OA FALL 2024 MAGAZINE

Woods Students Thrive Through EXPERIENTIAL

LEARNING By Elizabeth “Izzy” Reel, ’21, Content Marketing Manager

Experiential learning has long been a staple for Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College students. Learning in a classroom is beneficial, but the application and implementation in real settings help students better understand what they have learned. A student-centered approach is a common focus at SMWC. “Students don’t always realize they need real-world experiences, but soon they discover that they’ve applied classroom knowledge while they have gained hands-on learning,” said Martha Reed, director of the career center. This provides an elevated learning experience for the student. Many programs at The Woods include service and experiential learning components in the course curriculum. Instructors believe that this helps better prepare students for when they graduate. Marcia Miller, Ph.D., RN, dean of the Division of Nursing and Sciences, shared that the nursing program has always had a student-centered approach. “Nursing programs often take one of two different approaches. One is the gatekeeper approach to weed out the weak. We decided we were not going to do that. We would be holistic and developmental,” Miller said. She then explained that part of the strategy in coaching students is a spiritual component. Miller shared that the nursing program’s holistic approach enables students to gain skills from experiential learning opportunities throughout the year. SMWC nursing students gain experience through a simulation activity each semester.

The Rural Health Innovation Collaborative (RHIC) simulation center is located at Union Hospital providing students a realistic setting and experience. Students also participate in an annual mock disaster drill on the SMWC campus, including support from the criminology program, several local law enforcement offices, emergency medical service providers and the Emergency Management Agency of Vigo County.

The SMWC Education Department educates students to engage their critical thinking skills through field assignments by teaching in a classroom each year, in addition to completing their student teaching experience during their final semester at The Woods. Ashley Bennett, chair of the Education Department, said, “Student teaching and fields are the ultimate hands-on learning experience. Our students can experience what it is like to have a classroom of their own with the guidance of a host teacher and a clinical supervisor – all before they graduate, which makes a difference. They can apply the methods they have learned from their professors by teaching in an actual classroom. This on-site practice is the best way to strengthen our future educators for the real world.” As SMWC bridges connections across the Wabash River, these relationships add to the student experience. From working with community groups at the Vigo County YMCA and conducting exercise programs with the Sisters

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