Mindset in Motion (MIM)

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.

Hear from Dr. Anne Price and Dr. Michael Savoie as they discuss their institution's QEP-driven Experiential Learning project.  many EL projects are just getting started, but this group has accomplished a lot in a few years, solved for categorization and assessment and are facing a new challenge: scale and integration.  The authors discuss their new ELTHE article with me and give some great tips on making this work equitable and inclusive for students and faculty alike.

Michael Holden of Queen's University joins us to talk about his and colleagues research about an interdisciplinary, community based, experiential project. The findings give us great insight into additional motivations of learners in their doctoral studies. 

In this episode, Dr. Amy Cicchino and Dr. Patrick Green join our host, Bill Heinrich to reflect on the student roundtable (S4, ep13) and take a deep dive into experiential learning and its impact on students today. Together, they share their perspectives on how engaged experiential learning can unlock the value of higher education and contribute to solving complex problems. Tune in to gain valuable insights into why trusting students and involving them in decision making processes is key to delivering experiential learning effectively. 

This episode is one of four produced for this issue in partnership with Experiential Learning & Teaching in Higher Education (ELTHE) journal. The guests did a great job living out their theory-to-practice mindset and talked about their scholarly influences, so here are links to all the mentions:

University of Toronto’s Innovation Hub led by Julia Allworth: https://studentlife.utoronto.ca/program/innovation-hub/

Dee Fink on Creating Significant Learning Experiences or  https://www.bu.edu/sph/files/2014/03/www.deefinkandassociates.com_GuidetoCourseDesignAug05.pdf

Jack Mezirow's theory of transformative learning - https://www.ecolas.eu/eng/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Mezirow-Transformative-Learning.pdf

John Hattie's from sage on the stage to guide on the side
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7XWMAteuaks

Judith Ramalay’s essay on the challenge of higher education https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1043282.pdf

Assessing Experiential learning
Heinrich, W. F., & Green, P. M. (2020). Remixing Approaches to Experiential Learning, Design, and Assessment. Journal of Experiential Education, 43(2), 205-223. https://doi.org/10.1177/1053825920915608 

High Impact Practices
Kuh, G., O’Donnell, K., & Schneider, C. G. (2017). HIPs at Ten. Change: The Magazine of Higher Learning, 49(5), 8–16. https://doi.org/10.1080/00091383.2017.1366805

Students as Partners
Cook-Sather, A., Felten, P., & Bovill, C. (2014). Engaging students as partners in learning and teaching: A guide for faculty. Jossey-Bass.

Jesse Stommel on Trusting Students
Supiano, B. (2019, Oct. 27). Forget grades and Turnitin. Start trusting students. The Chronicle of Higher Education. https://www.chronicle.com/article/forget-grades-and-turnitin-start-trusting-students/

Bryn Lottig is now a best selling author. Her new book, No Child Left Inside: Transforming the Next Generation Through Experiential Learning. I had the chance to connect with Bryn to talk about this new publication and dig in on some of the big ideas that are underlying experiential learning , nature based learning, outdoor time and the ways that learning occurs!