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.