Competency-based education has become a defining characteristic of higher social work education. This movement provides ample opportunity for students to have transformative learning experiences that will prepare them for professional practice. Yet, scholarly work on competency-based education runs the risk of overlooking the important…

This paper examines the pedagogical framework of Jerusalem University College (JUC) for biblical field studies in the Holy Land. JUC's program revolves around three pedagogical pillars, "Read the Land. See the Text. Live the Book," centered on geographical comprehension, biblical texts, and practiced Christianity. This mixed methods…

This study examines what factors contribute to intercultural learning during the study abroad experience, drawing on Mezirow's theory of transformative learning and data from the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI). Using data from 1,858 US students studying abroad in 27 countries over 6 years (2014-2020), this study constitutes the largest…

This generic qualitative inquiry (GQI) explores experiential learning in higher education for students interested in law enforcement careers. Through interviews and focus group discussions, the study aimed to uncover insights into the perceptions and experiences of students engaging in a university student security program (USSP). The USSP allows…

Sustainable development and transformational change have become more critical than ever in the era of climate change. The aim of this literature review was to increase knowledge on education and learning activities (ELAs), along with the learning outcomes they address, in the context of higher education for sustainable development (SD) with…

The relationship between teacher and student is instrumental to learning (Davenport & Davenport, 1985; Holmes & Abington-Cooper, 2000; Houle, 1996; Knowles, 1980; Knowles et al., 1998; McGrath, 2009). This essential partnership supports instruction and student achievement (Bernstein-Yamashiro & Noam, 2013; Hen & Goroshit, 2016;…

The purpose of this exploratory study of adult learning was to investigate the lived experience of 15 employees who encountered a significant job loss event (an unplanned loss of employment with no immediate replacement of employment--coupled with an unintentional and tangibly significant reduction in income), and how the resultant fear(s) from…

John Dewey's educational philosophy provides a compelling resource for empowering adult vocational education through a cultural vision, ultimately rooted in a view of social democracy as the creative task of lifelong learning before us. This is supported by Dewey's interpretation of knowledge construction in its varied cognitive, ethical, and…

As globalized industries evolve, leaders of today and tomorrow will need multifaceted skills for multilayered engagement in an international environment. One method to develop competencies built for a global setting is study abroad, where U.S. colleges embed students in a travel context beyond classroom walls and borders. Study abroad is made up…

Transformative learning approaches in social work education emphasize the importance of bringing together experience, critical reflection, and dialogue to promote individual and social change. An experiential learning assignment, Social Work Week, was designed to sharpen undergraduate students' group practice skills and introduce them to the range…

This article reports findings on two studies that explored undergraduate perspectives of experiential learning as a pedagogy that can produce impactful outcomes that align with Makiguchi's concept of Soka (value-creating) education. The twin studies examined perspectives of undergraduate faculty and students by investigating how experiential…

Notions of 'personal and social development' within experiential learning literature remain philosophically underdeveloped, often identified as something like practical wisdom or practical reasoning. Experiential learning practitioners and theorists make frequent claims regarding the 'life-changing' significance for participants; particularly in…

Purpose: Given greater awareness of environmental issues and the acceleration of climate change, universities are increasingly requiring undergraduate students to complete coursework in environmental issues. Research has shown that environmental courses hosted in science departments can be too challenging for students with no science background.…

Classroom as organization (CAO) is an approach at the extreme end of an experiential learning intensity continuum. While proponents suggest they would never go back to a teacher-centered classroom, CAO has not become widely adopted since its initial description by Cohen. We argue this is, in part, because of shadow elements that may discourage…

Research in the field of agriculture education suggests that students who participate in agriculture education lessons are likely to benefit in knowledge and comprehension of the topic. It was not known how 4th grade students from a Utah public school district envisioned agricultural concepts after being exposed to a four-lesson classroom unit.…