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Centre for Innovation in Teaching & Learning
Centre for Innovation in Teaching & Learning
Centre for Innovation in Teaching & Learning
Experiential learning encompasses a range of pedagogical strategies that engage learners in concrete experiences (doing, acting, and experiencing). Combined with reflection and experimentation, these experiences deepen learners' knowledge and build their competencies.
At its best, experiential learning is intentional, reflective, and transformative, and promotes deep engagement with theory through relevant hands-on activities or immersion in a complex learning environment.
Experiential learning lives at the core of what we do at College of the Rockies. The Centre for Innovation in Teaching and Learning supports instructors to engage a variety of pedagogical strategies that enliven experiential learning in their classrooms.
‘Experiential Learning’ is a broad umbrella term that describes a wide range of doing, acting, and experiencing for learning. Here we highlight some of the most popular:
Applied Research
Apprenticeship
Clinical Experiences
Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL)
Community Engaged Learning
Co-Op
Field Trips
Online Experiential Learning
Practicum
Project-Based Learning
Volunteering
Work-Integrated Learning| Experiential Learning Approach | Definition & Resources |
|---|---|
| Applied Research | Learning through research activities where community and industry partners are connected with with faculty and student researchers. Research aims at developing innovative solutions to real-world challenges in our Rocky Mountain region. For more on Applied Research, visit the Office of Applied Research and the Community and Industry Research Projects page by the Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) Office. |
| Apprenticeship | Learning by working in industry through employer sponsorship. Apprenticeship learning routinely combines work-based training (typically 80-85%) and technical training (15-20%) taken in a classroom and shop setting. For more on Apprenticeship, visit the Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) Office. |
| Clinical Experiences | Learning within clinical learning environments - essentially anywhere students build competencies with clinical skills, ranging from labs and simulations to clinical placements in hospital or care settings. |
| Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) | Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) is a teaching and learning approach that connects students and instructors from different countries to engage in shared, meaningful academic experiences. Using digital communication tools, COIL enables faculty from partner institutions to co-design activities. Students work together in international teams to complete joint projects, fostering collaboration, critical thinking, and real-world problem-solving. A defining feature of COIL is its intentional focus on building intercultural awareness, communication skills, and global competence within the curriculum. |
| Community-Engaged Learning | Learning that integrates academic learning with meaningful engagement in the community. It involves students working collaboratively with community organizations, agencies, or groups to address real-world issues, applying course concepts to practical contexts. A hallmark of CEL is its emphasis on reflection and critical analysis, enabling students to deepen their understanding of social issues, develop civic responsibility, and strengthen professional and interpersonal skills. |
| Co-Op | Learning by combining classroom-based learning with practical work experience. Students taking the Co-op option earn additional credits for their work placement and gain hands-on experience in their field of study. For more, visit the Co-op page by the Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) Office. |
| Field Trips | Learning that happens beyond the classroom by immersing students in real-world environments relevant to their course of study. Trips often provide opportunities to observe, apply, and analyze concepts in authentic contexts, deepening understanding through direct engagement. Through guided activities and reflection learners connect hands-on experiences with academic learning, fostering critical thinking, professional awareness, and a stronger connection between theory and practice. |
| Online Experiential Learning |
Learning that applies experiential methods in digital or virtual environments. Online experiential learning engages students in authentic, hands-on activities such as simulations, role-plays, interactive case studies, or collaborative projects with peers and partners. These experiences allow learners to apply course concepts in practical contexts, build professional skills, and reflect on their learning, all while working in an online space that fosters flexibility and accessibility. Transitioning From Hands-On to Online Experiential Learning (Taylor Institute) |
| Practicum and Work Placements | For more, visit the Practicum and Work Placements page by the Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) Office. |
| Project-Based Learning | Learning through inquiry and exploration of complex questions, problems, or challenges through extended projects. Projects are often interdisciplinary and connected to real-world contexts, allowing students to apply theoretical knowledge to practical situations. |
| Volunteering | Through service activities, students engage in meaningful work that addresses community-identified needs, developing practical skills such as teamwork, communication, and problem-solving. Volunteering experiences are often accompanied by guided reflection to connect service with course concepts, fostering civic responsibility, empathy, and a deeper understanding of social issues. |
| Work-Integrated Learning | Work-Integrated Learning or WIL is another umbrella term that generally includes any form of experiential learning where students are partnered with industry, community organizations, or employers. At College of the Rockies, the Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) Office coordinates partnerships and supports WIL activities across the College. |
As you advance experiential learning elements in your courses, the Centre for Innovation in Teaching and Learning can connect you with:
course design strategies for selecting and engaging meaningful experiential learning opportunities
assessment design options for evaluating students' learning through experiential activities
facilitation techniques for communicating experiential activities and engaging students in intentional, reflective, and transformative learning
other College supports, such as the Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) Office and the Office of Applied Research.