Development of Industry Collaborations to Create Authentic Learning Experiences
Abstract Educators often rely on real world applications to create authentic learning experiences for students. One best practices strategy is to establish meaningful and engaging experiences through industry collaborations. Research indicates that practice-based experiences support the development of critical thinking and problem-solving skills. This paper will highlight how to plan, implement, and manage industry collaborations to provide experiential learning at various levels of education. This paper will provide K-12 teachers easy to replicate examples of how to seek out, develop, and create meaningful connections with industry professionals, based on individual needs of the elementary, middle, and high school classroom. Strategies will include how to establish and maintain networks with local and national organizations, and maintain successful industry collaborations while developing authentic learning experiences.