\u201cExperience Learning\u201d … Sounds catchy, Right?<\/p>\n
Well\u2026 it caught on.<\/p>\n
At this point you might be wondering what experience learning is. Well it\u2019s pretty straight forward as mentioned in the title. Any student participating gets the opportunity to do what is generally expected of all human beings; to learn from an experience. However, in this case, that experience is everything but random.<\/p>\n
Usually, by the time people decide to go to college, they have some idea of what they want to do with their lives. And if they don\u2019t, at some point in their college experience, they\u2019ll start to figure it out. No literally, at some point in their College Experience Class at SPC, they will begin to figure it out.<\/p>\n
The class is mandatory for all freshmen and is actually quite informative, covering an array of topics from how to write an APA paper to stress and health management. Another significant portion of the course is the Experience Learning program, which just happens to be a requirement for all students to pass… thought you could get out huh\u2026wait! You\u2019ll want to keep reading.
\nHow does the program work? So\u2026 you pick a place that has do with your career path and volunteer there for six hours. Really, that\u2019s it. \u201cWhat if I don\u2019t know what I want to be?\u201d<\/p>\n
Take a breather and don\u2019t worry.<\/p>\n
A freshman, Robert Vines, who is still unsure of his career goals said that even he has found some enjoyment doing this. He simply volunteered at the library because he didn\u2019t know what else to do. When asked how this could\u2019ve possibly have helped him, he paused before speaking.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it\u2019s to hel you get use to helping the community\u2026\u201d He went on to express how just being at the library emphasized his passion for people. He now knows that he will indefinitely want to find a career helping people.
\nFor those who might already have some sort of direction with their career path, this could provide a firsthand experience.
\n\u201cIt has definitely solidified my career choice and I am seeing the light at the end of the tunnel as far as not focusing on the financial aspect of getting there\u2026\u201d Amanda Peach. Venturing into primary education, teaching fourth grade, Amanda has gained excitement<\/p>\n
for her career choice through mentoring at Saxton Elementary School. Expressing that she\u2019s always loved children, now she knows, even more so, that this is the path for her.
\nBoth students agreed that the program is indeed a bonus to the curriculum. And though it only solidified their prospective on their passions and therefore careers, it could end up doing much more and even changing perspectives for you.<\/p>\n
Tara Newsom, an Associate professor of Social and Behavioral Sciences, and said that she \u201clearned that helping students find their interest and showing them a pathway to serve others using that passion, not only helped the community but professionally developed the student and increased academic success.\u201d Thus, the program was born.<\/p>\n
Well if this was just her idea, how did everyone else fee about it? \u201cSPC\u2019s Administration has had an unwavering support of service based learning.\u201d This she stated saying that service is nothing new here at SPC\u2019s campuses. She said that formally institutionalizing it into the syllabus in mere progression in that arena. \u201cThe hope is that every student at SPC will take a service based learning class before they graduate.\u201d<\/p>\n
Now with all this information what am I supposed to do? See an advisor of coarse! Oh, wait\u2026 I did that for you.<\/p>\n
Career Outreach Specialist, Dee Mortellaro, offered that this experience could provide more exposure to one\u2019s career and provide an opportunity for the student to ask questions, on the job, that they might not otherwise get to ask. In addition to this, the student gets to network, professionally, in the field that he\/she has selected.<\/p>\n
She said that this is also a two-way street of opportunity for both the students and the organizations where they volunteer. This, as the relationship between the corporate world and the college is developed, the students are exposed to on the job observation and the various organizations supporting this program remain updated with what the students learn. They therefore can make sure that the students learn what they need to know in order to survive in the field.
\nSee we all benefit here!<\/p>\n
Ms. Mortellaro also stated that most students have expressed that they find that they actually get more out of this experience than they thought. \u201cI think the part of it that everyone really walks away with the most is just that great feeling that they did something to help someone else.\u201d She went on to say that she believes it\u2019s a contagious thing.<\/p>\n
But don\u2019t you worry, it\u2019s a good thing! When you help others, you help yourself!<\/p>\n
\u201cExperience Learning\u201d Catchy, right?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\u201cExperience Learning\u201d … Sounds catchy, Right? Well\u2026 it caught on. At this point you might be wondering what experience learning is. Well it\u2019s pretty straight forward as mentioned in the title. Any student participating gets the opportunity to do what is generally expected of all human beings; to learn from an experience. However, in this … Continue reading \u201cExperience Learning\u201d … Sounds catchy, Right?<\/span>