What is Experiential Learning?


Experiential learning opportunities are hands on learning experiences, where students learn through reflection and practical experience in a work-integrated learning environment. It provides an opportunity for organizations to tap into a massive talent pool of students and other underrepresented groups, and prepares them for the future workforce. Experiential learning works to bridge the gap between employers, students, and academic institutions, benefiting everyone involved.

If you are an employer, student, parent, or an educator, ELPH will connect you with the right experiential opportunity, and answer your questions on experiential learning.

Types of Experiential Learning Opportunities can include:

  • Co-ops
  • Internships
  • Field Trips
  • Classroom's Visitor's/ Career Talks
  • Take your child to work days
  • In class experiments
  • Workplace tours
  • Extracurricular activities
  • Career fair participation
  • Volunteer experiences
  • Mentoring opportunities
  • Job shadowing
  • School-work transitions
  • Field placements
  • Study abroad
  • Research experiences
  • Service learning

ELPH

ELPH which stands for Experiential Learning Peel Halton is a website resource that was created to help employers specifically in Peel and Halton region to learn about experiential learning and to provide them with the resources to actively participate in experiential learning.

ElPH will help you connect with student bodies, institutions and local service agencies which provide experiential learning opportunities for disadvantaged groups. Moreover, while catering to employers, ELPH will also work to provide resources for other stakeholders such as parents, educators, and students.

Our Creator

ELPH was created by Peel Halton Local Employment Planning Council (Peel Halton LEPC) in order to better prepare the workforce of tomorrow and to better meet the needs of the labour force. Based on PHLEPC’s research from primary employer survey data and through other means, they discovered that employers struggled to find the resources they needed in order to connect with different labour force groups in order to provide experiential learning opportunities. This is what led to the creation of ELPH! We hope that ELPH proves to be a useful tool, which makes the entire experiential learning process for all stakeholders involved more informative and seamless. We hope that ELPH eventually leads to more employers providing high quality experiential opportunities, which then works to build a stronger community!

Government Agenda

Now is the optimal time to implement experiential learning initiatives in schools and workplaces across Ontario, as the Provincial government is a strong advocate for experiential learning becoming a permanent part of all curricula across all institutions (elementary, high school, university and colleges). In accordance with this mandate from the government, it is an optimal time for all employers to jump on this opportunity and start learning more about how they can benefit by letting new talent into their offices.