Bringing course material to life through experiential learning: impacts on students’ learning and perceptions in a corrections course

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Authors
Belisle, Linsey
Boppre, Breanna L.
Keen, Jaclyn
Salisbury, Emily J.
Advisors
Issue Date
2019-11-12
Type
Article
Keywords
Correctional tours , Criminal justice pedagogy , Experiential learning
Research Projects
Organizational Units
Journal Issue
Citation
Linsey Belisle, Breanna Boppre, Jaclyn Keen & Emily J. Salisbury (2019) Bringing Course Material to Life through Experiential Learning: Impacts on Students’ Learning and Perceptions in a Corrections Course, Journal of Criminal Justice Education
Abstract

Experiential learning can be an effective practice to improve student engagement, comprehension, and application of course material in criminal justice classrooms. The current study analyzes 33 undergraduate students’ reactions to three experiential learning activities in an upper-level corrections course: a jail tour, a formerly incarcerated guest speaker, and/or a documentary on life without parole. As a course assignment, students submitted reflection papers in relation to two of the three activities. Students’ blinded papers were then coded and qualitatively analyzed to determine the impacts of experiential learning on connections to the course material and changes in perceptions of incarcerated persons and the correctional system. Three themes emerged from their papers, supporting the use of experiential learning tactics. The ethical concerns of the use of correctional tours are also discussed as well as areas for future research.

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Publisher
Taylor & Francis
Journal
Book Title
Series
Journal of Criminal Justice Education;2019
PubMed ID
DOI
ISSN
1051-1253
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