational activity facilitated and supported by the institution which allows students to “learn while doing.” Students are given the opportunity to actively participate in concrete learning opportunities. This can take the form of co-op, internship, and clinical placements, apprenticeships, job-shadowing, practicums and more. This brief video helps define experiential learning.

What are the benefits of incorporating experiential learning into the curriculum and into the workplace?

Experiential learning helps students achieve academic learning outcomes and student career development while preparing graduates to be more successful and adaptable in real-world work situations. Community partners also benefit from working with students, who often bring a fresh perspective, diversity, and curiosity to the workplace.

Who can access the Experiential Learning Toolkit?

The EL Toolkit is free and readily accessible to anyone who wishes to make use of it, and can be accessed online at www.eltoolkit.ca.

What role do industry and community organizations play in experiential learning?

Industry and community organizations are key in ensuring students are developing key skills and getting the hands-on training they need to succeed in the workforce. That in turn strengthens the local economy by producing students and graduates who enter the workforce with job-ready experiences already under their belt.

I’m a student. Where can I go to find resources on experiential learning?

While the EL Toolkit is focused on providing resources for educational institutions and community partners, Niagara College’s Centre for Academic Excellence has also helped create a set of free and accessible Work Integrated Learning modules, designed to help students make the most of the work-integrated learning opportunities offered by their school. The modules can be accessed at www.niagaracollege.ca/cae/wil/.

What is included in the Toolkit?

The toolkit consists of 16 online modules, tailored for either educational institutions, or businesses and community organizations. The modules walk participants through the process of designing, delivering, and evaluating experiential learning programs, and offer examples, interactive tools, links to external resources, as well as fillable and downloadable planning and development worksheets

What topics do the modules cover?

The 16 modules are divided into four main categories:

1. Designing, which includes an overview of experiential learning, and information and tools to effectively plan and prepare for learning opportunities, and how to establish learning outcomes and assessments;
2. Delivering, which focuses on determining instructional strategies, preparing and supporting learners to engage productively, engaging industry and community partners, and navigating the risks and rewards of experiential learning;
3. Facilitating, which covers the attributes of effective experiential learning, the roles and responsibilities of students, schools and community partners, and how to leverage the opportunities created by experiential learning; and
4. Evaluating, which includes the measures and metrics that can used to effectively assess experiential learning activities, and use those findings to improve future activities and programs.

How was the Toolkit developed?

The Experiential Learning Toolkit (ELTOOLKIT) project was managed by Niagara College’s Centre for Academic Excellence, and was developed in collaboration with representatives from Brock University and Georgian College. The project was made possible through $202,000 in funding received from the Ministry of Colleges and Universities, under the ministry’s Career Ready Fund, which helps publicly-assisted colleges and universities, employers and other organizations create experiential learning opportunities for postsecondary students and recent grads.