Experiential Learning in Higher Education: Linking Classroom and Community. ASHE-ERIC Higher Education Report No. 7.

Overview & Synopsis

This report reviews the literature and research on the use of experiential learning in higher education, focusing on classroom-community linkages. It defines experiential learning and reviews the current employment of experiential learning in higher education. An introductory section explains the politics and policy issues of experiential learning at the higher education level and describes predominant forms of experiential education, current levels of participation, a conceptual framework, and administrative issues and concerns. The next two sections discuss the issues in programs using experiential learning in the arts and humanities, social sciences, health care, social work, science and engineering, business education, and technology programs. The fourth section focuses on experiential learning in the context of service learning with emphasis on the linking of theory and practice and cross disciplinary pedagogical and instructional issues. The fifth section reviews cooperative education initiatives which link classroom and community for benefits for faculty, community, students, and businesses. The final section provides a synthesis of successful practices. This section stresses the importance of a systematic approach to designing experiential learning activities, program administration, and evaluation. (Contains approximately 120 references.) (MDM)