During her October 2024 State of the University address, President Lori Steward Gonzalez announced the launch of a Teaching and Assessing Experiential Learning faculty development certification in summer 2025.
Experiential learning is a cornerstone of Ohio University’s educational philosophy, fostering transformative, hands-on experiences that prepare students to apply their knowledge to real-world challenges. This certification program empowers educators to design, implement and assess experiential learning opportunities that align with Ohio University's values and strategic goals.
Experiential Learning Certification Goals
- Design Impactful Experiences : Learn to create meaningful experiential learning opportunities, from internships and service-learning projects to research and global engagement.
- Foster Active Learning : Develop strategies that engage students in reflective practices, encouraging them to connect theory with practice.
- Promote Inclusive Learning Environments : Ensure that experiential opportunities are accessible and equitable for all students, aligning with Ohio University's commitment to diversity and inclusion.
- Assess Real-World Outcomes : Implement effective methods to measure the impact of experiential learning on student growth and career readiness.ach citizen's role in support of Place.
Certification Requirements
- Knowledge Acquisition – a set of asynchronous learning modules delivered through Canvas.
- Implementation – application of learning in new, redesigned, or existing courses.
- Assessment – formal evaluation of course design and delivery.
- Reflection – instructors’ self-report on implementation effectiveness and next steps.
Faculty will be eligible for the first $500 of their stipend after completing the first two components and for the second $500 after completing the final two components.
This teaching certification is designed as a self-paced, open-entry, open-exit offering. Once the first component goes live, faculty may begin the experience at any time.
Getting started with the certification
The Center for Teaching, Learning, and Assessment has opened pre-registration for the certification course, which will go live June 2. Faculty who complete the form will automatically be added to the Canvas course, which will appear on their Canvas dashboard.
Upon completion of the course, faculty will be able to:
- Articulate the effects of experiential learning on student learning outcomes.
- Identify experiential learning opportunities that can be implemented in new and existing courses.
- Design courses that include experiential learning components.
- Implement and assess experiential learning opportunities.
- Share reflections on experiential learning implementation and assessment.
About the Canvas course
The Canvas course comprises the following modules.
Module 1: Foundations of Experiential LearningFaculty will gain a clear understanding of what experiential learning truly means. This module will introduce the Experiential Learning Cycle and will help distinguish among passive, active, and experiential learning models. It will serve as a strong foundation for designing meaningful, real-world learning experiences.
Module 2: Types of Experiential Learning at OHIOFaculty will explore the many forms experiential learning can take at Ohio University—from community engagement and creative endeavors to internships, leadership opportunities, research, and study away programs. This module will help faculty identify high-impact practices that align with their teaching and academic objectives.
Module 3: Core Components of Experiential LearningFaculty will examine the five key components that elevate experiential learning: engagement, mentorship, challenge, ownership, and self/social awareness. This module will demonstrate how to integrate these elements into course design to enhance student learning and reflection.
Module 4: Designing Experiential Learning CoursesThis module will guide faculty through the process of designing courses that incorporate experiential learning. Faculty will learn how to craft clear learning outcomes, develop engaging assignments, and implement mentoring and advising structures that support transformative educational experiences.
Module 5: Assessing Experiential LearningFaculty will explore practical strategies for assessing experiential learning. This module will introduce tools such as reflective journals, self-assessments, attitudinal measures, and integrative learning rubrics to evaluate student growth, engagement, and learning outcomes effectively.
Featured faculty exemplars
Modules feature OHIO faculty exemplars (digital faculty course guides) to showcase implementation examples of instructional practice. Among these OHIO faculty experts, are
- Andie Walla, associate professor of instruction, and Josh Antonuccio, associate professor, School of Media Arts & Studies, Scripps College, whose students help them produce The Sycamore Sessions at the Nelsonville Music Festival.
- Julia Paxton, professor, Department of Economics, College of Arts and Sciences, who work with local organizations to understand and respond to systemic causes of poverty.
- Christi Camper Moore, assistant professor and head of Arts Administration, College of Fine Arts, who collaborates with the Kennedy Museum of Art.
- Jodie Foster, professor, Heritage College of Medicine, whose students extend their didactic anatomical education to clinical anatomical dissections focusing on their intended area of specialization.
- Paul Benedict, associate professor of instruction in management, College of Business, and T.J. Cyders, associate professor of mechanical engineering, Russ College, who collaborate to support community food initiatives.
- Lisa Martin, assistant professor of instruction, Honors Tutorial College, who partners with local non-profits to help them address emerging and ongoing challenges.
About the assessment and reflection components
During the assessment component of the certification, faculty collect data as part of their implementation.
The reflection component involves faculty faculty completion and submission of a self-reflection focused on their own learning and experiences with the designing, delivering and assessing experiential learning, as well as next steps for teaching and assessing experiential learning in their courses.
Additional details regarding these components are available in the course.
Experiential Learning certification design team
The Teaching and Assessing Experiential Learning certification is the result of a collaboration among several units providing faculty development, including the CTLA, the Office of Instructional Design and the Office of Information Technology, among others. Design team members include:
- Jeremy Henkel, associate director for faculty programming, CTLA
- Andrew Pueschel, Provost Office Experiential Learning Faculty Fellow
- Kyle Rosenberger, instructional designer, OID
- Chelsea Freeman, instructional technologist II, OIT
- Wendy Adams, associate director for assessment, CTLA
In addition to OHIO faculty, subject matter experts contributing to the course include: Katie Hartman, vice provost for faculty development; Lindsey Rudibaugh, executive director of student engagement; Mary Nally, executive director of the Center for Campus Engagement; and Michelle O'Malley, director, OHIO Place-based Initiative.