Integration of Extra- and Co-curricular Topics to Increase Student Employment Success

THEME 4: SESSION 4

INTRODUCTION

• Isgard Hueck- University of California San Diego: Session Co-chair
• Kris Billiar- Worcester Polytechnic Institute: Session Co-chair
• Marc Long- Executive Vice President R&D, MTF Biologics: Industry Partner
• Donald Olson- Director of Engineering, PTI Tech: Industry Partner
• Adam Shain- VP of Business Development, Aptar Digital Health Solutions: Industry Partner

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DEFINITIONS 1

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Extra-curricular:

• No formal involvement of the institution [11]
• Trending ideology in education: related/complementary to curriculum topics
• Foster practical and life skills
• Examples: field-related jobs, leadership programs, voluntary community service, exchange experiences.

Co-curricular:

• Optional activities outside the formal course of study
• Tied to a specific academic curriculum but often administered separately
• Examples: internships, Co-ops, research experiences, student chapters in prof. organizations, community service learning, study abroad.

LITERATURE: IMPACT

Known positive Impact of Involvement in Extra/Co-curricular Activities

[1, 6, 7, 8]

…on Student Competencies:

…on Student Employment Success:

LITERATURE: �INTEGRATION IN THE CURRICULUM - YES OR NO?

Advantages

• Specification of learning outcomes
• Experiences can be aligned with course content
• Possible improved learning quality through more academic control over execution, supervision requirements, feedback and reflection
• Management mechanism over students’ potential overcommitment [1]
• Students perceive a higher value of the experience when receiving credit (self-reported) [11]

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Disadvantages

• Issues with equality of access and participation for disadvantaged students [8]
• Commonly imposed participation criterion by the institution (GPA, tuition)
• Additional burden are required for enrollment, such as costs, time commitment, transportation.

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DEFINITIONS 2

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Internship:

• Meaningful experiential learning activity in a professional environment
• Related to student’s field of study or career interest
• Intended for the benefit of the student (versus a job)
• Preparation for industry professions
• Short-term, structured, paid or unpaid

CO-OP:

• Governed by a formal partnership between institution and employer [12]
• Longer terms or alternating schedules with academic learning
• Typically compensated

Research Experience:

• Optional work experiences in a research lab
• Student typically assist in research to gain expertise in a specific academic subject

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SURVEY RESULT

134 responses: 97 Carnegie R1, 11 Carnegie R2, 13 Carnegie D/Predom Ugrad

LEVEL OF INTEGRATION

Survey Results:

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Internships: not or very little integration, assessment, or reflection; not listed on transcripts

Co-Ops: much less prevalent, listed on transcripts but zero credit, generally not integrated but in very few places (1 cr. course for prep and reflection mingled with other learning outcomes, e.g. ethics, professionalism, employer may provide assessment

Research: generally not integrated or assessed, sometimes used as independent study or basis for thesis with oral/written deliverables, mostly R1

Community Service Learning/Others: lots or little examples but no substantial projects, no credit, integration, or assessment

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VALUE OF INTEGRATION

Industry Partner Feedback:

• Facilitation of internship/Co-op is more valuable for employer than the integration in the curriculum or transcript
• However, the level of fostering students’ engagement in extra- and co-curricular opportunities though advertising, match-making, and assistance in finding and placing students in such activities matters greatly to industry and their relationship to academic institutions.

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Literature [1,8,11]:

Pedagogy, if fully integrated in the curriculum:

• Specification of learning outcomes, assessment, and reflection on the experiences possible
• Heightened perceived student experience in the program
• Learning how to prioritize commitments

Concern: Equality of access and participation

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OVERVIEW: DISCUSSION BREADTHS

SESSION 1: Internships in Industrial Settings 9:00 am – 9:50 am

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SESSION 2: Co-Ops 10:00 am - 10:50 am

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SESSION 3: Research Experiences &

Substantial Community Service-Learning Experiences

11:00 am – 11:50 am

1) Document Current Practices on how to INTEGRATE extra- and co-curricular activities.

2) Barriers to Implementation and Strategies to overcome them.

3) Accessibility / Affordability issues and Strategies to overcome them.

REFERENCES

Contact information:

ihueck@ucsd.edu

Isgard Hueck

SESSION 1: INTERNSHIPS

GROUP Discussions

Reporting Out:

• Small table groups discussions
• Generate ideas, report live via QR code in Padlet (10 min for each question/section).
• Review Padlet responses, share out your favorite idea, Padlet view together (final 5 min)

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1. Documenting Best Practices: Describe how your program is integrating Internships in Industrial Settings (e.g. level of involvement, conducive environment, timing in program, length, assessment, reflection or sharing experiences in the classroom)
2. Describe Barriers to the Implementation and suggestions on how they can be overcome.
3. Describe any ideas on how the Affordability for a diverse student population (DEI).

