Curricular Resources

Please Select an Opportunity

Internship
Co-op
Practicum (or Placement)
Community Engaged Learning
Independent Study Abroad
Exchange
Faculty-led Study Abroad
Research/Scholarly Creation
Lab
Field Experience
Simulation
Creative, Performance, Physical Practice
Industry Project
Entrepreneurship
Case Based Learning

Internship mosaic with students, supervisors, and varying environments from production lines to office spaces

Definition:

  • Internship (short-term): A supervised work experience during a single academic term. May be paid or unpaid.
  • Internship (long-term): A supervised, paid full-time work experience extending beyond a single academic term.

Examples:

Resources:

Engineering Co-op images from the Western Wind Tunnel placement. Students placing and making models for testing.

Definition:

Alternating academic study with paid, supervised work terms. The total amount of a co-op is normally at least 30% of the time spent in academic study.

Examples:

Resources:

Health Sciences placements, para-medicine, nursing a patient, rehabilitation students

Definition:

A mandatory, supervised experience in a discipline in which practice-based experience may be required for professional licensure or certification.

Examples:

Resources:

Highlight:

"The sport management practicum in Kinesiology provides an opportunity for senior-level honours students to engage with one of a range of public, non-profit and commercial organizations in the London region on a weekly basis throughout a semester. Students work with the organization to achieve its goals and objectives, while also pursuing their own interests in the area of sport, recreation and leisure management. I have been supervising the capstone course for almost 30 years and I continue to see students transformed by the direct application of their program-based knowledge in a real-world setting. This happens particularly as the students engage with organizations off-campus, where they come face to face with a range of managerial issues, such as finding financial and facility resources to allow sport and recreation programming for low-income families, marketing fitness activities to nonparticipants, and ensuring efficient and effective operations of large sporting events in the community." - Prof. Alison Doherty, Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Kinesiology 

"The most obvious value is the opportunity to consolidate concepts students have heard about in their various coursework and to really appreciate how these apply in a real-world setting. The most profound thing I have seen repeatedly is how effective this approach is – relative to traditional didactic or even other learning approaches.  The principal takeaway I see in the students is a far deeper appreciation for the career path they are exploring, and, on many occasions, this has been a seminal experience for them in deciding to pursue (or not) a certain profession. There are certainly many other possible outputs, but I have heard from students from several years past that the practicum was a defining experience for them.  I have been particularly surprised at how profound the learning approach can be with an experiential focus. The passion that students bring to these experiences is amazing." - Dr. Dalton Wofle, Assistant Professor, Health Sciences

Students in the community at the grand theatre, teaching music to young students, and walking downtown London

Definition:

Students engage in a project, developed collaboratively with a local, national, or global community partner, that has mutually beneficial outcomes.

Examples:

Resources:

Highlight:

Check out CEL programming making headlines.

Images of solo students in varying global landscapes.

Definition:

A program of study which enables students to register and study at a host institution with credit transferred back to the home institution. Program duration is one or two terms, a summer, or short-term study period.

Examples:

Students choosing a place on a globe and sitting in their new global context

Definition:

A program of study whereby partner institutions establish a reciprocal agreement which enables students to register and study at the host partner institution with credit transferred back to the home institution. Program duration is one or two terms, a summer, or short-term study period.

Examples:

  • For a complete list of opportunities, see Exchange from Western International

Tour of Greece students engage in a museum and capture images of the landscape

Definition:

A structured group learning activity under the supervision of a home-institution faculty member comprised of credit course(s). Educational activities are centered on a portion of learning taking place abroad, outside of the classroom.

Examples:

Highlight:

"For me as a professor, it was inspiring to see the extent of the students' engagement and curiosity at the archeological sites and museums. I could not believe how they were teaching each other on their own accord, drawing on what they had learned in various courses on campus." - Bernd Steinbock, Department of Classical Studies (CS3010G: Study Tour to Greece)

Students presenting posters to public, researching at the computer, and examining materials in a display case at the library

Definition:

A supervised/mentored project extending over at least a term, during which the student engages in original research or scholarly creation.

Examples:

  • Course Outline: Social Science, Management and Organizational Studies, Honors Thesis MOS4999E
  • Course Outline: Classical Studies, 4585G: Vindolanda Field School post-experience Research Project 

Greenhouses, Western Integrated Science lab, Laboratory for Stable Isotope Research

Definition:

A distinct course component that includes self-directed hands-on application of course concepts in a controlled setting.

Examples:

  • Course Outline: Science, Biology 2290F/G
  • Course Outline: Arts and Humanities, English ECE2240A

Resources:

 

Field expereiences in the American South-West through Gordon Osinski's field course

Definition:

An individual or group excursion that requires the student(s) to observe or engage in activities outside the traditional classroom (e.g. field trip, field school).

