Course Embedded Practical Experiences: A Reflection on Innovation

Main Article Content

Jerry K Hoepner

Abstract

Adding a course-embedded practical experience into a class is not a simple venture. It requires the willingness to take a risk, motivation by key players (students, faculty, and community partners), along with financial and administrative backing to remain sustainable. I believe the willingness to take risks is a part of all innovative pedagogies. Risks for course-embedded practical experiences include: giving up some of your class time traditionally allocated for direct instruction, offering hands-on learning experiences that sometimes precede direct instruction, and putting yourself in an unplanned/unpredictable context where students directly witness your actions or how you respond to challenging moments. Those risks can be counteracted by the powerful learning environments that these experiences offer.

Article Details

Section
Articles