From TikTok to Strategy: Using Experiential Learning to Teach Deep Thinking in a Rapid-Fire World

I speak with Jean Beauchemin, professor of business and program coordinator at Cambrian College, about preparing students for a fast-changing world shaped by fragmented media, AI, and instant access to information. Jean explains that students are informed, but need support in slowing down, connecting ideas, and understanding cause and effect. That makes the instructor’s role more than delivering facts: we must build trust, bring experience, and create opportunities to practice real-world thinking.

We discuss how experiential learning can develop curiosity, collaboration, relationship-building, and the ability to connect marketing, finance, and operations. Jean shares classroom examples that make learning tangible: researching nearby businesses, visiting the mall, working with business owners, and tackling challenges such as seasonality and cash flow. We also explore simulations and why students learn more when they manually enter data and build KPI dashboards instead of simply downloading reports. My aim is practical workplace-ready learning.

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