James Willis III

Discussion Comment

James , This is an outstanding point! You are very right that students often have a much higher or much lower perception of their quality of work. An internship helps apply "real world" lessons in a way that often gives a much more accurate representation of one's own ability. Great point! Dr. James Willis III

James Willis III

Discussion Comment

Internships

Susan, You bring up a great point. Having the opportunity to help train a person specifically for work duties is a big asset to many in the field. Great point! Dr. James Willis III

James Willis III

Discussion Comment

Internships

Jeff, Great point! I think you're very right that employers can serve as instructors to students; they are teaching them different skills than they receive in the classroom. Great job! Dr. James Willis III

James Willis III

Discussion Comment

Experiential Learning

Chrystal, You bring up some great points! I like that you reference 'building blocks' because I think that's an excellent way to think about it. You are also right to bring up feedback; this is a valuable learning tool for students in internships. Dr. James Willis III

James Willis III

Discussion Comment

Internships

Joseph, You are absolutely right about the open line of communication. Organizations stand to learn from new and innovative approaches that interns may well know given their recent curriculum learning. Great point! Dr. James Willis III

James Willis III

Discussion Comment

Experiential Learning

Kassy, I think your point about the transfer of knowledge is very important; students can learn all kinds of things in a classroom, but at some point that has to translate into real-world application. Great point! Dr. James Willis III

James Willis III

Discussion Comment

Student Outcomes

Kassy, I think you're very right when it comes to 'interpersonal skills.' This is not learned through a textbook, it's learned on-the-job. More importantly, it's often learned most acutely when one encounters someone of a very different (even contrarian) point-of-view in the workplace. Excellent point! Dr. James Willis III

James Willis III

Discussion Comment

Internships

Heather, Very good point! Having a good fit between skill and personality is absolutely essential to a healthy working environment. Great point! Dr. James Willis III

James Willis III

Discussion Comment

Student Outcomes

Vickie, Those mentorship opportunities are invaluable for students; with positive role models, they can learn professionalism, on-the-job ethics, and skills that otherwise wouldn't be available in a textbook. Then, hopefully, they will one day be mentors for the next generation... Dr. James Willis III

James Willis III

Discussion Comment

Experiential Learning

Vickie, Excellent point! You are very right that internships bring together 'theoretical learning and classroom instruction.' We can't necessarily teach students what the workplace will be like, but an internship helps bridge those gaps. Dr. James Willis III