I am still trying to figure exactly how I learn best today but from my experiences so far, I can say that experiential learning has been the best for me so far. This means actually going out there and using whatever I have learned and applying it. Back in the US, my school, Drexel University, is known for having a cooperative education program which means that most students choose to do various 6-month internships during their time there. I have already done two of these co-ops and have my third to complete when I go back home after my exchange.
During my time at my first two co-ops, I’ve noticed that most of what I am learning in the classroom doesn’t really help with what I was doing work wise. While I do understand that I was an intern, there is still some expectation of applying what I am learning in school. It’s important to note that prior to working at these internships, I did have an understanding of the basic foundations of the work I was conducting, which I received from the classroom. Interning just transitions these learnings or theories into practice, which made me understand more on how the field works. Every time I would make a mistake, I would make sure to understand how it occurred and what I can do in the future to prevent it from happening.
When it comes to studying for an exam or quiz for my classes, I try to my best to connect what I am reading to real life situations. I am a business major so it’s pretty easy to find real life examples for something like this.