Experiential learning
Experiential learning enables you to learn through doing and reflect on your experiences. By incorporating hands-on learning into your education, you can graduate with the confidence to apply your acquired skills and knowledge to your future endeavours outside of the classroom.
What is experiential learning?
Experiential learning is the bridge between theory and practice by allowing you to:
- Engage directly in a real-world situation through concrete experience.
- Reflect on your experience by observing your surroundings and how this experience relates to the real world.
- Learn from your experience.
- Put your new skills and knowledge into practice through active experimentation.
Experiential learning at FSSH
As a student within our faculty, you have access to numerous experiential learning opportunities that will take your educational experience to the next level. From placements to internships and everything in between, you can feel confident that you are entering the workforce career-ready. Explore our website to learn more about our offerings!
Practicum
Fourth-year students develop and refine their professional self through a placement experience with a partner organization. The fieldwork practicum prepares students for an eventual leadership role within their field of study.
Internship
Fourth-year students have the opportunity to acquire workplace skills and knowledge and critically examine the relationship between work-related practices through an immersive internship experience with a partner organization.
Community Engagement Projects
We run a number of Community Engagement Projects each year with partner organizations that provide service to vulnerable or at-risk populations, including homeless shelters, soup kitchens, after-school programs, and so on.
Meet your Co-ordinator!
Dan Walters
"My job is amphibious by nature. I have one leg in academic and student affairs, while the other is in the community working with current and prospective stakeholders. When chatting about our faculty, I eventually highlight our tireless commitment to social justice and progressive interdisciplinary research; yet always talk about students first. Our placement students, in particular, have a transformative experience in at least two distinct ways: they expand and develop their personal, professional, and academic skills, and they transform how surrounding communities come to understand ‘what we do’ in Social Science and Humanities. In my opinion, students are our best resource—and to play a small role in their journey is an incredible responsibility and privilege. Their success isn’t so much an absence of hardships but, rather, a presence of resilience, creativity, and hard work."
Contact Dan
dan.walters@ontariotechu.ca905.721.8668 ext. 2981
Meet your Co-ordinator!
Juanita Barton
"In today's competitive job market, it's more important than ever that students graduate with meaningful work experience in their field. Our Practicum and Internship programs reflect Ontario Tech’s mission of connecting with the community to build partnerships and provide practical, hands-on learning experiences for students. Taking part in a Practicum or Internship allows students to connect with their course work in new ways, explore career options, and gain professional contacts in their field. I feel very lucky to guide students on their career journey, while working closely with employer partners to support their hiring needs."
Contact Juanita
juanita.barton@ontariotechu.ca905.721.8668 ext. 5621
