Www.ohio.edu



EXPERIENCE MATTERS LESSONCareer & Leadership Development CenterLesson Topic: Experience Matters – The Value of Experiential Learning Facilitation Time: 45 MinutesInstructor Preparation: Contact the Career & Leadership Development Center (CLDC) at careerandleadership@ohio.edu with any questions about this lesson or its materials. The lesson requires sharing a link with students to complete an online activity. Check the link in advance to make sure it is working properly. Please note that the activity will require students to enter your email address so you receive copies of their activities. Students will need to have easy access to your email address while completing the online activity in class. In addition to the CLDC, Undergraduate Experiential Education staff within University College can be called upon to facilitate this lesson or to provide additional resources. They can be reached by calling University College at 740.593.1935.Student Preparation: Ask students to bring a computer, tablet or phone to class to complete the online checklist activity.Learning GoalsIdentify experiences that support career exploration, cultural exploration, community engagement, and creative innovation Identify ways to gain meaningful experience outside the classroom Set a goal for gaining experience prior to the end of next semesterComplete the Experience Matters activity to document information gathered during discussion and reflectionLesson Highlights:Describe the purpose and goals for this activity.Purpose: To explain the value of experiential learning, and demonstrate that it creates opportunities for students to gain experience outside of the classroom to explore academic areas, career paths, to build skills employers want, and to reflect on what is important to you. Goals: Engage students in thinking strategically about ways to gain experience prior to graduation. At the end of this activity, students will have a to do list to work toward gaining co-curricular experiences related to their academic goals, values, and career interests.Discuss the value of participating in experiential learning. Experiences outside of class show future employers that you developed and applied skills outside the classroom. It is a valuable way to have experience when you are an entry level employee. Many job seekers get frustrated by many jobs requiring experience for entry level roles. A key to be prepared for the workplace is having the skills employers want. The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) surveys employers annually across varied industries to identify the most desirable skills of all college graduates. Year after year, that survey shows that the most valuable skills to employers are transferable skills including problem solving, team work and leadership. Skills like technical skills related to the specific job do not even appear in the top 5 most desirable skills. Click here for the most recent list from NACE.Share the link to the CLDC Experience Matters Checklist so students can see a basic list of out of class experiences they may have completed previously. You can email this prior to class or create a shortened link to distribute in class through bit.ly or a similar service.What counts as experiential learning?The six broad categories of experiential learning are: internship/co-op, community engagement, creative endeavor, leadership, research, and study abroad.This includes a variety of service, work, and involvement experiences where you test out areas of interest, build self-awareness, and develop skills to enhance your professional development. These types of experiences are great opportunities to network with local professionals and become engaged with the community.Give students 5 minutes to review and complete the Experience Matters activity. Remind students that they will get a copy of their responses by email.[Based on your professional area, discuss experiences that are important in your profession. Examples include, students in the sciences benefit from research experience and engineers finding value in a formal co-op experience. Discuss how students and others in your field find these types of opportunities including job boards, professional organizations, mentoring, list servs, etc.].Facilitate conversation about out of class experiences students already have.Raise your hand if you have done any of the following.VolunteeringService learningInternshipJob shadowingPart-time jobCreative endeavorLeadershipStudy abroadWhat other ways have you gained experience?How have you sought personal growth?How does gaining experience help you demonstrate responsible citizenship?What did you gain from the experiences you have completed already?How did you set up or pursue the experience you had already?Small group (3-4 students) discussion. Give students 10-15 minutes to discuss these prompts.What are you interested in doing to gain experience before graduation?How will this experience help you?What can you do now to set up this type of opportunity?Who will help hold you accountable?Discuss goal setting for what was discussed in small groups.Which of your short-term goals is your biggest priority?How will this experience relate to your academic, career, or social interests?Ask for 3-5 students to share