Frequently Asked Questions

MADW4

1. Who is bound by the requirement?

A student who entered the College during the Fall 2003 semester or later is required to complete two Learning Beyond the Classroom experiences. These can be completed at any time during the student's undergraduate experience.
Students who transferred into the institution may need to complete only one Learning Beyond the Classroom experience and should discuss the requirement with their advisor.

2. What is the requirement?

Normally, each LBC experience will include:

A minimum of 15 hours of involvement in an activity that provides a demonstrable opportunity for the student to reinforce or enhance understanding or skills introduced in the classroom.
Completion of a minimum 1000 word reflection paper in which the student describes the activity or experience, relates the experience to learning introduced in their courses, and reflects on the value of this experience from a learning perspective.

3. What types of experiences can I use?

LBC experiences may include:

Internships, senior projects, study abroad, or course-based experiences that would incorporate an LBC opportunity.
Structured group activities in such areas as student clubs and organizations, athletic teams, intramurals, etc.
Individual workplace - paid or volunteer activities, on or off campus.
Leadership roles where you have been selected and trained to fulfill your job responsibilities like Resident Advisor, Peer Advisor, Peer Educator, Orientation Group Leader, etc.

Think through what you are proposing for an experience.

Can you identify three to four specific learning objectives? What will you learn from the experience?
Can you connect these learning objectives to learning that was introduced in a specific course or courses?

4. How do I complete my LBC requirements?

First, you must fill out the LBC Application before the completion of your experience. The application is self-explanatory, however, here is some additional information to assist you in its completion. You will need to:

Propose a LBC registration category. You and your Sponsor should discuss your planned experience and then decide which of the categories best describes your experience. Remember, your second experience MUST be significantly different from your first.
Write learning objectives for your experience. Learning objectives should describe what you will learn, not what you will do. Think about what you will gain from the experience.
Connect this experience to what has been introduced to you in the classroom. Describe how this experience is relevant to learning introduced in a course you have taken or are currently taking and how it will enhance your academic and personal development.
Determine with your Sponsor the specific date when the reflection paper should be submitted, based on the scheduled completion of the experience.
Obtain the required signatures from the Site Supervisor and the Faculty or Staff Sponsor.

Next, you return the form to the Office of Learning Beyond the Classroom for approval. (You can return to the Office 1-2 days later to confirm approval and retrieve a student copy of the form.)

You complete the agreed upon experience.

You submit electronically to your Sponsor the 1000 word (minimum) reflection paper by the agreed upon date.

After the LBC Office is given confirmation from the Sponsor that the LBC experience has been satisfactorily completed, and that the reflection paper has been accepted by the Sponsor, and receives an electronic copy of the reflection paper, the registration is posted to your transcript.

5. What do I do during the experience?

From the time you start the LBC experience, you should be viewing it as a learning opportunity. A time log is available to help you keep track of your hours and activities. In addition, it is recommended that you keep some type of learning log as you complete your experience. The learning log will have you reflecting on the experience as it happens and will help to develop reflective writing habits.

**Remember, this is an opportunity to put theory into practice in a setting and under circumstances that the student can choose. Take advantage of the opportunities it presents.**

6. What needs to be included in the reflection paper? athlete reading lbc

This paper must address your learning from the experience. Do not write a paper of what was done, but rather tell the reader what was learned from the experience. In the paper you will need to:

Clearly state the three or four learning objectives from your LBC Application.
Describe your learning experience and articulate several significant insights emerging from your specific experiences. Also integrate your reflections on what you learned. Clearly identify course content and connect it to your LBC experience.
Using specific examples, describe how well you achieved (or did not achieve) your learning objectives.

Main evaluation criteria your LBC Sponsor will use to decide whether your paper is acceptable - besides the 1000 words and your completion of at least 15 hours of involvement in this experience.

Paper demonstrates ability to relate the outside of the classroom experience to learning introduced in courses.
Paper demonstrates ability to reflect on the value of the experience from a learning perspective.
Paper ties learning objectives to student experience.

Still have questions? Take a look under Forms & Reference Materials for more information, or stop by the Office on the second floor of the Campus Center.