Developing Attitudes and Habits of Mind for Mentorship

In fall 2010, Caroline Ketcham and I (Eric Hall) entered into a co-mentoring relationship with an undergraduate research student who was interested in hippotherapy (horse therapy) and the potential impacts that these programs could have on motor/postural changes as well…

Higher education has struggled with defining the capstone, understanding the purpose or the desired outcomes of the experience, and agreeing on how to assess characteristics of a successful experience.

Communicating the Goals of Capstones

George Bernard Shaw once said, “The single biggest problem with communication is the illusion that it has taken place.”  Over the next year, as 2018-2020 CEL research seminar participants continue to contemplate the future of the capstone experience, we cannot…

Can we teach curiosity?

Curiosity might be bad for cats, but it is essential for human learning. As Eleanor Duckworth notes, “What you do about what you don’t know is, in the final analysis, what determines what you will know” (The Having of Wonderful…

High Impact Undergraduate Experiences and How They Matter Now

The Center for Engaged Learning and the Elon Poll recently collaborated on a national survey of nearly 1,600 U.S. college graduates, age 18-34, to: Explore how commonly graduates experienced high impact undergraduate experiences, including meaningful relationships with faculty, undergraduate research,…

What is Immersive Learning?

As Elon University’s newest Center for Engaged Learning Scholar, I am embarking on a two-year study of what constitutes “immersive learning” in higher education. I have been interested in this topic for quite a while, although I don’t think I’ve…

Federal- and institutional-work-study programs are uniquely positioned to address access, equity, and inclusion by creating an innovative path for students to engage in a high impact practice.

Tackling Inequitable Opportunity Structures in HIPs

As of 2017, 41- 43% of full-time undergraduates who are between the ages of 16 – 24 – and who are not considered heads of households or supporting dependents – are working. When comparing the rates of employment for these…