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A cycle of learning involving experience and reflection.
Experiential learning is an educational approach that emphasizes learning through direct experience and reflection on those experiences. It involves actively engaging with real-world situations, tasks, or problems to gain practical knowledge and skills.
Key thinkers in this area:
David Kolb (1939 - Present)
John Dewey (1859 - 1952)
Kurt Lewin (1890 - 1947)
Jean Piaget (1896 - 1980)
Key components of experiential learning cycle include:
1. Concrete Experience: Learners engage in hands-on, real-world experiences that serve as the foundation for learning.
2. Reflective Observation: After the experience, learners reflect on what happened, what they observed, and how it connects to their existing knowledge. Reflection is a crucial aspect of the experiential learning process, as it helps learners make sense of their experiences and extract meaningful insights.
3. Abstract Conceptualization: Learners analyse and conceptualize their observations, identifying patterns, principles, or theories that emerge from the experience. This step involves linking the concrete experience to existing knowledge or theoretical frameworks.
4. Active Experimentation: Based on their reflections and conceptualization, learners apply their new understanding to solve problems, make decisions, or take informed actions.
5. Repeat: Learners then return to stage 1
Experiential learning is widely used in various educational settings, from formal classroom environments to professional training and development programs.
Teaching strategies that are linked to experiential learning
Laboratory Experiments: Incorporate hands-on experiments in science or other disciplines to allow students to actively engage with concepts.
Demonstrations: Conduct demonstrations or simulations to provide tangible experiences that enhance understanding.
Educational Excursions: Plan field trips to relevant locations that align with the curriculum, providing students with firsthand experiences beyond the classroom.
Site Visits: Visit workplaces or organizations related to the subject matter to expose students to real-world applications.
Community Projects: Engage students in community service projects that connect academic learning with community needs.
Reflective Journals: Encourage students to keep journals reflecting on their service experiences and the connections to course content.
Simulated Scenarios: Create scenarios that mimic real-life situations to allow students to apply theoretical knowledge in practical contexts.
Role-Playing Exercises: Assign roles to students in a scenario, promoting empathy and a deeper understanding of diverse perspectives.
Real-World Problem Solving: Present students with authentic, complex problems that require them to collaborate, analyze, and propose solutions.
Work-Based Learning: Facilitate internships or work placements that provide students with hands-on experience in a professional setting.
Mentorship: Connect students with mentors in their field of study during work placements to enhance learning and networking.
Project-Based Learning (PBL): Assign projects that involve in-depth exploration and application of knowledge over an extended period.
Presentations and Exhibitions: Allow students to showcase their project findings through presentations or exhibitions.
Interactive Educational Apps: Integrate educational apps that allow students to interact with content and apply their learning in a digital environment.
Outdoor Education: Conduct classes or activities outdoors to leverage natural environments for learning experiences.
Debriefing Sessions: Facilitate debriefing sessions after experiential activities to encourage students to reflect on their experiences and learning.
Journaling: Incorporate reflective journaling to help students articulate their thoughts, emotions, and insights gained from the experiences.
Read more here:
Brazier, R., Block, R., & Airey, S. (2021). Chunked Experiential Learning–an innovative teaching methodology for a modern, diverse classroom. Widening Participation and Lifelong Learning, 23(2), 39-54.
Kolb, D. A. (2014). Experiential learning: Experience as the source of learning and development. FT press.
Morris, T. H. (2020). Experiential learning–a systematic review and revision of Kolb’s model. Interactive learning environments, 28(8), 1064-1077.
How effectively do individuals apply learning from one context to another?
What factors influence the transferability of knowledge gained through experience?
How does the quality of feedback impact the learning process?
How does cultural background influence the perception and interpretation of experiences?
To what extent does your subject specialism impact the effectiveness of experiential learning?
What motivates individuals to engage actively in the experiential learning process?
What strategies can enhance the integration of experiential learning in the FES sector?
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