Experiential Learning
Work Study: I believe that the level of success has largely been dependent on the motivation of the student worker. We have had Federal Work Study and we have had a temporary work program for and external One Stop individual wishing to gain practical experience towards a more permanent position. In every case, there were opportunities to gain technical skill, knowledge and social skills. Overall, I would say there was personal and professional growth for the majority.
Doris,
I commend you for looking at your programs and being proactive to improve them. Programs are successful because the teams continually evaluate and adjust when needed.
Sheri Leach
Our Institution has an Externship for all our programs even those without a clinical component. As we found our MOA- Medical office Assistant program placements were not doing well we incorporated a 40 hour externship. This allowed our students to gain real world experience they can put on their resume. We have found this has helped our placement rate.
D. Hampton
Sami ,
Creating an awareness that the Externship is an extended interview is key to the success of the program. One of the most successful ways to help our students find success in the world of work is to offer some kind of experiential learning program which allows them to apply what they learn in the classroom to the real world. But, they have to take advantage of the opportunity by performing well.
Congratulations Sami on your success with high extern-to-hire rates!
Ann Cross
At my school we utilize both the externship and work-study programs. They are both great real life experience to our graduates. Work study employees have all the support and coaching of all the school staff. Students with work study experience get employed easier and faster than other graduates.
For the Externship program, a lot of preparation used to make the student ready. Students understand that an externship is a long interview process with the employer that could lead to a job opportunity. I proudly can say that the extern to hire rates for our graduates is high at my school.
Which of the following experiential learning opportunities mentioned in the course does your institution implement (Service Learning, Internships, Externships, Co-ops, Interdisciplinary Projects, Work-Study), and how would you evaluate the success of each?
Externships are a requirement for completion of many of our University's programs. Care is taken to thoroughly prepare students for this off campus experience so that they may maximize their gains throughout the term (improved skills, confidence, professional network, referrals for employment). The progress of each extern is monitored weekly, via timesheets and activity summaries. All externship students return to campus mid term for a roundtable discussion (focusing on strategies to pursue employment, entry level salaries, the hiring and interview process and more).
Hi Joseph,
Externships are great for the experience students get but also for the relationship they develop with the employer. Internships and externships have a high conversion to job offers compared to other job search strategies. It's great that this is a component for most of your programs.
Robert Starks Jr.
For most of the programs on our campus have an externship componet as part of the program. Programs that do not have an externship are looking at ways to develop it into the program.
The externship is a very valuable part of the learning process for hands on experience in the field of study for students.
We also have federal work study students on campus. I am fortunate to have one for my program. She is a tremendous help with the daily activities in my office.
Externships. They have greatly improved the student's knowledge of actual hands-on work as well as real life office work. The program has been very successful and graduates have found employment due to the externship. Many employers would not consider our graduates because the externship was not offered.
