3 Types of Experiential Learning Available at Sheridan
Discover how you can engage in hands-on learning, apply your classroom knowledge, and prepare for your career at Sheridan.
As a student, you want to get the most out of your time at college. Your goal is to be as career ready as you can be, and at Sheridan you will be. Experiential learning is a hands-on approach to your education. Instead of just simply listening to lectures or doing your readings, you’ll also participate in activities that simulate a workplace or provide you with actual work experience.
So let’s take a look at what types of experiential learning opportunities are available to you at Sheridan:
1. Work-integrated experiential learning
Work-integrated learning is a way to combine your academic studies with real-world work experience. It involves a partnership between the school, a workplace, and you, applying what you’ve learned in a more practical setting.
There are five types of work-integrated learning at Sheridan:
| Apprenticeships |
Apprentices enroll in academic programs after securing employment with a sponsoring employer in a trade regulated by the Ontario College of Trades. You'll complete 10-15% of training in the classroom and the rest on the job, taking 2-5 years to earn a Certificate of Qualification. Apprentices are paid, earn academic credit, and complete about 2,000 hours per level across three levels. |
| Field placements |
You’ll gain practical experience in a workplace to prepare for professional or occupational fields of work. Your completed hours are required for your program, but aren’t used towards a license or certification. This is typically unpaid, part-time or short-term work during your academic terms. |
| Mandatory professional practice |
This is a work arrangement where you’ll gain experience to meet professional licensure or certificate requirements under the supervision of a professional. This is typically unpaid and required for your program. |
| Co-operative education |
You’ll work in a supervised employment setting that relates to your program, alternating with your academic semesters. The number of work terms you’ll need to do depend on your program. Co-ops are mostly paid positions, but can occasionally be unpaid or with an honorarium. |
| Internship (degree programs only) |
This may be a paid or unpaid position in a professional industry or practice setting. It’s typically a discipline-specific, supervised work term semester that you’ll do in between your academic terms. |
Check out our page for more information on work-integrated learning.
2. Course-integrated experiential learning
Course-integrated experiential learning refers to the hands-on learning opportunities you earn in your academic courses at Sheridan. This means you’re directly connecting what you learn in the classroom to real-world applications. It provides you with opportunities to engage in projects, simulations, or other practical activities that complement your coursework.
Some of the types of experiential learning can also be a Capstone Project — a term-length cumulative project under the guidance of a faculty member. It’s often matched with industry/community partners to develop solutions to a real-life problem or technical challenge. The project may be completed by an individual or by a team of students (typically 3-5 students).
There are eight different types of course-integrated experiential learning that you can participate in:
| Type of course-integrated experiential learning |
Description |
Capstone project option |
| Industry project |
Identify a problem or innovation and create an industry-related response, like a marketing plan, business plan, product analysis, prototype, or pitch. |
Yes |
| Interactive simulation |
Participate in an interactive learning experience, either in a simulated workplace or classroom, to practice skills and apply concepts to a real-world scenario. |
No |
| Job shadowing / field observation |
Observe, explore, and reflect on a workplace or employer that represents your program, considering how the experience impacts your own professional practice and expanding your knowledge in that area. |
No |
| Performance-based learning |
Participate in individual or team performance-based activities for an audience, adapting your work to meet task needs and demonstrate critical thinking. |
Yes |
| Research project with a community or industry partner |
Participate in a research project involving inquiry, investigation, or experimentation on a topic or research question, including applied research challenges faced by external partners, with an industry or community partner. |
Yes |
| Research project without a community or industry partner |
Participate in a research project involving inquiry, investigation, or experimentation on a topic or research question. |
Yes |
| Studio-based learning |
Engage in an investigation or creative process in a studio or maker space, using resources for research, design, construction, and testing of a prototype or final product. |
Yes |
| Work-teach lab |
Engage in laboratory activities using industry tools and technology to observe, measure, and test core course concepts in a controlled setting or through AR/VR. |
No |
Check out our page for more information on course-integrated learning.
3. Co-curricular recognition
Co-curricular recognition (CCR) are activities outside of the classroom and aren’t for academic credit. This gives you the chance to get involved, meet new people, and try out activities that support your personal and professional development.
You may be wondering, “what does this have to do with getting me ready for a career?” Well, there are lots of benefits that translate into the workplace! You’ll develop new employability skills and experiences, build a resumé that gets noticed by employers, have more examples of your skills and experiences to share when answering job interview questions, and you can even use your CCR participation to support your applications for bursaries, scholarships, and further education.
Here are some examples of CCR activities:
- Student life programs
- Leadership development programs
- Community engagement activities
- Clubs
- Athletics
- Committee participation
- Research projects
Check out our page for more information on co-curricular recognition.
Be ready for your future career with the many different types of experiential learning opportunities at Sheridan. Whether you choose course-integrated learning, work-integrated learning, co-curricular recognition, or a mix of them all, you’ll be able to apply what you’ve learned in practical settings, develop valuable skills, and build a strong foundation for your future.
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