Mara B. Huber, PhD
Catalyzing Humanitarian Impacts through Experiential Learning and Digital Badges
Author: mbhuber2013
-
Bringing Experiential Learning (EL) to Students in Emerging Market Economies
There will always be gaps between the outputs of formal education and the changing needs of a society. While academic degrees are still important, they are no longer sufficient. Beyond coursework and knowledge, young people need specialized skills, competencies and experiences that align with emerging needs and opportunities. Not surprisingly, internships, mentored research, and other…
-
From Project-Based Learning to Project Challenges: a Shared Investment in the SDGs
In 2015 I began co-leading our study abroad trip to Tanzania, determined to make some tangible impact through our engagement. I loaded my bags with donations and gifts- but that was the easy part. It was the promise of collaboration that beckoned my interest. The idea that as a university, we had valuable resources to…
-
Growing Your Investment in the SDGs: Four Diagnostic Questions
As I meet with universities and higher education systems that are making bold commitments to sustainable development, I am both excited and concerned. On one hand, the potential is palpable- the opportunity to mobilize valuable resources: talent, expertise, research and innovation, to address our most pressing needs and challenges. But investments alone are not enough.…
-
Harvesting Talent and connecting it with the World: An Emerging Role for Higher Education
In a 2013 TEDx talk, “Emerging from the Middle”, I suggested that our education pipeline is insensitive to the diverse talents of our students, and the needs of communities and ecosystems they stand to touch. Rather than cultivating and harvesting potential in its most diverse and abundant forms, we constrain its development, making students compete…
-
Students Design EcoFlush Toilet for Rural Tanzania
I recently worked with a group of Engineering students designing an eco-flush latrine for a community in rural Tanzania through a yearlong intramural project. Through background readings and Zoom conversations, they learned about health and education problems associated with poor sanitation. Namely, due to lack of functioning latrines in schools and homes, and waste run-off…
-
Structural Thinning: Removing the layers of structure that constrain our students’ potential
When you begin to view the world through the lens of meaningful projects, amazing things start to happen.
-
Curricular Versatility: Virtual Projects Served 3 Ways
This summer is testing many things, including the potential of virtual projects.
-
Exploring Best Failures
Because failure can be so painful and emotionally triggering, we distance ourselves at all cost, finding ways to deflect, blame, or avoid. But in doing so, we miss out on one of the most powerful catalysts for professional and personal growth. To be clear, not all failures are best failures. Most are uninteresting, simply not…
-
Building a Growth Resume
One of the most important things I do is help students with their resumes. While I am not a career counselor, nor is resume development an explicit part of my job, I am in the business of experiential learning. And high impact experiences such as internships, research, and global engagement should -by definition- support students’…
-
Telling Compelling Stories about Ourselves and Our Achievements
We could all use some practice talking about our strengths and achievements. Here is a video workshop that is part of our ELN digital badge series). It’s great for students and professionals- we have students submit video profiles sharing their own stories about internships, study abroad, service or other types of experiential learning. I would…
Mara B. Huber, PhD 