Exploring Experiential Learning as Transformation
Semester: Spring 2025
Faculty Advisor: Alison Cook-Sather
Field Site: Tri-Co Philly Program
Field Supervisor: Calista Cleary
Praxis Poster:
PIS_FINAL Ford, Claire - PIS Final Poster (24 x 36 in) (1)
Further Context:
Going into my second semester of senior year, I was excited to take up the opportunity to self-design a praxis independent study in which I could focus my learning on non-traditional educational contexts. I was inspired by a course I took last semester, Making Space for Learning in Higher Education, with Dr. Kelly Zuckerman, and the work we did to understand and practice education as a means for change. I was stuck on this idea of change, and the process of transformation that occurs throughout education. With this in mind, I went back to a place of transformation for myself, and reflected back on my time as a program student within the Tri-Co Philly Program in the Fall semester of 2022.
The Tri-Co Philly Program is an opportunity for students from Bryn Mawr, Haverford, and Swarthmore Colleges to participate in classes taken at the Friends Center in the heart of Philadelphia. Students take two courses within the program that center around the city of Philadelphia and participate in weekly field activities to become more familiar with the city. I truly enjoyed my experience within the program, and appreciated the different, more experience-based learning my classes took part in. This led me to a self-designed internship with the Tri-Co Philly Program that was my praxis independent study, “Exploring Experiential Education as Transformation.”
Due to the nature of my internship, I was able to take up a wide range of learning and assignments to fit exactly what I wanted to study. When separating these interests into two main categories, I, as highlighted in my poster above, worked to organize data reflecting the impact of the Philadelphia Engagement Grant for all three colleges, as well as explore the wide range of experiential learning that occurs within the Bi-Co.
The first part of my internship involved gathering data about the Philadelphia Engagement Grants, which are grants allocated by the Tri-Co Philly Program that Tri-Co faculty can apply to once a semester to “enrich the curricular content of an on-campus class by facilitating student experiences in the city” (Tri-Co Philly Program). The grants sponsor student excursions to the city such as interacting with a Philadelphia-based organization, taking a walking tour hosted by an alum, and going to see a play that speaks to themes within the class. The grants covered a wide range of student excursions but shared similar excitement and eagerness to connect students with the city of Philadelphia. My role involved the creation of both a spreadsheet to store all the information regarding the Philadelphia Engagement Grants, and various infographics to represent not only the numbers, but the more humane impact these grants have on both students and faculty alike. Thank you to Calista Cleary for the guidance, and for allowing me the opportunity to explore this source of knowledge through the creation of this internship.
In addition to this, with the guidance of Alison Cook-Sather, I explored the wide range of experiential learning both in and outside of the Bi-Co. My research took me to interview three professors within the institutions. I learned their different and unique conceptualizations of experiential learning, as well as their perception of student engagement and learning in experiential education. Thank you to Professor Borowiak, Professor Montes, and Professor Lillehaugen for taking the time to speak with me this semester. I utilized this research, along with numerous conversations, reflections, readings, and other sources to map out a continuum of experiential learning. My questions for consideration are those I actively engaged with throughout this process, what I want you as a reader to use as guidance when imagining education, as well as what I am asking myself as I move towards post-graduation. Thank you to Alison Cook-Sather for advising, challenging, and inspiring me throughout this process!