experiential thinking & learning strategies

Students' learning experience

• Students have concrete experience of new phenomena in new environment with time-lapse videos

• Students participate in reflective observations of experience with thinking routine

• Students answer specially designed questions for abstract conceptualisation

• Students engage in active experimentation to apply knowledge and skills

• Students answer consolidation questions

Design tips for teachers

• Experiences in new environment with time lapse video illustrate phenomena that cannot be immediately observed for students

• Reflective observations with “see-think-wonder” to document observations, ideas and questions make thinking visible

• Questions for abstract conceptualisation make links between prior knowledge, experiences and learning outcomes for students

• Active experimentation empowers students to take charge of learning and apply the knowledge and skills learnt

• Consolidation questions guide students in summarising and reflecting on their learning

Students were observing the plants, asking questions and being curious about the different plants. Having the mimosa, Venus Flytrap and Pitcher Plant in the eco-garden helped to provide an authentic learning experience for the students. The mobile device and ThingLink app scaffolded the students’ exploration of the plants and their group discussions in the eco-garden to answer the thinking routine questions. As the experiential learning was also designed to promote self-directed learning, students were watching the embedded videos of the Venus Flytrap and Pitcher Plant without me reminding them to do so.

- Christopher Lee Cher Kiak, Zhonghua Primary