Educator spotlight: Elizabeth Harris, Professor at Canadore College.

We recently spoke with Elizabeth Harris, a professor at Canadore College in North Bay, Ontario. Specializing in teaching communication skills to entry-level students, Elizabeth has transformed her classroom by incorporating Riipen projects, offering her students practical, hands-on learning experiences that bridge the gap between academia and the professional world.

How did you incorporate real-world communication challenges into your classroom?

I started using Riipen in the spring of 2024. Through the platform, I found three projects that challenged my students to use their research, writing, presentation, critical thinking, and time management skills. While the projects differed, all three required the students to interact directly with each employer.

What did your students gain from these diverse experiences?

The Riipen projects helped my students strengthen their communication and critical thinking skills and provided valuable lessons in collaboration and adaptability. The experience was transformative and encouraged students to see challenges from new perspectives, particularly when they received constructive employer feedback.

By collaborating with industry professionals and being responsible for weekly updates, students learned about accountability, the value of their unique voices, and their ability to contribute meaningfully to real-world projects.

Why is experiential learning so valuable for your students?

Getting students to appreciate the importance of working on their communication skills can sometimes be a challenge. However, when students hear and experience the value of communication directly from an employer, the message carries a lot of weight.

Not only does experiential learning through Riipen highlight the importance of strong communication skills, but it also fosters excitement and engagement. It transformed my classroom into a dynamic environment where students felt purpose in their work. For me, that’s what makes Riipen so impactful.

How did you adapt your teaching methods to create successful experiential learning experiences?

Using Riipen required me to adjust my teaching. I had to give up some control over project timelines and outcomes. Instead of being the sole guide, I had to trust the process and let my students work directly with employers. While this shift was challenging, seeing students excited about their work was gratifying.

What would you tell a colleague about Riipen?

Riipen empowers students and prepares them for success beyond the classroom. I’ve already seen a positive impact on my students and plan to continue using the platform. For educators considering Riipen, I’d say the rewards outweigh the effort. Yes, it takes work, and you must be willing to give students more autonomy, but seeing students grow in confidence, engage with real-world challenges, and receive meaningful recognition from employers is incredibly fulfilling.

Book a chat with our team to discover how Riipen can help you integrate real-world projects into your classrooms today.

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