Add

Select

Submit

DISCUSSION GOALS: SESSION 1

1. Document Current Practices: Describe how your program is integrating Internships.
• Facilitation / Assistance for Matching / Timing
• Structure / Fostering Learning
• Assessment / Reflection / Sharing Experiences
2. Describe Barriers to the Implementation and Potential Strategies for overcoming them.
3. Describe Barriers to Accessibility / Lack of Affordability for a diverse student population and Potential Strategies for overcoming them.

Scan QR code with phone or laptop camera

Internships in Industrial Settings

SESSION 1: INTERNSHIPS

Thank you for your participation.

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Feel free to leave your contact information with one of the co-chairs or email ihueck@ucsd.edu to continue the discussion and/or to share more details of your current practices.

End of Session 1 (9:50 am)

https://padlet.com/ihueck/session-1-internships-y1qkbjjqjo5flve7

Padlet Output for Integration of Internships in Industrial Settings

SESSION 2: CO-OPS

GROUP Discussions

Reporting Out:

• Small table groups discussions
• Generate ideas, report live via QR code in Padlet (10 min for each question/section).
• Review Padlet responses, share out your favorite idea, Padlet view together (final 5 min)

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​

​

​

​

1. Documenting Best Practices: Describe how your program is integrating Internships in Industrial Settings (e.g. level of involvement, conducive environment, timing in program, length, assessment, reflection or sharing experiences in the classroom)
2. Describe Barriers to the Implementation and suggestions on how they can be overcome.
3. Describe any ideas on how the Affordability for a diverse student population (DEI).

Select

Submit

Add

DISCUSSION GOALS: SESSION 2

1. Document Current Practices: Describe how your program is integrating Co-ops.
• Facilitation / Assistance for Matching / Timing
• Structure / Fostering Learning
• Assessment / Reflection / Sharing Experiences
2. Describe Barriers to the Implementation and Potential Strategies for overcoming them.
3. Describe Barriers to Accessibility / Lack of Affordability for a diverse student population and Potential Strategies for overcoming them.

Scan QR code with phone or laptop camera

Co-Operative Education

SESSION 2: CO-OPS

Thank you for your participation.

​

Feel free to leave your contact information with one of the co-chairs or email ihueck@ucsd.edu to continue the discussion and/or to share more details of your current practices.

End of Session 2 (10:50 am)

https://padlet.com/ihueck/session-2-co-op-a3fqrt91knbr4h3b

Padlet Output for Integration of Co-ops.

SESSION 3: RESEARCH OR COMMUNITY SERVICE LEARNING

GROUP Discussions

Reporting Out:

• Small table groups discussions
• Generate ideas, report live via QR code in Padlet (10 min for each question/section).
• Review Padlet responses, share out your favorite idea, Padlet view together (final 5 min)

​

​

​

​

​

1. Documenting Best Practices: Describe how your program is integrating Internships in Industrial Settings (e.g. level of involvement, conducive environment, timing in program, length, assessment, reflection or sharing experiences in the classroom)
2. Describe Barriers to the Implementation and suggestions on how they can be overcome.
3. Describe any ideas on how the Affordability for a diverse student population (DEI).

Add

Select

Submit

DISCUSSION GOALS: SESSION 3

1. Document Current Practices: Describe how your program is integrating
1. Research Experiences or
2. (b) Substantial Community Service-Learning
1. Facilitation / Assistance for Matching / Timing
2. Structure / Fostering Learning
3. Assessment / Reflection / Sharing Experiences
1. Describe Barriers to the Implementation and Potential Strategies for overcoming them.
2. Describe Barriers to Accessibility / Lack of Affordability for a diverse student population and Potential Strategies for overcoming them.

Scan QR code with phone or laptop camera

Research (a) or Substantial Community/Service Learning (b)

Scan QR code with phone or laptop camera

Research (a)

Community/Service Learning (b)

SESSION 3: RESEARCH / COMMUNITY SERVICE LEARNING

Thank you for your participation.

Feel free to leave your contact information with one of the co-chairs or email ihueck@ucsd.edu to continue the discussion and/or to share more details of your current practices.

End of Session 3 (11:50 am)

https://padlet.com/ihueck/session-3a-research-experiences-dqkhm2yv6nz4zc0f

Padlet Output for Integration of Research Experiences

https://padlet.com/ihueck/session-3b-substantial-community-service-learning-experience-ugmhpsmdoi8ab1aw

Padlet Output for Integration of Community/Service Learning