{"id":4719,"date":"2023-08-14T21:07:01","date_gmt":"2023-08-14T21:07:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.northcentral.edu\/blog\/?p=4719"},"modified":"2024-11-12T15:49:46","modified_gmt":"2024-11-12T15:49:46","slug":"experiential-learning-the-future-of-higher-education","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.northcentral.edu\/blog\/experiential-learning-the-future-of-higher-education\/","title":{"rendered":"Experiential Learning: The Future of Higher Education"},"content":{"rendered":"

Written by Sophia Ramberg ’23<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cIs my time at college going to be worth it?\u201d This question resounds in the minds of many students \u2013 from freshmen just beginning to explore new majors, to second semester seniors applying for jobs. No one wants to feel like college was a waste of time, effort, or money \u2013 which is why it is important to find a college that doesn\u2019t just teach the basics but invests in the personal and professional future of every student.<\/p>\n

The goal of higher education is to prepare students to gain knowledge, learn from various experiences, and apply it to real-life scenarios. From the first class students take, to the moment they graduate, North Central University is committed to educating and preparing students for career excellence with spiritual integrity. Part of this preparation process is engaging students to in the critical process of gaining experience and using what they are learning to better the world around them. That\u2019s where experiential learning, the future of higher education comes in.<\/p>\n

What is experiential learning? <\/strong><\/h4>\n

Experiential learning is a teaching style that uses hands-on, practical knowledge and applies it to the real world. Hands-on experience teaches skills that cannot be learned from a lecture or a textbook, allowing students to discover, develop, and hone the necessary tools and skill sets.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe biggest thing that sets North Central apart is that we do real work. Most colleges will teach knowledge, but we really teach knowledge applied. So, in our marketing classes, we work on real clients and pitch to them\u2026. I think what North Central provides is the combination of professional experience and perspective. In the education here, you\u2019ll get experience in your classes, whether its communications or marketing or business or digital media, but it\u2019s combined with a perspective that the world is bigger than ourselves.\u201d \u2013 Mark Skeba, Professor of Business and Technology<\/em><\/p>\n

Benefits of experiential learning<\/strong><\/h4>\n

The faculty and staff throughout every department at North Central University are passionate about integrating experiential knowledge into their teachings, from ASL Interpretation to the biology or education programs.<\/p>\n

\u201c[The liberal arts program] is giving students hands-on experience connected to the curriculum that allows them to grow, but also to be ready for the job force because they\u2019ve got those resumes ready to go. And to get that experience that will really make them powerful and impactful when they get out there into the real world.\u201d \u2013 Desir\u00e9e Libengood, Ed.D., Interim Vice President of Academic Affairs<\/em><\/p>\n

This teaching model introduces new concepts and terminology inside of the classroom. Once students have attained a base understanding, they can grow a deeper, more thorough comprehension through problem-solving and applying the concept to real-world scenarios. Experiential learning engages students in critical thinking, a highly desired skill in today\u2019s workforce.<\/p>\n

Other key benefits of experiential learning include:<\/p>\n