Abstract

Experiential learning in the form of Internships, Cooperative Education, and Service Learning is well established in undergraduate and graduate higher education. Varied academic disciplines, community organizations, and business settings recognize the value of direct professional experience as a means of preparation and understanding for careers and advanced education. While the practice is long-standing, current economic trends have further emphasized the necessity for experiential learning in an ever more competitive job market. Design of new technologies to expand knowledge and information sharing in internship settings is an option to make the process more meaningful to employers, institutions, students, and allow for greater sharing of materials and information learned during the process. Digital Storytelling, Blogs, Web Pages, Electronic Portfolios, as well as variants of these practices serve to allow programs and individuals to enhance learning in the Internship-Experiential Learning settings.