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Learning by Doing Initiative

In January 2005, Brandeis launched Learning by Doing: Deepening Liberal Arts Education through Experiential Learning, an initiative funded by a two and a half year grant from the Davis Educational Foundation. The project builds on the Brandeis’ mission of offering "a broad and critical education in enriching the lives of students and preparing them for full participation in a changing society, capable of promoting their own welfare, yet remaining deeply concerned about the welfare of others" by way of creating opportunities for students to actively construct knowledge from direct experience and engagement with communities within and beyond Brandeis. It focuses on developing the elements necessary for high quality experiential learning – experience, reflection, analysis and assessment – and on the creating the infrastructure necessary to sustain these elements.  

Part of that support comes from the Experiential Learning and Teaching Grants  awarded to faculty to help offset costs incurred while incorporating experiential methods in existing or emerging courses. 

The Learning By Doing initiative was so successful and fit so closely with Brandeis' goals that at the end of the grant's run, the committee opted to continue the initiative with the university providing administrative and financial support.

The initiative is coordinated by a committee of faculty and staff members who specialize in specific areas of experiential learning. The committee is chaired by Adam Jaffe, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.