Examples:

Highlight:

“Taking history outside of the classroom and immersing students into the community provides them with an enhanced understanding of how different audiences engage with the past, the remarkable diversity of histories that exist, and the myriad of ways in which these stories can be told.” - Michael Dove, Department of History (HIS3813E: Public History)

"To actually experience, witness, and—most importantly—build upon the knowledge conveyed through the traditional vehicles of lectures and readings, is exciting for both instructor and student. The subject matter literally comes alive. Watching students make connections for themselves between what they have read and heard, and what they do and experience in the field is, for an instructor, both exhilarating and rewarding. It is very much a shared learning experience for the entire class, instructor included." - Jeff Hopkins, Department of Geography, (GEOG 3000Y)

"Being able to visit locations in London and Toronto that produce art and theatre really brought course theories and readings to life. I was able to form a deeper understanding of how art and systems of finance, government, and community interact by applying my own experiences to course materials. Most importantly, the field experience taught me that my real-world experiences and observations are as valid sources of study as the books that I read." - Meg Desmond, English 9141 Student

Simulation environments such as Climate change summit, aging body lab, and moot court

Definition:

A learning exercise that mimics/simulates a real-world process or system. 

Examples:

  • School of Nursing, Clinical Skills Lab
  • Faculty of Law, Moot Court
  • Political Science, Climate Change Simulation

Resources:

Highlight:

"The bargaining simulation is when my class really comes to life.  Topics turn from boring, abstract, theoretical concepts to issues that the students need to dig deeply into and actually fight for.  Their engagement levels are like night and day and they really appreciate the first-hand experience at the end of the day.  One student turned to me and said: "Whoa this is really hard, I don't know how people can do this every day." He was completely appreciating the psychological, emotional and logistical complexities of bargaining and the labour-management relationship in that moment and it was great." - Johanna Weststar, Associate Professor, DAN Department of Management and Organization Studies

Students in orchestra rehearsals and creative performance from the piano

Definition:

An experience that enables skill development through intensive practice or performance.

Examples:

Highlight:

"The importance of the Experiential Learning opportunity to play in the Western University opera orchestra cannot be overstated. This experience helps prepare students interested in pursuing a career with professional orchestras. For those students who choose not to pursue a career as a professional musician, this opportunity may be their only exposure to a situation which closely simulates playing in a professional orchestra. This EL experience is virtually identical to a professional experience in that students are expected to perform the music at an accomplished level, learn to accompany singers in a collaborative fashion, and work with highly experienced professional opera conductors. In addition, participants learn in a supportive and caring environment which may not always be the case in a highly competitive profession." - Tyrone Paterson, Lecturer, Opera Music Director, Symphony Orchestra Director, Don Wright Faculty of Music

Students collaborating at Innovation Works on an project

Definition:

A course that involves students working with an external partner on a specific project to propose strategies that address an organizational challenge or idea.

Examples:

Highlight:

"The value of this course [EnvrSust9200] for the students is beyond the actual project topics undertaken. The skills developed in project management and in client relationship management are fully transferable. Likewise, skill in critical analysis and "figuring out how to figure it out" serve students especially well as they enter the workforce. And as a bonus, there is a high level of gratification for me and the students that we are helping real-world organizations advance sustainability in their organization or in their community.” - Dean Sheppard, Lecturer, Centre for Environment and Sustainability | Executive Director, ReForest London

 Students connecting in the Propel space

Definition:

A course that requires students to create and manage the development of a product or business idea.

Examples:

Highlight:

“It is extremely difficult to find high-quality jobs these days. In many cases, students and recent grads are well positioned to make their own job (start their own business) but do not have the confidence to do so. KIN 4422, Entrepreneurship & Technology in Kinesiology, is designed to develop business skills that in many cases students already have while encouraging them to be persistent in their pursuit of a better way.” - Marc Mitchell, School of Kinesiology

 

Students presenting and discussing around a table

Definition:

A learning activity that involves groups of students examining a detailed, real life, authentic, or contextualized situation that requires the group to assess, evaluate, and respond with recommendations.

Examples:

Highlight:

“Using a case-based approach, allows students to become active learners in the classroom. Being able to draw from many years of past and current clinical practice provides an opportunity to enrich the students’ insights into the realities of healthcare and client experiences. Applying knowledge and theories to real people brings a practical focus to what they are learning. The students get excited considering how they would approach real people and challenging situations. Students can begin to perceive themselves in future professions and consider the best pathways for their education.” - Donna Dennis, School of Occupational Therapy, Health Sciences

"My overarching goal is to provide them with opportunities to utilize my students with opportunities to utilize their knowledge [from their three previous EL opportunities] to refine their thinking routines. Case studies enable our teacher candidates to resolve problems of practice in a low-stakes environment by engaging in professional discussions with their colleagues. It affords them the opportunity to identify dilemmas, to seek out additional resources or supports, to suggest evidence-based practice, to collaborate, and to reflect on their decisions. All competencies that will be critical to their success as classroom teachers." - Deanna Friesen, Faculty of Education 

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