🎙️What happens in a maturing experiential learning landscape where a community comes together to make their own definition more user-friendly, and centers around Indigenous community needs? In our latest podcast episode of Mindset in Motion, Christine Martineau, Lisa Stowe, Erin Kaipainen, and Kyla Flanagan from the University of Calgary sit down with Bill Heinrich to discuss. 

Our latest episode features a powerful discussion with Dr. Madhumita Banerjee and Kaila Bingen from the University of Wisconsin-Parkside. They dive deep into their groundbreaking research on equity in experiential education, specifically their paper, "A Case for Equity: Work-Based Learning as a Viable Alternative to Internships." This episode explores how work-based learning can serve as a transformative, equitable alternative to traditional internships, breaking down barriers like unpaid opportunities, lack of access, and cultural capital disparities. Dr. Madhumita Banerjee and Kaila Bingen emphasize aligning real-world work experiences with career competencies and general education outcomes, showcasing how this approach empowers underserved students to thrive in their educational and professional journeys.  

This podcast is in partnership with the ELTHE Journal, which captures the best current scholarship in experiential learning: how it can be defined, strengthened, promoted, and assessed for the sake of educational effectiveness and equity. 

Show notes and references:

https://www.routledge.com/A-Good-Job-Campus-Employment-as-a-High-Impact-Practice/McClellan-Creager-Savoca/p/book/9781620364727?srsltid=AfmBOor3qCvsOG0rbwp4ydyjSFpBbnIzsCcb4shoTFRTOXRNs-FFzx03

Discover how high-impact practices (HIPs) are transforming the educational journey for adult learners in this insightful episode featuring Dr. Alaa Alasarhan, an expert in experiential learning and author of “High Impact Practices: Evaluating Impact on Adult Learners Retention for ELTHE journal. Drawing from his extensive research and experience, Dr. Alasarhan delves into the unique challenges and opportunities facing adult learners, highlighting practical strategies to foster engagement, persistence, and success. This episode explores the role of experiential learning has in bridging education and workforce readiness, the importance of tailored support systems for non-traditional students, and the innovative approaches being used to address equity gaps in higher education. Whether you're an educator, policymaker, or lifelong learner, this conversation offers actionable insights to help reimagine the future of adult education. 
 

Join Dr. Bill Heinrich and Dr. Alsarhan to uncover how HIPs create meaningful, transformative experiences that empower adult learners to achieve their goals and thrive in an ever-changing world. 
 
This podcast is in partnership with the ELTHE Journal, which captures the best current scholarship in experiential learning: how it can be defined, strengthened, promoted, and assessed for the sake of educational effectiveness and equity.

Show Notes & References:
The guest's paper: https://journals.calstate.edu/elthe

Ashley Finley, A Comprehensive Approach to Assessment of High Impact Practices
https://www.learningoutcomesassessment.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Occasional-Paper-41.pdf

George Kuh, High-Impact Practices
https://www.aacu.org/trending-topics/high-impact 

Utah Valley University's Engagement Indicators
https://www.uvu.edu/birs/docs/research/survey_research/2022nsse-snapshot.pdf 

In this episode of Mindset in Motion, host Bill Heinrich welcomes Dr. Monika Stelzl, a social psychologist and professor at St. Thomas University, and recent graduate Lynnee Pevie to discuss their transformative work and experiences in experiential education. Together, they delve into the themes of reciprocity and connectedness as central pillars of a groundbreaking course, Psychology of Human-Nature Connection.

Dr. Stelzl shares her journey from traditional teaching methods to embracing nature-based experiential learning, inspired by her own reflections and seminal works. She reveals how integrating intentionality, nature, and active student engagement reshaped her pedagogy and created meaningful, holistic educational experiences. Lynnee, a former student and co-author of the article Reciprocity and Connectedness: Professor and Student Reflections on an Experiential Nature-Based Psychology Course, offers an intimate perspective on how the course redefined her view of education, fostering a deeper sense of responsibility, community, and connection to the world around her.

This podcast is in partnership with the ELTHE Journal, which captures the best current scholarship in experiential learning: how it can be defined, strengthened, promoted, and assessed for the sake of educational effectiveness and equity.

References from the Show:
The guest's paper: https://journals.calstate.edu/elthe

Schoem et al. (2017) - Teaching the whole student.
https://www.routledge.com/Teaching-the-Whole-Student-Engaged-Learning-With-Heart-Mind-and-Spirit/Schoem-Modey-StJohn/p/book/9781620363041?srsltid=AfmBOopl3Z61fDLqm73tKSS_l741kKunUDiXfE2Yzs17t_1yFW6NZ9H4

Zajonc et al. (2010) - The heart of higher education: A call to renewal.
https://www.wiley.com/en-ca/The+Heart+of+Higher+Education%3A+A+Call+to+Renewal-p-9780470487907

To become a certified forest therapy guide, I trained with the two following organizations - ANFT (based in the US) and GIFT (based in Canada) https://anft.earth/

Gift of the Forest https://giftoftheforest.com/

In the latest episode of Mindset in Motion, we sit down with Dr. Annie Jonas, the newly appointed Dean of the Center for Experiential Learning and Careers at Warren Wilson College. Dr. Jonas dives deep into the college’s unique work-based learning model, where every student gains hands-on experience as part of a work crew, developing valuable skills like carpentry, plumbing, and accounting. Beyond career readiness, she explains how this approach fosters civic engagement and a strong sense of purpose in students. Dr. Jonas also shares insights into Warren Wilson’s long-standing commitment to experiential education and how the college’s curriculum integrates practical work with academic learning to empower students for meaningful careers and lives of service. Tune in to discover how this transformative model is shaping the future of higher education! 

