1 engaged learning: beyond the classroom creating knowledge through experiential learning...
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Engaged Learning:
Beyond the Classroom
Creating knowledge through experiential learning activities.
08/30/10, Margaret Dunham
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SMU’s QEP
Vision: SMU Students will build on their formal classroom education through participation in experiential learning activities.
Mission: SMU's QEP will provide opportunities for students by designing and providing an institutional framework to foster experiential learning opportunities through which students will utilize, test, and build on their formal classroom education.
08/30/10, Margaret Dunham
SMU’s QEP Focus
All SMU undergraduate students will be encouraged (required) to participate in an approved Experiential Learning activity prior to graduation.
308/30/10, Margaret Dunham
SMU’s QEP Student Outcomes
Each student participating in an Experiential Learning activity will:
Evaluate questions relevant to global (outside SMU) issues Enhance his understanding of community engagement and
advocacy. Here community refers to any subset of the population outside the SMU community.
Acquire real world experience with researchers, clinicians, practitioners, organizations and/or businesses.
Through a curricular or co-curricular experiential learning activity, participate in and/or develop interdisciplinary projects that connect schools and link faculty, staff and students to the DFW area or the broader world.
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EL @ SMU - Implementation
Assumptions: Student must be willing. Student must reflect on the experience. Activity must require reflective analysis at
end. Implementation must be flexible, adaptable,
and allow any type of experience. Each activity must meet certain standards. Activity must be overseen by faculty/mentor.
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EL Activity Definition
Location: Where: Outside SMU premises How many hours: ????
Hours: Total activity hours including on campus and off. Equivalent to one course??
Reflective Component: Follow AAE (http://www.aee.org/ )
Interaction with mentor?
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Personnel: EL Director EL Advisory Board EL Community Partners EL Mentors
Processes: EL Grants Program EL Activity Approval Process SMU Research Day SMU EL Publication EL Awards EL Curricular Components Faculty Incentives
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Implementation Components
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EL Director
In charge of all EL activities. Reports to Provost. Credentials:
Terminal degree + Experience Hire Spring 2011 EL Director may have a faculty member
assistant – on leave from a department to assist and serve as mentor for some activities.
808/30/10, Margaret Dunham
EL Director Startup Activities
Define requirements for EL project – time/reflective component
Define credentials for mentors Define process to approve new EL projects/courses Define process for approving EL participation by student Define requirements for departmental distinction Define faculty incentives package Develop approaches for annual EL recognition including
annual undergraduate research day with awards for students
Define EL grants program process
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EL Director Ongoing Activities Approve credential of mentors Each semester:
Receive/review/approve EL special projects requests Each Spring semester:
Oversee Research Day Oversee Publication Determine Awards
Work with UC Board to approve new EL courses Work with Advisory Board Word with Community Partners
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EL Mentors
Any faculty member (tenure track, non-tenure track, research, full time, part time, adjunct, …) automatically qualifies as mentor.
Need not be faculty member Graduate student may serve as mentor Requirements for mentor must be well defined. Each project MUST have a mentor to oversee it. Mentors must be approved by EL Director
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EL Grants Program
Modeled after programs at both BYU and Franklin & Marshall College
Faculty, staff, and students can apply to obtain funding to implement an EL activity.
The activity must be approved in the process.
Provide matching funds to external undergraduate research grants
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EL Activity Approval Process
Students, faculty, staff can apply for a new activity at least one semester prior to the activity.
Ongoing One Time Any curricular activities approved by the
UC would be automatically included if they meet the requirements.
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