Table of Contents

Summary ............................................................................................................................iii
1 Introduction .....................................................................................................................1
2 Anticipated Academic Outcomes ....................................................................................2 2.1 Clarity About Academic Goals .........................................................................2 2.2 Academic Motivation ........................................................................................3
3 Anticipated Professional Outcomes .................................................................................3 3.1 Clarity About Career Goals ..............................................................................3 3.2 Understand of Workplace Culture ....................................................................4 3.3 New or Advanced Skills ...................................................................................5
4 Anticipated Personal Outcomes .......................................................................................5 4.1 Maturity .............................................................................................................5 4.2 Determination of Strengths and Weaknesses ....................................................6 4.3 Responsibilities .................................................................................................7 4.4 Lifelong Learning Skills ...................................................................................7
5 Conclusions ......................................................................................................................8
6 Recommendations ............................................................................................................8
References ...........................................................................................................................9
Appendix A – PD2 Checklist ............................................................................................10
Appendix B – Employment Statistics 1 ............................................................................11
Appendix C – Employment Statistics 2 ............................................................................12

Summary This report entitled “Cooperative Education as a Model of Experiential Learning” was prepared for the course PD2: Critical Reflection and Report Writing and is to examine the effectiveness of cooperative education from the viewpoint of an unemployed student. When analyzing cooperative education I looked specifically at the anticipated outcomes that students typically have at the end of a work term. These outcomes have been divided into three categories including academic, professional and personal results. Academically I have found myself motivated to attain higher marks in hopes of acquiring a position for my next work term. Professionally, I never felt more prepared to enter an office environment but feel as though co-op did not assist me with this readiness. The personal outcomes from my cooperative education experience have been the most substantial. I have strengthened my independence and ability to accept rejection, which has in turn helped me to grow and mature. This report concludes that the commitment that the mandatory PD1 course required was not made clear, that the advisors need to pay closer attention to the first year students who remain unemployed, and that I have grown more then I ever expected from this experience.
It is recommended: that the University of Waterloo’s website have a more comprehensive explanation of the PD1 course and all that it entails that unemployed students are contacted at the beginning of May by advisors to see if any assistance is necessary
1 Introduction
As grade twelve