Show notes/Links
https://www.warren-wilson.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Our-Progressive-Promise-REV5-1.pdf 

The Lens of Civic Identity: A Developmental Model for Undergraduate Education https://journals.publishing.umich.edu/mjcsl/article/id/5133/ 

In this episode of Mindset in Motion, Bill Heinrich, Director of Mindset by Symplicity, is joined by Josh Meyer, Director of the McNair Scholars Program at Montana State University, Bozeman, and Tiana Irouje, Director of Student Engagement and Success at the Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering, Indiana University. Together, they explore the intricate relationship between the definitions of and access to experiential learning focusing on the importance of collaborative learning among scholars and practitioners, offering insights into different approaches to bridging these concepts.  
 
This podcast is in partnership with the ELTHE Journal, which captures the best current scholarship in experiential learning: how it can be defined, strengthened, promoted, and assessed for the sake of educational effectiveness and equity. 

In this episode of the Mindset in Motion podcast, join Dr. Bill Heinrich in conversation on one of three episodes dedicated to the latest articles in the ELTHE Journal. Here, Bill explores how institutional context and culture shape the practice of experiential learning. Our guests, ELTHE authors of “Revisiting SEE’s Principles of Good Practice for Experiential Education: Exploring Institutional Context and Culture” Elisa Avila from Texas A&M University-San Antonio, Rebekah Harriger from Harrisburg University of Science and Technology, Dennis McCunney from East Carolina University, and Ben Trager from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, discuss the critical interaction of on-campus location and experiential learning practices. They also delve into how diversity, equity, and inclusion are integral to the design of these programs, share strategies for effectively communicating the value of experiential learning to students and families, and examine the role of third-space professionals who navigate the intersection of academic and career education.  

 
This podcast is in partnership with the ELTHE Journal, which captures the best current scholarship in experiential learning: how it can be defined, strengthened, promoted, and assessed for the sake of educational effectiveness and equity.

In this episode of Mindset in Motion, Dr. Tiffany Herbert, Associate Vice President for Health and Well-Being at California State University, Dominguez Hills, dives deep into the intrinsic connection between experiential learning and well-being. Bill asks Dr. Herbert to expand on her argument that experiential learning is a form of wellbeing, offering listeners a unique perspective shaped by her background in clinical psychology, outlining a concept map where wellbeing and experiential learning intersect and support each other, providing a holistic approach to education. Tune in to discover actionable strategies for building organization-wide wellness practices that enhance the overall educational experience. 
 
This podcast is in partnership with the ELTHE Journal, which captures the best current scholarship in experiential learning: how it can be defined, strengthened, promoted, and assessed for the sake of educational effectiveness and equity. 

Why does experiential learning resonate with students and learners? What can we learn from experiential learning in the social work sphere? Join Bill Heinrich in conversation this month with Dr. Christine Norton, a licensed clinical social worker and professor of social work at Texas State and certified adventure therapist. In this episode, Dr. Norton highlights how experiential education resonates deeply with learners, enabling them to engage cognitively, affectively, behaviorally, and somatically. Bill and Christine explore the challenges and opportunities in scaling up experiential education on college campuses and the need for faculty training and support, and equitable access to learning experiences.

Through practical examples from her social work classes, she illustrates how hands-on experiences, such as mock therapy sessions and role-playing, help students develop crucial skills and self-awareness. 

There are some deep cuts in the episode, so listen for these references:

J. Rost, C. Swayze, J. McCormick, Middle Tennessee State University Experiential Learning at Scale  https://doi.org/10.46787/elthe.v6i2.3561

Christine Norton and Steve Smith on Inclusive Risk and Learning

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/so-you-want-to-be-an-inclusive-risk-manager/id1731859884?i=1000656257572

Christine Norton’s TedX

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SskOLn8JDc

In this episode, Dr. Amy Cicchino, is joined by current students enrolled in a variety of degree programs across different states and program types. The student panel discussion dives into topics such as transformation, engagement, career outcomes, and deep learning that transcends time and contexts. Join us for this thought-provoking episode where students share stories of profound learning experiences that have shaped their understanding of the world, their careers, and their futures. 

This episode has a partner episode (S4.Ep14) in which we discuss and explore student learning: 

*This episode is produced in partnership with the Experiential Learning & Teaching in Higher Education (ELTHE) journal and the editor in chief, Ken O’Donnell. It is one of four podcasts published with this issue that highlights ELTHE authors,  their research, and insights.