The document proposes using adventure-based learning to promote inclusive excellence in education. It argues that traditional "banking models" of education do not put all students on equal footing. Adventure-based learning is presented as an alternative that provides authentic learning experiences through problem-solving, collaboration, interaction with experts and peers, and timely media-rich curriculum delivered online. Key aspects of adventure-based learning identified include distinguishing between well-defined and ill-defined problems, and potential applications in diverse educational settings through open collaboration. The overall goal is to level the playing field for employability skills in communities.

1. Promoting Inclusive Excellence in Education:
Level the Playing Field for Employability Skills in Communities Using Adventure-Based Learning
Junell McCall, CWDP, M.S., M.Ed.
Associate Director, Office of Career Services
Learning Experience Designer, Trans-Disciplinary Data Scholars Development Program
Raphael Isokpehi, Ph.D
Director, Trans-Disciplinary Data Scholars Development Program
CC BY-SA

2. All Students are Not on Equal Footing
85%
Banking model of education
70%
You can simply impress your
audience and add a unique zing.
65%
You can simply impress your
audience and add a unique zing.
55%
You can simply impress your
audience and add a unique zing.
42%
You can simply impress your
audience and add a unique zing.
CC BY-NC

3. All Students are Not on Equal Footing
85%
Banking model of education
70%
You can simply impress your
audience and add a unique zing.
65%
You can simply impress your
audience and add a unique zing.
55%
You can simply impress your
audience and add a unique zing.
42%
You can simply impress your
audience and add a unique zing.
CC BY-NC
CC BY-SA

4. All Students are Not on Equal Footing
85%
Banking model of education
70%
You can simply impress your
audience and add a unique zing.
65%
You can simply impress your
audience and add a unique zing.
55%
You can simply impress your
audience and add a unique zing.
42%
You can simply impress your
audience and add a unique zing.
CC BY-NC
CC BY-SA
https://operations.du.edu/inclusive-teaching/inclusive-excellence

5. The Four Elements of Inclusive Excellence as defined by the Association of American Colleges and
Universities (AAC&U) (Milem et al., 2005, Sweeney, 2013) can further put our collective desire for
an Inclusive Excellence in Pedagogy within an institutional perspective.
1. A focus on student intellectual and social development. Academically, it means
offering the best possible course of study for the context in which the education
is offered.
2. A purposeful development and utilization of organizational resources to enhance
student learning. Organizationally, it means establishing an environment that
challenges each student to achieve academically at high levels and each member of
the campus to contribute to learning and knowledge development.
3. Attention to the cultural differences learners bring to the educational experience
and that enhance the enterprise.
4. A welcoming community that engages all of its diversity in the service of student
and organizational learning.
Association of American Colleges & Universities
https://www.aacu.org/sites/default/files/files/mei/williams_et_al.pdf
What is Inclusive Excellence?

6. The Four Elements of Inclusive Excellence as defined by the Association of American Colleges and
Universities (AAC&U) (Milem et al., 2005, Sweeney, 2013) can further put our collective desire for
an Inclusive Excellence in Pedagogy within an institutional perspective.
1.A focus on student intellectual and
social development. Academically, it
means offering the best possible course
of study for the context in which the
education is offered.
Inclusive Excellence

7. Overview
How to Attract and
Retain Students’
Attention
Recognize the
Stages of
Adventure
Learning
Content
Distinguish the
difference between
well-defined and ill-
defined problems.
Predict potential
applications of
adventure-based
learning in diverse
educational
settings.

8. Former methods of instruction are
not capturing students’ attention.
.
Across the country, the pandemic crisis has
brought about innovation, adaptation, and
creativity in teaching and learning, allowing
educators to broaden the ways in which they
engage students and assess their academic
talent.
KNOWLEDGE
Instructional strategies that place the learner as a listener and
the instructor as the expert; examples of teacher-
centered strategies include lectures, direct instruction,
demonstrations, drill and practice, instructor presentations.

10. We must plug into that in which they are plugged.
AA
CC BY-SA
CC BY-SA
Students need authentic learning:
an instructional approach that allows students to
explore, discuss, and meaningfully construct concepts
and relationships in contexts that involve real-world
problems and projects that are relevant to the learner.

11. .
BY-NC
BY
CC BY-SA
CC BY-NC-ND
Africa

12. .
Doering, A. 2006. Adventure learning: Transformative hybrid online education. Distance Education 27 (2).
• Online authentic learning
• Allows learners separated by distance and time to connect with one another while
providing them access to resources and opportunities for interaction with the real
world (Doering 2006).
Grounded in 2 Theories:
• Experiential Learning Theory
“The process whereby knowledge is created through the transformation of experience.
Knowledge results from the combination of grasping and transforming experience" (Kolb 1984, 41).
• Inquiry-based Approach to Learning
• Students' learning processes involve pursuing answers to their own questions rather
than memorizing facts (Bransford, Brown, and Cocking 2002; National Research
Council 1999)
Bransford, J. D., A. L. Brown, and R. R. Cocking, eds. 2002. How people learn: Brain, mind, experience, and school. Washington, DC: National Academy Press.
Kolb, D. A. 1984. Experiential learning: Experience as the source of learning and development. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall.
National Research Council. 1999. Designing mathematics or science curriculum programs: A guide for using mathematics and science education standards.
Washington, DC: National Academy Press.

13. • Provides students with opportunities to explore real-world issues through
authentic learning experiences within collaborative learning environments
.
• Both the curriculum and the online classroom are developed to foster students'
abilities to inquire as Keys and Bryan (2001) define inquiry: ". . . identifying and posing
questions, designing and conducting investigations, analyzing data and evidence,
using models and explanations, and communicating findings" (121).

14. What appears to be steps are
actually barriers to leveling the
playing field. The solution is
listed on the numbers.

15. Beauty
Aesthetically pleasing
environment

16. Curiosity—Quests, Treasure Hunts
Order—Structure Building, Levels
Interdependence-Guilds, Life Jacket
Status—Leaderboard, Vanity Items to Collect
Vengeance—Take Players Points

18. Aesthetically pleasing
environment
1. A researched curriculum grounded in problem-solving~
2. Collaboration and interaction
opportunities between students,
experts, peers, and content~
3. The utilization of the Internet for curriculum and learning
environment delivery~
4. The enhancement of curriculum with media and
text from the field in a timely manner~

19. Aesthetically pleasing
environment
5. The enhancement of curriculum with media and text from the
field in a timely manner~
6. Synched learning opportunities with the AL curriculum~
7. Pedagogical guidelines of the curriculum and online learning
environment, and education that is adventure-based~

21. Aesthetically pleasing
environment
3. Distinguish Between Ill-Defined and Well-Defined Problems

23. 4. Potential Applications of Adventure Learning
Open to Collaboration
Members of our team are:
RMP Masters
Certified in Gamification
Certified as Global Career Development Facilitators

26. Junell McCall, CWDP, M.S., M.Ed.
Associate Director, Office of Career Services
Learning Experience Designer, Trans-Disciplinary Data
Scholars Development Program