Experiential Learning
Which of the following experiential learning opportunities mentioned in the course does your institution implement (Service Learning, Internships, Externships, Co-ops, Interdisciplinary Projects, Work-Study), and how would you evaluate the success of each?
we currenly have a "intership" program which is great hands on skills for working with different clients, however, I believe if the students were given the opportunity to do "externsips" that would increase thier confidence and would have a better chance of getting employed in that facility. This would ease some of the barriers that they may have and build self-esteem
Marsha,
You bring up an interesting point. Different institutions define internships and externships differently. In some programs, they are a requirement of the curriculum, some are paid positions and some are voluntary. All provide useful experience to the student. Externships that provide a "working interview" is great experience for the student, it increases their self- confidence and may lead to a paid position after graduation. To further this discussion, can you be more specific as to the differences between the internship and externship at your organization?
Sheri Leach
Our main experiential learning opportunity is the Externship at local businesses. I feel this is a very successful program as long as the CS dept keeps the sites fresh and varied. We try to have the students take part in the search for an extern site but most students ask for our help. Our last term we had a 50% extern to hire rate which is great. Even those students who already had jobs were either promoted or given additional responsibilities to meet the extern requirement.
To a much lessor extent we have students volunteer 2 hours for the Professional Resource Development class as part of the curriculum.
Work/study has proven to be very limited and most of the jobs are on campus.
Viola,
a 50% extern-to-hire rate is very respectable, I don't know many institutions that have achieved that level. When students are invested (such as helping find their own site) they assign more personal value and meaning to the experience. The result is that they will usually perform better since they picked the site and usually it is one where they hope that they will be offered employment.
How can Career Services ensure that new sites will be used so that the students have a better chance of being hired? Especially when Career Services is not responsible for the placement of externs/interns? what are some practices you can share?
Sheri Leach
To some degree we achieved 50% due to certain factors that existed within that cohort. First,there were a large number of business students who had work experience or were already working. Their employers worked with us and the program so that their employee could move up within the company. The students who took externships at other companies were all hired at their sites partially due to their work experience. The Business Admin group as a whole was above average in their focus and drive to be employed so the students took more responsibility.
We also had more success with our students finding their own opportunities as you mention, they are more invested and do a better a job. We really try to encourage our students to find their own externship that interests them, but often times our students are very intimidated by the job search.
Finally, we offer a Professional Resource Development class in which we teach job search techniques. We also talk about the externships and the progress students are making towards attaining a site. Between the instructors and Career Services, we really drill in the importance of the externship opportunity and encourage them to be proactive in their search.
As they say, it takes a village...
Viola,
There are many factors that contribute to the success of a class or a single student. Experiential learning opportunities are factors that can increase the likelihood of success. Building relationships with the students and the sites/employers is key. Being able to work with the employers to provide an appropriate learning environment that has the potential of becoming an employment opportunity for the student is invaluable. DO you have any experience with students who did not have relevant work experience, yet were successful on their externship and in their job search?
Sheri Leach
All of our students at least have the externship so no, I have not had to send someone out with no field experience. That said, it is still a challenge to find employment when all the student has is 170 hours in the field. I often recommend that students volunteer or "intern" if they are having a hard time getting into their field. Other than school and externship, most of our students come with little to no work experience.
Viola,
you bring up a great point. Externship is definitely (field) experience. We as Career Service professionals need to make sure we are educating our employers to that fact. We also have to explain to our students how to present themselves as having experience when they are speaking with a potential employer. All too often our students lack the confidence on a interview or they don't even go to the interview. We and our instructors need to help the students understand how valuable the extern experience is, and even if they don't get hired on their extern site, how they can use the experience to get another position.
Sheri Leach
The learning opportunities mentioned in the course that our institution utilizes/implements is the Externship approach. Overall, I feel that the hands on experience along with the possibility of employment at the conclusion of the experience is very beneficial to our students and institution.
Shannon,
Externships are extremely beneficial. In instances where externships are not avaiable, do you recommending shadowing another employee or a volunteer position? why or why not?
Sheri Leach
In our organization we hire student interns over the summer. About 50% are then hired as entry-level, part-time employees, with an opportunity to move to full-time once they complete their studies. The program works well, although the students often want to work full-time as employees, while the organization considers it a priority that they complete their education.
Tom,
I appreciate that you bring the employer's perspective to this forum. What goes into the decision making process on the employer's side as to whether to take interns and then whether or not to hire interns? What advice can you give to help Career Services professionals who are developing a relationship with an employer and are suggesting that they become part of the institution's intern/extern/shadowing program?
Sheri Leach
Our institution implements Service Learning, Externships and Work-Study.
Our Service Learning is very successful. The students are in the community volunteering for various organizations and schools and utilizing what they have learned in school. Service Learning gives the students more confidence in themselves and makes them feel good about helping out their community.
Most of the programs at our institution have an externship component. The hours vary but we tell our students to treat it as a very long interview. Our extern to hire conversion is about 35%. But those students who do not get hired at their externship can obtain reference letters and good networking connections.
As for work study, the positions the students receive are usually not in their program area so the benefit is networking and making some money. The students usually do not get hired at their work study site.
Ruth,
Service learning and volunteer opportunities are great programs and have much value for our students. Unfortunately, not everyone sees the value. In today's employment climate, the more interaction with potential employers a student can have, the more beneficial. Volunteer opportunities help build students' confidence and self esteem, provides work and real world experience and provides networking opportunities for the students.
What makes your program successful. How do you find the opportunities, how do you approach the potential employers and how many hours on average will a student volunteer?
Sheri Leach
The students do a lot of service learning hours. I don't know the exact amount because it varies with each program. We're mainily a health school so there are a lot of opportunities for the students to volunteer their time...health screening events, giving vision tests to students, going to nursing homes promoting healthy teeth, volunteering at animal shelters, etc. All the instructors have many organizations that they are involved in and incorporate the service learning with one of their course lectures. One of our dental hygiene students was recently hired out of a service learning event. The employer was very impressed by her work performance.
Ruth,
We, as Career Services Professionals are aware of the benefits of service learning. However, students don't always understand the benefits. Can you please share how the instructors have become so involved? And, do your students embrace their service learning and internship experiences?
Sheri Leach
Most of our instructors have been here for a long time and service learning has been incorporated into their syllabus. I believe that most of the students embrace their service learning and externship experience. Some of the programs have a service learning project in their first module. For their externship they know that if they don't get an offer of employment they did receive in -field experience, a networking opportunity, and a letter of recommendation for their portfolio.
Our institute follows many of the learning opportunities mentioned. For exampl we offer externships for mostly every program and even if the school doesnt offer it we always help in looking for one in their feild. We have done some co-ops but i think we could work alittle more with that. As far as work studies Career Services deosnt do it but we always encourage students and even grads to come and study or form study groups to either practice for a test in school or to get certified. I do believe we can be more involved but overall it has been good to see student come and use the materials we provide them.
Ruth,
What a great model! I think giving the students the experience of service learning in their first module is wonderful. Interacting with employers early on, being encouraged to perform well, and encouraging them to ask questions will help the students gain the most that they can from their experience and from their program. Who provides the letter of recommendation and when is it presented to them?
Sheri Leach
