Experiential Learning Cycle

What is the Experiential Learning Cycle?

EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING IS DEFINED AS

“LEARNING THROUGH REFLECTION ON DOING”.

Experiential learning is an inquiry-based, pedagogical approach that provides opportunities for students to co-construct their learning by:

1. participating in rich experiences connected to a community outside of school;

2. reflecting on those experiences to derive meaning; and then,

3. applying their learning to influence their decisions and actions in various aspects of their lives.

The experience can involve local, national, or global communities and be on-site, virtual, or a combination of the two (blended).

Benefits of Experiential Learning

Community connected experiential learning increases

student engagement,
student motivation to learn,
and student success by connecting the learning to situations students care about in their community and in the world.

These opportunities allow for development of global competencies, collaboration, communication, critical thinking and problem-solving, and entrepreneurship.

Assessment of Experiential Learning

The experiential learning cycle “participate-reflect-apply” is a dynamic one and the process is as important as the product. There are guiding questions associated with each step of the process:

1. What? Students are immersed in an experience and should be aware of ‘what’ they are doing and ‘what’ they are thinking and feeling during the experience.

2. So what? Students think about their experience, guided by reflective questions. So what did you learn with respect to yourself, other people, your community, the world, your opportunities, etc.?

3. Now what? Student describes how their learning stimulates further inquiry and new behaviours. How has it influenced decisions, opinions, behaviours, goals, plans, etc.?

Through experiential learning opportunities, students can develop skills and knowledge to make informed education and career/life planning choices; they will see connections between the learning in school and life beyond school.

Experiential Learning: Core Beliefs

Every student has a unique set of strengths, interests, needs and aspirations.
Every student can benefit from active participation in authentic, experiential learning activities that are age/developmentally- appropriate, culturally responsive, and safe.
Each experiential learning opportunity prepares students for success in future experiences of greater intensity, sharper focus and longer duration.

CCEL & the Ministry of Education

CommunityConnectedExperientialLearning.pdf

GrowingSuccess.pdf

What Does Achieving Excellence Say About Experiential Learning?

Achieving Excellence speaks to the need to help students develop the skills, knowledge and habits of mind to reach their full potential, regardless of their individual circumstances, by providing “more flexibility and ownership” in their learning. (p.6)

When students are actively involved in the design, planning and evaluation of their learning experiences, they:

●identify with the learning;

●develop a sense of belonging to a community;

●have a sense of ownership for their learning; and

●experience enhanced well-being.

Partner with community organizations and businesses to provide students with more experiential learning opportunities. (p. 19)

They (Students) will benefit from a wide array of opportunities both inside and outside of school that are compelling and contribute to their success, including the opportunity to benefit from the effective and appropriate use of technology in the classroom. (p. 4)

Give students more flexibility and ownership in their learning, allowing them, for example, to determine whether they want to spend more time on e-learning or on learning outside of the classroom. (p. 6)

Expand learning opportunities outside school to include community-based, civic, humanitarian, scientific and artistic activities, as well as cross-cultural and international experiences. (p. 7)

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