High-Impact Practices and Experiential Learning

A professor sitting and talking with students at a desk.

HIGH-IMPACT PRACTICES AND EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING

High-Impact Practices (HIPs) are teaching and learning practices that, based on research evidence, “show significant educational benefits for students who participate in them—including and especially those from demographic groups historically underserved by higher education” (AAC&U).

In 2020, the University System of Georgia made HIPs a priority and launched initiatives to increase the number of high-impact practice opportunities in all 26 institutions in the system. Georgia State University has also made HIPs a central component of the strategic plan, most especially in the areas of Student Success 2.0 and Beyond College to Career; increasing HIPs in courses across GSU aims to expand our university’s national leadership in curricular innovation.

The AAC&U identifies 11 High-Impact Practices that benefit students:

Capstone Courses & Projects
Collaborative Assignments and Projects
Common Intellectual Experiences
Diversity/Global Learning
ePortfolios
First-Year Seminars & Experiences
Internships
Learning Communities
Service-Learning, Community-Based Learning
Undergraduate Research
Writing-Intensive Courses

Teaching of the HIPs strategies listed above involves incorporating multiple key elements as promoted by AAC&U. Many instructors may find that they already include in their teaching key elements, such as “frequent, timely, and constructive feedback” or “periodic, structured opportunities to reflect and integrate learning.” CETLOE faculty associates can help instructors create a workable plan for weaving together the ideal key elements for their course level and type to build towards a course that utilizes high-impact practices and/or experiential learning.

CETLOE offers a number of services and programs in support of HIPs across the curriculum including assistance in developing HIPs and experiential learning courses through instructor consultations, workshops, mini-grants, fellowships, awards and more.

Read below for information about unique programs at GSU that advance HIPs and experiential learning.

For more information, contact:

Brennan Collins
(HIPs, Project Labs, Experiential, Project-based and Interdisciplinary Curriculum [EPIC])
[email protected]

Christy Visaggi
(HIPs, Signature Experiences, Course-based Undergraduate Research Experiences [CUREs])
[email protected]

Hosanna Fletcher
(HIPs and Signature Experiences at Perimeter College, Service-Learning)
[email protected]

Signature Experiences

The Signature Experiences initiative at GSU emphasizes instruction where learners are active agents in their own educational journey through hands-on and real-world experiences. Having students engage in ‘learning by doing’ whether in the lab, field, studio or classroom has benefits beyond the production of knowledge with reflection as part of the learning process key for success. Signature Experience courses challenge and transform traditional classroom learning. Students might travel abroad, produce artistic works, participate in internships, conduct meaningful research, collaborate with community partners or engage in multi-week projects that build career-empowering skills.

EPIC and Project Labs

The EPIC program (Experiential, Project-based and Interdisciplinary Curriculum) provides GSU students with opportunities to develop foundational skills to help them become adaptable problem-solvers, overcoming the academic challenges they face in their studies and creating solutions to the issues they will tackle as they graduate into their professions and lives. The program combines the strengths of an enhanced interdisciplinary education (critical thinking, problem-solving, communication skills) with innovative research and project-based labs.

If you are interested in connecting your course with a project lab, contact Brennan Collins or Katy Crowther (Perimeter College).

Read more about the EPIC program.

Writing Across the Curriculum

The Writing Across the Curriculum (WAC) program at GSU supports faculty in designing and teaching writing-intensive courses across a broad range of disciplines to provide an engaging learning experience for undergraduate students from all backgrounds. Writing-intensive courses are one of the 11 AAC&U identified High-Impact Practices (HIPs). WAC at GSU values writing-intensive instruction as essential to advancing undergraduate and graduate students’ critical thinking skills, disciplinary knowledge, career competencies and civic capacities within the university and beyond.

Read more about the WAC program.