Faculty Guidebook on Experiential Education

As a longstanding leader in experiential education across Canada, Brock is proud to celebrate the efforts of our Faculty who take a student-centered approach to teaching and foster opportunities for students to put theory into practice. As an institution founded by the local community, experiential education and community partnerships have been central in our history since our inception and a play a strong part in our future direction. With government support through funding and as part of our Institutional strategic plan and Strategic Mandate Agreement, the intention of this guidebook is to provide support and resources for faculty interested in developing experiential components of academic courses.

Pedagogy of Experiential Education

  • Experiential learning cycle
  • Impacts on student learning, development, and success
  • Experiential education vs. experiential learning
  • Scholarship of experiential education

Experiential Education in your Course

  • Course design
  • Learning outcomes & assessment
  • Preparing students & giving feedback
  • Monitoring activity/community projects

The Role of Reflection

  • How can reflection support learning
  • How to build reflection into your course
  • Examples of reflection assignment
  • Assessment & evaluation of reflection
  • Reflection frameworks & questions

Documents & Forms

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Support for experiential education
  • Course considerations
  • Community partnership engagement
  • Insurance & safety considerations

Experiential Education Categories

Brock University is the first in Canada to have its experiential education definitions confirmed in Senate. Browse the 20 definitions as exemplified from courses from all 7 faculties across the campus.

Taking Experiential Learning Online

Get your course ready for online experiential learning. Learn more about how you can create online experiences to enhance your course during these unprecedented times.

Teaching & Learning Innovation Grants for EE

Course development grants are available to faculty who want to introduce experiential education to their course. Learn more about how to apply and about past and present grant-funded projects.

Brock Skills and Experience Enhancement HUB

CEWIL Canada has created an Innovation HUB seeking to broaden access to Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) opportunities for students across Canada. Learn more and apply for funding to enhance and expand WIL opportunities, remove barriers for students, ensure equity, and leverage technology.

Additional Resources

High-impact practices promote “deep approaches” to learning which have shown help students “to earn higher grades and retain, integrate, and transfer information at higher rates” (Kuh, 2008). Experiential education is a key pillar of Brock’s commitment to high-impact practices. Contact the Centre for Pedagogical Innovation to learn more.

Brock University has developed the Campus-Wide Co-Curriculum (CWC) hosted on ExperienceBU to help students make the most of their experiences beyond the classroom. The co-curriculum presents opportunities for students to enhance their understanding of themselves and the world around them through a variety of meaningful and engaging experiences.

The mission of International Services is to help all Brock students – international and Canadian – get the most out of their studies and experience.  The the International Mobility programs, students can gain international academic or volunteer/work experiences.

Student Wellness and Accessibility Centre is committed to the health and wellness of our community as a vital component of our mission to develop the whole person.

Each student’s career is shaped by their experiences and will evolve as they do, both during their time at Brock University and throughout their professional life after graduation. Campus Career and Goodman Career can support students in understanding their skills, connecting their experiences to jobs and professional opportunities, mapping their career goals and building their professional network.

Brock’s graduate studies programs offer an immersive and engaging means for students to both investigate their chosen field and expand their academic knowledge. A graduate education from Brock will prepare students for successful careers and contribute to leading-edge research. The goal of Graduate Studies is to help each graduate student become a well-rounded, creative and ethical individual and researcher who will contribute to the betterment of society.

The Brock Makerspace is a collaborative learning environments where faculty, students, staff, and community members come together to share materials and learn new skills, and nurtured by a mindset of community partnership, collaboration, and creation. This space gives the Brock community hands-on access to emerging technologies and provides a space for all to play, learn and invent. The Makerspace also has a collection of digital technology equipment specifically to support experiential education opportunities. Contact the Makerspace or your EE Coordinator for more information.

Brock’s Research Ethics Office supports the University’s commitment to the responsible and ethical conduct of research. All research and teaching that involves the use of human subjects, animals, radiation, biohazardous material, and field safety must comply with Brock University policies and procedures, which are based on national legislation and the requirements of national government and non-government organizations.

Experience the incredible Niagara region from Brock University campus with the help of Conference Services.