Written by Sophia Ramberg ’23
“Is my time at college going to be worth it?” This question resounds in the minds of many students – from freshmen just beginning to explore new majors, to second semester seniors applying for jobs. No one wants to feel like college was a waste of time, effort, or money – which is why it is important to find a college that doesn’t just teach the basics but invests in the personal and professional future of every student.
The goal of higher education is to prepare students to gain knowledge, learn from various experiences, and apply it to real-life scenarios. From the first class students take, to the moment they graduate, North Central University is committed to educating and preparing students for career excellence with spiritual integrity. Part of this preparation process is engaging students to in the critical process of gaining experience and using what they are learning to better the world around them. That’s where experiential learning, the future of higher education comes in.
What is experiential learning?
Experiential learning is a teaching style that uses hands-on, practical knowledge and applies it to the real world. Hands-on experience teaches skills that cannot be learned from a lecture or a textbook, allowing students to discover, develop, and hone the necessary tools and skill sets.
“The biggest thing that sets North Central apart is that we do real work. Most colleges will teach knowledge, but we really teach knowledge applied. So, in our marketing classes, we work on real clients and pitch to them…. I think what North Central provides is the combination of professional experience and perspective. In the education here, you’ll get experience in your classes, whether its communications or marketing or business or digital media, but it’s combined with a perspective that the world is bigger than ourselves.” – Mark Skeba, Professor of Business and Technology
Benefits of experiential learning
The faculty and staff throughout every department at North Central University are passionate about integrating experiential knowledge into their teachings, from ASL Interpretation to the biology or education programs.
“[The liberal arts program] is giving students hands-on experience connected to the curriculum that allows them to grow, but also to be ready for the job force because they’ve got those resumes ready to go. And to get that experience that will really make them powerful and impactful when they get out there into the real world.” – Desirée Libengood, Ed.D., Interim Vice President of Academic Affairs
This teaching model introduces new concepts and terminology inside of the classroom. Once students have attained a base understanding, they can grow a deeper, more thorough comprehension through problem-solving and applying the concept to real-world scenarios. Experiential learning engages students in critical thinking, a highly desired skill in today’s workforce.
Other key benefits of experiential learning include:
- Teamwork
- Collaboration
- Communication
- Experimentation
- Creativity
- Growth from Mistakes
Collaboration and teamwork in college sets the precedent and standard for future professional team settings. Students develop leadership, interpersonal, and communication skills through experiential knowledge, filling future resumes with a litany of hands-on experiences.
Another benefit that experiential learning provides is increased innovation. Boosted hands-on student engagement with the course material encourages creative thinking as well as the opportunity to explore and experiment. When mistakes are made students have a safe place to understand the experience and can continue to grow in their understanding.
Implementing Experiential Learning at NCU
Around campus, North Central University has several organizations meant specifically to further and increase student experience and applicable job knowledge. Each organization has unique goals, tailored to help students gain real world experience in an area of interest.
1. The Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (IIE)
Under the College of Business and Technology (COBAT), the Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (IIE) provides the solutions to company complications straight from the minds of the next generation. The IIE has been a part of the creation, collaboration, and culmination of many new business ventures.
There are two different sectors to the IIE. The first sector supports budding entrepreneurs, assisting with the launch of personal business dreams. Students will be coached and mentored through the ideation, funding, and launch of their own personal companies.
The second sector of the Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship is the agency. The agency is a resource for companies who would like assistance. This section offers resources are always completely student-run and range anywhere from bookkeeping to marketing and operations. When students join the IIE, they work with real clients, gain professional, hands-on experience, and may even be paid for quality work. Some of the IIE’s clients include:
Apply for a Student Associate position with the IIE
2. The Northerner
The Northerner is North Central University’s student-run newspaper that has been around since 1960. Students can join the Northerner either as a writer or as an editor. Those involved in the Northerner seek to uphold the truth while following journalistic standards. Experiential knowledge allows students to ideate, develop, and write their own stories on a variety of campus-related news and stories. The Northerner also details the history of North Central University, including and what life was like back in the 1960s.
Check out a couple of student-directed stories from The Northerner:
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