Science education has maintained a longstanding goal of enhancing societal interest, values, and understandings of science. Despite a series of public education reforms and efforts by scientific researchers, scientific literacy and passion remain sparse across the American public. In fact, many students demonstrate a lack of interest in the…

In the context of continuing pressures from managerialist and neoliberal drivers of university reform in Australia, Macquarie University's recent undergraduate curriculum innovation, based on "People," "Planet," and "Participation," has resulted in the embedding and integration of experiential learning in its…

Why are Americans, and young Americans in particular, so turned off to government and politics? And, what can be done to arrest these trends? In this article, I suggest that three primary, and mutually reinforcing, trends, which can be summed up as the "relevance factor," the "negativity factor," and the "triumphant market factor," have conspired…

We examine the experiences of five teachers who traveled with a team of educators, scientists, and explorers on circumpolar Arctic expeditions to deliver adventure learning (AL) programs to K-12 students at a distance. Results highlight the personal and professional impacts this opportunity had on teachers, including their empowering, fulfilling,…

Describes a psychology program to involve undergraduate students in community child care centers. Assessment of student performance indicated that students achieved skill in observation and evaluation techniques but did not develop adequate objectivity. (Author/DB)

Describing a developmental model and efforts during the first year of a three to five year plan to develop an experiential program in Harrison District #2 (Colorado) patterned from Outward Bound, this report concentrates on five major areas of concern. A section on developing a support structure describes activity-based workshops, during which…

With the aim of adding clarity to college practice in experiential education and service learning, a taxonomy of experiential education is proposed. For each of three categories (internship, cooperative education, service learning), goals and objectives of the major stakeholders (academy, student, host organization) are specified. Four levels of…

Resulting from a conference co-sponsored by the Notre Dame Law School and the American Bar Association (ABA), this book explores recent innovations in legal education, specifically those "apprenticeship" programs in clinical and client counseling. Papers include: "The Problem of Teaching Lawyer Competency" (Fernand N. Dutile); "Opening Remarks"…

A study was made of an early field practicum, in elementary education, which theoretically emphasized quantity and diversity in the students' field experiences and allowed them the opportunity to apply newly acquired curriculum methods and theories. Ten student teachers were intensively interviewed and observed over a six month period. It was…

Details evolution of a Boston University (Massachusetts) dental school program providing field experience in private practices, community health centers, hospital-based ambulatory health centers, health maintenance organizations, and the school's predoctoral treatment centers. Issues discussed include integration of classroom and field learning,…

A project to develop a field-based, competency-based training program for community development practitioners was undertaken in the Central Coast Region of California. Competency objectives were identified from a literature review of community development practice and information obtained from field practitioners and community members. Four…

Care must be taken to ensure that students in teacher preparation programs are prepared to benefit maximally from field experiences. A curriculum that provides prerequisite knowledge, contrived teaching experiences on campus, proper sequencing of experiences, and balance between formal instruction and field experience is needed. Clinical and…

Two secondary out-of-school activities were evaluated to determine how well each met rigorous definitions of curriculum. It was found that the activities--a whitewater canoe trip and a series of 3 10-day expeditions to a boreal forest, a subarctic area, and a mountain setting--both met the criteria for curriculum including intent of the teacher to…

In Dallas in 1970, high school outdoor education began as a cocurricular woods and waters boys' club sponsored by a community sportsman. Within one year, it grew into a fully accredited, coeducational, academic course with a curriculum devoted to the study of wildlife in Texas, ecology, conservation, hunting, firearm safety, fishing, boating and…

This anthology of 58 pieces originally published in the "Journal of Experiential Education" focuses on the value of experiential learning and the need to incorporate direct experience in formal education. Chapter 1 summarizes and reviews the findings of "A Nation at Risk" and other major national reports on education. Chapter 2…