When we started LearnIt Solutions, the goal was simple: help students bridge the gap between classroom learning and the real world. We wanted to create those moments where a student's eyes light up, and they realize, "Hey, I can actually do this."
Eighteen months later, the reality has been wider than anything we imagined.
From One Workshop to Province-Wide Impact
We moved fast. Really fast. From that first workshop to partnerships with multiple school boards across Ontario, the demand for experiential learning programs exceeded our expectations. The question we kept hearing from educators was consistent: how do we give students hands-on experiences that prepare them for actual careers?
We didn't just talk about careers. We immersed students in the environments where those careers happen.
At the Temerty Advanced Surgical Education Centre, students weren't observing from a distance. They were scrubbing in, using the same simulation labs where Canada's top surgeons train. For many students, it was the first time they could envision themselves in a healthcare career.
At Centennial College's Bombardier Centre, we walked through the historic de Havilland plant. Students got hands-on experience with avionics and witnessed the future of aerospace firsthand. When officers from the Royal Canadian Air Force joined us, the experience became even more tangible. Seeing Lieutenant Colonels and Majors engage directly with students brought a level of authenticity we couldn't manufacture in a traditional classroom.
Real Problems, Real Solutions
Working with WLU, York, and Guelph University, we launched the Homelessness Curriculum with the professors. This wasn't theoretical coursework. Students debated, designed, and built empathy for real-world social issues. Brampton City Councillors came in to judge their solutions, showing students exactly what it takes to solve problems in the real world.
This is the heart of effective SHSM programs: giving students the tools to engage with genuine challenges and see the direct impact of their work.
The Media Side: Amplifying Educator Voices
While LearnIt Solutions focused on delivering these transformative experiences, LearnIt Media took a different approach. We sat down with some of the brightest minds in education across Ontario: directors, principals, leaders who are actively shaping how schools operate today.
We turned their stories into insights, creating a space where the voices shaping our schools can actually be heard. Through our Behind the Chalkboard podcast, we've documented the real conversations happening in Ontario education, from innovation strategies to equity initiatives to student voice.
Growth Isn't Easy
Growth is never easy. The physical and mental toll this year was heavy. It was the 5:00 AM wake-up calls to beat traffic. It was the pressure of logistics, the last-minute scrambles, and the sheer exhaustion of trying to build something great from scratch. There were moments where we were running on adrenaline and coffee.
But then, we look back at the footprints we've left behind, and the exhaustion fades away.
What Makes Experiential Learning Work
Through 18 months of delivering real-world learning experiences across Ontario, we've learned what actually drives student engagement:
Authenticity matters. Students know when an experience is manufactured versus genuine. Taking them to actual industry sites, introducing them to real professionals, and giving them hands-on access to professional equipment creates engagement that traditional classrooms struggle to replicate.
Partnerships unlock possibilities. Our collaborations with postsecondary institutions, industry leaders, and military organizations have opened doors we couldn't access alone. These partnerships don't just add credibility; they provide students with networks and opportunities that extend far beyond a single workshop.
Vulnerable leadership inspires growth. When we share both our successes and our struggles, we model the kind of authentic leadership we want students to develop. Education isn't about perfection; it's about progress and resilience.
Looking Ahead to 2026
We've learned so much. We are experienced. We are confident. And we are more ready than ever.
For educators considering experiential learning programs, the evidence is clear: when students engage with real-world environments, their understanding of career possibilities expands dramatically. Our 94% student engagement rate and 97% participant satisfaction aren't just metrics; they represent thousands of students who now see themselves in careers they didn't know existed 18 months ago.
For school boards exploring SHSM program partnerships, the question isn't whether experiential learning works. The question is how quickly you can provide these opportunities to your students.
Thank you for believing in us. See you in 2026.
About LearnIt Solutions
LearnIt Solutions partners with Ontario school boards and independent schools to deliver experiential learning programs and SHSM certifications. We work with 20+ school boards and corporate partners to help students develop real world skills and career clarity. Learn more at https://www.learn-it.ca/events
As part of LearnIt Media, we also amplify education innovation stories through our "Behind the Chalkboard" podcast, featuring conversations with Ontario superintendents, principals, and education leaders reimagining student learning.
Founder Dhiraj Hariramani
CEO & Chief Learning Officer, LearnIt Solutions Inc.
Dhiraj founded LearnIt to bridge the gap between classroom theory and career readiness. A UBC graduate and consultant at Accenture, he has directly impacted 10,000+ students across Ontario school boards.
As host of the Behind the Chalkboard podcast, Dhiraj facilitates conversations with education leaders exploring innovation, equity, and student centered approaches to learning.
Connect: LinkedIn | dhiraj@learn-it.ca | +1 (236) 788 6830