We are in phase 2 of the ExEd Launchpad development. ExEd programs available in ExEd launchpad include internships in Health Sciences, Construction Engineering and Management (CEM), Human Development and Family Science, Public Health, and HTM programs. Course-based experiences in the Brian Lamb School of Communication Digital Media Production Center and the Service-Learning student grant program are also utilizing ExEd Launchpad. The Office of ExEd is currently seeking new programs and experiences to be added to ExEd Launchpad.

Through the portal, students can search for experiential education (ExEd) opportunities, record their participation in ExEd, learn about Purdue programs offering experiential education activities, and connect with employers and organizations offering ExEd opportunities.

Purdue faculty and staff can use ExEd Launchpad to manage their experiential education programs, advertise ExEd opportunities to students, and engage with external ExEd providers.

Employers and external organizations can post ExEd opportunities for students, connect with Purdue-sponsored ExEd programs, and manage internship, co-op and other experiences for students through the system.

Purdue students, and current faculty and staff involved in our ExEd Launchpad programs can access ExEd Launchpad using their Purdue username and password.

Representatives of employers and other outside organizations will need to create an account for each tool they would like to use. See the Employer page.

Experiential education is a planned pedagogy centering on an authentic experience to strengthen students’ knowledge, skills, and abilities, paired with student reflection.

An individual-based experience is an ExEd activity that is unique to a student. This typically means all parts of the experience are specific to that student at that moment in time. Oftentimes these experiences might be internships, service-learning placements, research projects with faculty, etc.

Example: Sarah is completing an internship with ABC Company during the fall semester as part of a requirement for her major. Sarah is being supervised by Dr. Jones in the XYZ department. While there may be 10 students who are completing an internship in the same major, each student’s experience is different.

A group-based experience is an ExEd activity where many students are participating in the same experience. This typically means several students (3 or 4 to 100’s) are completing the same experience at approximately the same time. Oftentimes these experiences might be course-based experiences, co-curricular activities, projects involving external partners, or cohort activities.

Example: 10 students completed a service-learning project at JKL Agency during spring break.

Example: 20 students in a Communication course worked in teams of 5 to develop social media content for 4 small businesses.

• Work-integrated learning: a subtype of experiential education that uses relevant work-based experiences to allow students to integrate theory with the meaningful practice of work. Common examples of work-integrated learning include internships, clinicals, student teaching, co-ops, and practicum.

• Intercultural/travel learning: A subtype of experiential education which supports learning about, from, and/or in the context of regional or international cultures. Includes domestic or international travel or online/virtual interactions. Examples of intercultural/travel learning may include study abroad, study away, COIL, and virtual exchange.

• Undergraduate research and scholarly projects: A mentored investigation or creative inquiry conducted by undergraduates that seeks to make a scholarly or artistic contribution to knowledge. A subtype of experiential education.

• Service-learning: Service-learning is a subtype of experiential education in which students: participate in an organized service activity that meets community-identified needs; use knowledge and skills directly related to a course, discipline, and/or specific learning outcomes; and reflect on the service activity in such a way as to gain further understanding of course content and/or learning outcomes and an enhanced sense of personal values and civic responsibility. Service-learning can be academic or co-curricular in nature and should not be confused with volunteerism, community service, philanthropy, or advocacy.

• Client-based applied projects: A subtype of experiential education in which students complete a deliverable for a client, partner, or specific audience for the purposes of enhancing and/or demonstrating student learning. Examples include designing and selling a product for a local business, analyzing data and making recommendations for a corporation, or creating a website for an upcoming event.

• Scenario-based learning: A subtype of experiential education in which students engage in scenarios, cases, or other activities which represent actual or potential authentic situations aiming to prepare them for situation they may encounter in their personal or professional lives. Examples include role plays, simulations, and case competitions.

• Engaged campus experiences: A subtype of experiential education in which students design, implement, or engage in on-campus experiences which both contribute to campus life and allow them to develop and/or apply knowledge, skills, and abilities. These programs are typically co-curricular in nature and complement the academic curriculum. Common examples of these activities include campus-based leadership experiences, on-campus employment, student-driven campus events, experiential student organizations, and other co-curricular activities.