Experiential Learning in Sport Management: Integrating Theory and Practice

Experiential Learning in Sport Management: Integrating Theory and Practice 

What is this Research About?

Previous sport management research has found that about 42% of students prefer kinesthetic learning where they can apply course content to simulated or real-world situations. Experiential learning allows students to combine knowledge with hands-on experience. Many universities are integrating this type of learning in undergraduate courses to engage students and meet the desire for more professional development opportunities. Most commonly, this type of learning has been in the form of internships and while these experiences are valuable, the authors argued that the importance of research methods should also be highlighted and how academia contributes to industry. The authors proposed an innovative course design which consisted of combining a student-directed research project with an experiential learning component at a major sport event.  

What did the Researchers Do?

The authors designed and implemented a five-module undergraduate course which included several phases to fuse research theory with practical application centered around a major sport event. Each module focused on an element of the research process followed by an experiential component for students to complete activities related to using course concepts in relation to the sport event. After the course, the researchers collected student feedback to assess the effectiveness of the learning outcomes and participants’ overall experience, which was met with positive reviews.  

What did the Researchers Find?

Students gave overly positive feedback and highlighted that having experiential activities were both useful and valuable. The introductory modules focused on theory were viewed vital to the experience. One student said it provided them with a new perspective on the sport event compared to previous views as a spectator/fan, “I do think that the research portion of this class helped me gain a more professional outlook on the events that took place on our trip. I view [this] portion as an important part of the whole experience.” Findings encourage faculty and institutions to rethink traditional course design and innovate teaching by using experiential learning to bridge theory with practice. Another student said this form of learning increased their engagement as they learned “how to conduct research in a way I could understand firsthand by being a part of the research.”  

→ How to Implement this Research in Your Classroom

Experiential learning is an effective way for students to interact with their peers and apply theory to practical, industry-relevant scenarios. Designing undergraduate courses that use participatory activities can help kinesthetic learners retain knowledge, further supporting professional skill development for students. This pedagogical strategy may also help ensure student interests are driving the course and as a result, increase their overall engagement. Strategies to consider when adopting experiential learning include:  

  • Connect theory with practice in participatory activities throughout the term. 
  • Using case studies to encourage students to apply what they learned in a realistic scenario. 
  • Scaffolded term projects. 
  • Planning phased modules each focused on a specific topics and learning objectives, applying theory to practice following a timeline related to the industry event of interest. 
  • Collect student feedback in the early years of implementation to refine and adapt course design. 

→  Citation

Warner, S., & Buenaño, A. L. (2024). The engaged learner: Undergraduate research and the Super Bowl. Sport Management Education Journal, ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1123/smej.2023-0012 

→  Keywords

  • Experiential Education
  • Sport Management
  • Course Design
  • Participatory Action Research 

Creative Commons by logo This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Canada License

Snapshot Writer: Megan Piché

Snapshot Publication Date: 2024

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