It is nearly impossible to spend a day on Ball State University's campus without hearing about its immersive learning projects. They have been touted as something that sets Ball State apart from others. And especially during the past several years, the projects have been doing just that.
Every time there is a Ball State commercial it is almost guaranteed you will have two things: President Jo Ann Gora wearing something blue and the commercial focusing on immersive learning.
From the journalism department's NewsLink Indiana, to Building Better Communities and the Vera Bradley Experience, students at Ball State are getting hands-on experience outside of the classroom.
This summer, students from a meteorology class went on a two-week-long storm chasing expedition. Anthropology students traveled to Vietnam, Romania and South Africa. And a group of telecommunications students are producing a full-length album for Catch Curtis, a local instrumental band.
Projects like these that take students outside of the classroom are invaluable because they help students prepare for real situations they will experience in their careers. And learning from hands-on experience makes learning information more interesting and memorable for students.
Most students don't remember what was written on page 126 of their textbook. But the experiences students have 'in the field' are much harder to forget about.
This aspect of Ball State's curriculum is also a good way to entice high school students to come here for their college education. Freshman enrollment for the upcoming Fall Semester is higher than was expected. Whether or not immersive learning projects were a reason they chose to come to Ball State, incoming students should be aware of these great opportunities.
Returning students looking toward their career after leaving Ball State should also consider becoming involved in these projects. With today's slouching economy and competitive job market, it is becoming more and more important for students to immerse themselves in their field of study.
Regardless of what your major is, jobs are becoming more scarce. We've all heard stories of students who graduated in the spring only to move back home with their parents for lack of a job offer.
Job applications and interviews that used to focus on an applicant's GPA and academic transcript are now looking more at what experience they can bring with them to jobs.
Ball State's immersive learning initiatives are scattered throughout a variety of departments on campus, making it easy for students to get involved. Students should take advantage of these opportunities while they have them. Doing so will make both their résumé and their college experience more complete.
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