Experiential learning in the communications world

It is my belief that experiential learning decreases the probability of this in the classroom.
  • Throw out the texts books (or use them very infrequently) – the majority of learning should be hands-on.
  • Extra-curricular activities, visits to professionals in the field, guest speaker presentations and internships should be integrated into the curriculum.
  • Students should be submitting work through the channels they will be communicating in their jobs: blogs, videos and other social media channels.
  • Every new principle introduced in class should be supplemented with real-world application in which students actually utilize the concept. (For example, after the instructor introduces the elements of a press release in the classroom, students should then have to write a mock-press release based on something in current events and then develop a media relations strategy around the announcement).
  • With the exception of some basic fundamentals courses, multiple choice examinations should be kept to a minimum. I would much rather see a student who actually has the ability to communicate using various platforms rather than be able to successfully regurgitate what the textbook says.