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One of the most important components of the modern university curriculum is the concept of "experiential learning." While it is likely that experienced geoscience educators might take this phrase as yet another example of reprocessed educational jargon, its wide-spread application makes it very much worth discussing. Within a university setting, experiential learning can take on any of a number of forms, from highly structured programs to informal activities embedded within existing lessons. The most commonly used forms of experiential learning include: undergraduate research experiences, active inquiry and problem-based learning, service learning and internships. In all cases it is important that the experiential learning activities be a component of, not independent from, the standard academic curriculum.
Experiential learning is far from new, it is without doubt, a...