• Some students may not understand how what they learn in your course is connected to their future work or personal lives. Incorporating at least one experiential learning assignment in your course can go a long way to helping students connect your content to their professional futures.
• Employers say that students don't always know how to effectively translate what they learn in college into the practical, real-world skills they need to be successful in the workplace. Providing students with at least one experiential learning assignment in your course can help students bridge the gap between college and work. 

• Increased understanding of your course content and its relevance to their professional lives.
• Improved retention of new knowledge, especially in the marketable skills needed by employers.
• Experience and practice in their chosen field.
• Enhanced skills in communication, collaboration, problem-solving, and critical thinking.
• Opportunities to practice and refine skills.
• Exposure to different views and approaches.
• Confidence in their own knowledge and abilities.
• Increased motivation and enthusiasm for the content.
• Networking opportunities for future employment.

Experiential learning comes in many forms and should be authentic to your field. Activities and assignments should mirror what professionals in your area are expected to know and be able to do. Here are a few ideas for assignments and activities to help ensure students connect your course content to real-world experiences.  

• Case studies
• Simulations
• Role play
• Site visits
• Internship, practicum, or fieldwork activities
• Research projects
• Service, civic, or community projects
• Portfolio development
• Proposals, reports, or multimedia artifacts
• Assignments that require the use of tools regularly used in your field
• Presentations to professionals in the field
• Authentic industry projects
• Career preparation assignments (i.e. interviewing practice and resume development)

• Every experiential learning opportunity should have embedded reflection opportunities. Metacognition is an important part of the experiential learning process.
• Highlight marketable skills from your field in your syllabus so that students can see what they will be expected to know and be able to do in their chosen career.
• Provide constructive and authentic feedback on student behavior, attitude, and professionalism, in addition to feedback on a final product or activity.
• Make sure every student can participate. This means ensuring transportation needs can be met if there is an off-campus activity, and considering student family, work, and extracurricular commitments. Have alternate activities that meet the learning goals to ensure flexibility.
• Create and share clear expectations, instructions, and policies to ensure students know how they will be evaluated.
• Invite other professionals in the field to speak to your students.
• Consider virtual reality activities to provide students with simulated workplace experiences where they can practice skills in a safe environment.
• Consider including LinkedIn Learning assignments to complement the experiential learning activities.
• Consider incorporating microcredentials, badges, or outside certifications to give students authentic credentials that can be highlighted in a portfolio or resume.