TI 0783 - Undergraduate Research and Experiential Learning: Focusing Strategies for Courses and Programs

Course Description

Empower your learners through hands-on experience. Experiential learning — or learning by doing — engages students and helps them develop the problem-solving skills and sophisticated thinking necessary to solve real world problems. In this two-part event, international experiential learning expert, Dr. John Willison, PhD, from the University of Adelaide, Australia, will present relevant  frameworks, processes and resources to inspire you to develop and/or adapt experiential learning activities in your courses and programs.   

During the keynote, Dr. Willison will outline his array of experiential learning and undergraduate research tools. In the interactive workshop, you will conceptualize, adapt, or develop experiential learning opportunities that engage students by utilizing Dr. Willison’s resources. Some of the topics covered will include: designing curriculum with a focus on integrating experiential learning, using frameworks for work-integrated learning and research, and leveraging critical reflection and other forms of evaluation and assessment.  

At the end of the session, you will be able to:  

• Connect relevant experiential learning frameworks and tools to your course or program according to disciplinary agendas.   

• Conceptualize or develop one or more experiential learning activities to use in your course and/or program.   

• Understand the supports offered by UCalgary’s Office of Experiential Learning to advance experiential learning activities across campus.  

This event is sponsored by the Office of Experiential Learning (Taylor Institute for Teaching and Learning), the Werklund School of Education, the Cumming School of Medicine and the Office of the Vice-Provost (Research).  

Presenter Bio:  

Dr. John Willison, PhD, is a senior lecturer in the School of Education and Faculty of Arts at the University of Adelaide, Australia, and a twice-honoured national teaching fellow. He is founder of the Models of Engaged Teaching and Learning and author of a book by the same name, as well as co-creator of the widely utilized Research Skill Development Framework. Dr. Willison’s research interests are in curriculum and pedagogy, higher education, learning sciences and teacher education, and professional development of educators. He has considerable experience as an international presenter, workshop host, and keynote speaker for organizations such as the Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR), the International Society for the Scholarship of Teaching and learning (ISSOTL), the Society for Research into Higher Education (SRHE), and the International Baccalaureate program (IB). He has experience leading international collaborations with culturally-diverse partners, including Indigenous Peoples of the South Pacific and Australasia.