Jennifer Jakobi

ABOUT ME

Jennifer Jakobi is an assistant professor in the College of Education at Grand Canyon University, specializing in special education. She teaches both on-ground and online courses and develops programs and curriculum for special education. Jakobi has innovative partnerships within the Phoenix community, providing experiential learning opportunities that significantly increase pre-service teachers’ confidence in working with children with disabilities. Her students have presented at the GCU Undergraduate Research Symposium and been featured in university publications. A subject matter expert, she also serves on the Peer Review Board. Her contributions to the field include presentations at national and regional conferences, such as AAC Training Boosts Pre-Service Teachers’ Confidence Teaching Students with Autism (CEC 2025) and From Silos to Collaboration: Embedded Partnerships to Enhance Student Experience (EDUCAUSE 2024). Recognized for her dedication to teaching and mentorship, she has earned awards such as GCU’s Faculty Advisor of the Year.

ABSTRACT

One of the biggest challenges in online courses is making learning feel hands-on and engaging. Without a physical classroom, students can sometimes struggle to connect with the material in a meaningful way. Experiential learning bridges this gap by providing students with real-world applications, improving understanding, retention, and job readiness. However, creating these experiences can be challenging for educators, especially in online and hybrid courses.

Participants will leave with actionable strategies to make learning more interactive, applied, and career-focused, ensuring students graduate with the skills and confidence needed for success.

Key takeaways include:

How experiential learning strengthens understanding, retention, and career readiness
Strategies for integrating AI-generated case studies, simulations, and real-world scenarios
Using AI to connect students with community-based experiential learning opportunities
Practical applications across fields such as education, business, and healthcare