A Net-based Gateway to Learning through Experience (ANGLE)

What's your ANGLE?
A Net-based Gateway to Learning through Experience (ANGLE)

• What is Experiential Learning?
• What are the benefits of learning through experience?
• What types of Experiential Learning opportunities are available?
  • Credit / Course Based Opportunities
  • Extra-curricular Activities & Leadership Roles
  • International Experiences
  • Workplace Experiences
• What else can I do to enhance my career planning?

What is Experiential Learning?   [top]

Simply put, Experiential Learning (EL) is learning by doing.  Based on the premise that people learn best from experience, it helps enhance your academic curriculum by helping you to connect classroom theory to real-life situations through hands-on experiences, leading to broad and long-lasting learning outcomes.

One key element to EL is reflection, as it is reflecting on the experience that turns it into a learning opportunity.  As a student, reflecting on your experience will enable you to discover and internalize the knowledge you've gained and skills you've developed.

What are the benefits of learning through experience?   [top]

Every EL opportunity is unique and every student gets something different out of each one they participate in.  A sampling of potential benefits to participating in EL opportunities is outlined below:

• Helps you to build your resume by gaining practical experience related to your field of study.
• Assists in confirming and / or choosing a field of study.
• Allows you to 'test-drive' occupations and tasks related to your field of study.
• Helps you to define longer term career goals by assisting you in identifying the type of industry, organization, or occupation you may want to work in upon graduation.
• Aids you in identifying meaningful career goals and making informed career decisions.
• Offers the opportunity to develop new career-related skills or improve on the ones you have.
• Builds your transferable skills (ex. Communication, Time-management, Multitasking, etc.), which can be applied to any future job opportunity or career.
• Gives you the basis for personal assessments to identify interests, aptitudes, values, and strengths.
• Provides a chance to meet and network with professionals in the world of work.
• Promotes getting involved in the community around you.
• Broadens your frames of reference, which you'll use when processing what you learn in the classroom.
• Provides a gratifying and rewarding sense of accomplishment!

What types of Experiential Learning opportunities are available?   [top]

At the University of Windsor there are countless opportunities to participate in Experiential Learning.  Every EL opportunity is either 'Directed' or 'Self-directed'.

• Directed:  A University of Windsor faculty or staff member facilitates and supports the opportunity thruogh use of tools and activities which assist the student in preparing for, succeeding in, and reflecting on the experience.
• Self-directed:  Activities or programs that have the potential to become a fantastic experiential learning opportunity but leave it up to participating students to identify resources or individuals that can help them prepare for, succeed in, and reflect on the experience.

Experiential Learning takes place in a variety of forms at the University of Windsor.  For example, if you have ever conducted an experiment in the lab, prepared a case study, or been on a field trip as part of one of your classes, you've been a part of experiential learning!  Since it would be virtually impossible to list every single EL activity at the University of Windsor, the focus of this site is to connect you with the opportunities and formalized programs in which experience is a significant component.

Credit / Course Based Opportunities: Directed Experiential Learning integrated into an individual course or academic program, which may or may not include the opportunity to earn course credit.   [top]

• Co-operative Education
• Internship and Practicum
• Field Placement

Click here to connect to some Credit / Course Based EL.

Extra-curricular Activities & Leadership Roles:  Getting involved in extra-curricular activities or student government has the potential to serve as a rewarding and valuable self-directed experiential learning activity.  There are also directed experiential learning programs on campus that focus on leadership.  [top]

• Clubs and Societies on campus
• Fraternities and Sororities
• Student government
• SOS:  Students Orienting Students

Click here to connect to some Extra-curricular & Leadership Roles. 

International Experiences:  Studying or working abroad encourages an expanded perspective on global issues and foreign cultures, while challenging you to adapt to and flourish within new situations and environments.  There are various directed self-directed opportunities available to University of Windsor students.  [top]

• International Exchanges
• Canada World Youth
• Engineers Without Borders
• SWAP Program
• Career Resources Job Postings (Self-Directed)

Click here to connect to some International Experiences.

Workplace Experiences:  Paid and volunteer work experiences, especially when related to your field of study, are also excellent venues for experiential learning.  As a University of Windsor student you have access to several resources and programs which will help you connect with a directed or self-directed workplace opportunity.  [top]

• Career Resources Job Postings (paid and volunteer, self-directed)
• WISE (paid, self-directed)
• Work Study (paid, self-directed)
• Co-operative Education (paid, self-directed)
• Volunter Internship Program I & II (volunteer, directed)

Click here to connect to some Workplace Experiences.