their goals.Show resources for identifying locations to gain experience.Career & Leadership Development Center’s Handshake job and internship portal: University’s Bobcat Mentor Network to connect alumni with current students for informational interviews, networking and potential job shadowing opportunities: Involvement Center volunteering page: Office of Global Opportunities websiteWebsite for undergraduate research grantsNote – Additional resources are included on pages 3-5 of this document for a job shadowing experience and reflection assignment. This is included as an out-of-class opportunity for students to gain experience shadowing a professional area of interest.Additional Resource: Example assignment for out-of-class experienceJOB SHADOWING EXPERIENCE ASSIGNMENTCareer & Leadership Development CenterJob Shadowing Experience and ReflectionComplete a minimum of 8 hours of job shadowing at an organization to observe a role of interest. This shadowing could also be completed with two different organizations with a portion of the hours in one location and the remaining hours in another. In addition to shadowing, you will conduct two informational interviews with staff working for the organization where you shadow to better understand their experience in the workplace. Grading Criteria:Complete 8 hours of job shadowing Identify the location of your shadowing, dates of shadowing, your supervisor, and their email address in your paper Detail how your time was spent during shadowing—what did you do, what did you observe, etc.Interview two people working for the organization where you shadow in person or by phone (can be one person at each place you shadow if you shadow at multiple organizations) Identify and discuss each individual’s perspective on the following: The work culture in their current roleFavorite thing about their current jobBiggest challenge in their current jobTheir future career goalsHow they measure success personally and professionallyDescribe in detail how your interviewing and shadowing experiences influenced your interest in a specific field or workplaceBased on what you learned from shadowing and interviewing, share components of your ideal first job after collegeIdeas include work-life balance, culture and flexibilityAdditional Resource: Job Shadowing GuideJOB SHADOWING GUIDECareer & Leadership Development CenterExperience a specific work role or?company first-hand?through job shadowing. This approach to exploring career options provides a brief window into the professional role an of individual, insight into the culture of an organization, and greater awareness of the overall field, all while building your professional network.?What is job shadowing?Short term (few hours or days), unpaid opportunity to observe work activities in an organizationOpportunity to explore the workplace culture and consider interest in the specific role or organizationComplete as many opportunities as you want to observe different roles in varied companiesChance to build a relationship with a company you are interested in and may want to work forShadowing is also called an externship and can be listed on your resumeIdentifying shadowing opportunitiesDetermine when are you available to shadow, recognizing your host will need plenty of preparation timeConsider where you want to shadow, what will be most helpful for you to seeReflect on who you know or who you are capable of connecting with to request a shadowing opportunityExisting contacts (friends, family, colleagues, Ohio University contacts)Review employers on Handshake to see those actively recruiting OHIO studentsLinkedIn network (Ohio University alumni, current employees at companies of interest)Prepare a professional resume to demonstrate your professional experiences and credentials, if requestedArranging shadowingCommunicate professionally to request the opportunity to shadow a specific person or departmentSubmit your shadowing request several weeks in advance of your ideal timeline, ideally at least a monthShare specific details for your shadowing goals including length of time and why you are interestedActivities for shadowing can include observing meetings, talking with staff, and assisting with a projectHaving a successful shadowing experienceIdentify the logistics necessary for a successful day including parking, travel time, and building accessDress professionally based on the location where you will be shadowingDevelop a list of questions for staff you will encounter to learn about the workplace and their experiencesConsider whether you want to maintain contact with the shadowing host and how to do so Send a thank you message to your host(s) following the experience Career & Leadership Development ResourcesFor additional support in identifying and preparing for successful job shadowing opportunities, consider meeting with a Career & Leadership Development Center coach. Your coach can help brainstorm shadowing options, prepare professional correspondence, and develop questions to ask during your shadowing day to gather helpful information. Baker University Center, 533Monday – Friday, 8 am – 5 pm(740) 593.2909ohio.edu/student-affairs/career-and-leadershipcareerandleadership@ohio.edu ................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download