How much credit is available?

The credits you earn depend on the type of External Learning Experience you enter. The program manager or designee can provide you with the credits for your External Learning Experience.

How do I qualify for enrollment?

Faculty approval is required for enrollment. To qualify for External Learning experiences in a day or evening college plan, you must have previously earned six (6) semester hours of credit in your occupational major, excluding External Learning Experience credits, or must have instructor approval.

Do VA benefits apply?

For all questions concerning VA benefits, check with the Campus VA office.

Must I be currently employed to enroll in ELE?

No. The program manager or External Learning Experience office will assist you in locating a training site at which you can accomplish your External Learning Experience objectives.

Are External Learning Experience credits transferable?

The transferability of External Learning Experience credits may vary according to the major. You should verify transferability with the institution of your choice.

What happens if I quit/change jobs during the semester?

If you quit or change your job during the process of the semester without instructor approval, you must re-qualify yourself for External Learning Experience as you did in the beginning of the semester with your original job or withdraw from the course to avoid a grade of “F”.

What are the responsibilities of the employer?

Your employer/sponsoring agency must agree to participate in the External Learning Experience program. Your employer/sponsoring agency must be willing to assist in the development of objectives, permit a minimum of two visits per semester by the instructor, and assist in the evaluation of a student's achievement of objectives.

How do I drop or add an ELE class?

The External Learning Experience program should be considered the same as any other class (with the exception that you can register at any time). The assigned section number and credit hours will be used and handled the same as a regular class. In the event there is a need to drop or add a class, the regular registration procedure will be used.

What kind of grade will I receive?

Grades available for External Learning Experience will follow the grading procedure used in other academic courses at Amarillo College. The program manager will determine the grade using evaluation input from the employer/sponsoring agency and student.
 

External Learning Experience

An External Learning Experience is a competency-based learning experience that enhances lecture and laboratory instruction, and is provided at work sites appropriate to the discipline. There are four types of External Learning Experiences:

• Cooperative Education
• Practica
• Internships
• Clinicals

Cooperative Education

Cooperative Education provides actual work experience, with an emphasis on practice, for the student to gain practical experience in a discipline by allowing the student to develop competence through repetition of skills or activities. A student is employed either for 10 hours per week for 1 semester credit hour or 20 hours per week for 2 semester credit hours. In addition to the work experience, a student must attend a lecture component for 1 hour per week for 1 semester hour credit. The length of a Co-op is 16 weeks.

Practicum

A Practicum is basically the same as a Co-op except the lecture component is not required.

Internship

An Internship provides practical experience related to theory that simultaneously allows the student to synthesize new knowledge and apply previous knowledge. In most other aspects an Internship is similar to a Practicum, except for the ratio for actual work hours to semester hour credits.

Clinical Experience

Clinical Experience is the same as an Internship, except it is in a healthcare setting.

Program Manager

The Program Manager is the faculty member who is in charge of that instructional department or division.

Instructor

The Instructor is the faculty member who has been assigned to work with the student enrolled in an External Learning Experience.

Lecture Series

Cooperative Education requires students to attend 16 hours of a lecture component. The Lecture Series further prepares the student for employment.

Work Sites

The Work Site is the actual location where the student works.

ELE Training Agreement

The ELE Training Agreement is an agreement between the College, student, and employer to jointly participate and support the External Learning Experience for the student.

Company/Sponsoring Agency Supervisor

The Company Supervisor is the company and/or sponsoring agency representative who is responsible for supervising the student and assisting the instructor.

Competency Profiles

Competency Profiles are lists of tasks the student has learned through their course of study. The student  should be capable of performing these tasks at the worksite. Competency Profiles may be used as required job duties, and should be considered when developing the job-related learning objectives.

Job-Related Learning Objectives

Job-Related Learning Objectives are a set of objectives the student, instructor, and company supervisor have agreed upon, and will be the basis for the student’s grade during the final evaluation.

Introduction

The External Learning Experience concept recognizes the value of learning that can take place when students work and train in real job situations.  Positive achievements include successful completion of a job, solutions to problems, and seeing the results of one's work.  The work experience reward also includes the likelihood that individuals will be able to move onward and upward in their organizations.  Part of the requirements of an External Learning Experience program is that a student must pursue a planned program of work experience education, which includes new and expanded responsibilities or learning opportunities beyond those experienced during previous employment.  While the general benefit to students of being able to gain related work experience is recognized, the demand for new learning opportunities requires special attention.  One way to meet this demand is through a program of planned learning objectives centered around the student.  When students are involved in the development of their learning objectives, a greater realization of educational accomplishment will occur.

It is expected that student performance evaluations by employment supervisors will become more comprehensive because assessments can be made based upon prior expectations.  With a fixed objective, the students can better determine whether they are on the right path or not.  The key to a learning objectives plan in External Learning Experience is the Instructor/Coordinator who instructs and advises the student in setting and reaching objectives on the job.  The job supervisor must also offer assistance in conferring with students and the coordinator in validating stated objectives, guiding the students in their accomplishments, and evaluating the students' achievements. A statement of objectives aims at identifying goals and describing desired outcomes or performances that learning should have as a result of participation in an activity.  The procedures describe the content, treatments, processes, activities, or sequence of events that will take place in carrying out the design and evaluation activities. By setting and recognizing a set of achievable objectives, the Instructor/Coordinator, supervisor and student can anticipate a change in student feelings, thinking, and actions.  Consideration can be given to

(1) identifying the student's present level of development,

(2) present areas of interest,

(3) activities that individuals are expected to perform,

(4) problems the student is likely to encounter and,

(5) the opportunities the student will have for self awareness.

 WELCOME TO THE ELE EXPERIENCE!

External Learning Experience Program

CUSTOMIZED TECHNICAL TRAINING