Overview
Experiential learning also referred to as learning through action, learning by doing, and learning through experience, is a philosophy and methodology of teaching in which educators engage students in experience and reflection in order to increase knowledge or develop skills. In experiential learning students engage with and learn from one another.
Principals of Experiential Learning
- Experiential learning occurs when carefully chosen experiences are supported by reflection and critical analysis.
- Throughout the experiential learning process, the student is actively engaged in posing questions, investigating, experimenting, and constructing meaning.
- Students are engaged intellectually, emotionally, socially, and physically. This involvement produces a perception that the learning task is authentic.
- The results of the learning are personal and form the basis for future experience and learning.
- The instructor’s primary roles include setting suitable experiences, posing problems, setting boundaries, supporting students, ensuring physical and emotional safety, and facilitating the learning process.
- The instructor recognizes and encourages spontaneous opportunities for learning.
- Instructors strive to be aware of their biases, judgments and preconceptions, and how these influence the student.
Key Aspects of Experiential Learning
Scaffolding
Scaffolding is where an instructor/facilitator uses the knowledge that the learner already knows or has been presented with, and adds onto it to enhance the experience. This is a time where experiential learning crosses with passive learning. For example, an instructor may assign an article for learners to read before class. Then when the learners are in class the instructor facilitates an experiential activity that builds upon what the learners may have learned from the article.
Critical Reflection
Critical reflection is a very important aspect of experiential learning. Oftentimes learners will learn during the actual experience, but the most learning will come from the reflection. When learners reflect back upon what they experienced they can think more critically about it, and take more away from it.
Videos About Experiential Learning
Experiential Learning Explained – Definition & Theory
This video talks about the experiential learning model and theory from a business/training perspective.
Kolb’s Theory of Experiential Learning
This video discusses on Kolb’s experiential learning theory. It looks in-depth at all four stages of Kolb’s theory.
How I’ve Used Experiential Learning
I often use experiential learning as a tool for learning when creating programs about disability awareness. The two most notable times I have used it were:
Braille Basics
I have created and facilitated a lesson on basics of the Braille code. I designed the lesson for learners who are sighted, and who had little to no experience reading Braille before. In my lesso,n I had the learner’s wear blindfolds, so that they could understand the experience of learning the language the same way a blind person would. I also did this so that the learners would get an idea of how a blind person may learn, and get them thinking about how instructional methods may need to be adjusted when working with blind students.
Additional Resources
Student Disability and Experiential Learning
This article gives a brief but thorough overview of students with disabilities in postsecondary education and why experiential learning is beneficial for improving their ability to learn.
Experiential Learning
This Article from the University of Southern Illinois’s Faculty Development and Instructional Design Center takes an in-depth look the principles and concpets of experiential learning.
Experiential Learning Strategies
This article from the University of Texas at Austin’s Faculty Innovation Center talks about Kolb’s experiential learning model as well as strategies for using experiential learning.
References
Best Practices in Experiential Learning. (2016) Ryerson University. Retrieved from http://www.niu.edu/facdev/_pdf/guide/strategies/experiential_learning.pdf
Experiential Learning. (2016) Faculty Development and Instructional Design Center. Retrieved from http://www.niu.edu/facdev/_pdf/guide/strategies/experiential_learning.pdf
Kline, G. D. (2009). Student Disability and Experiential Learning. Journal of Effective Teaching, 9(3), 11-37 160. Retrieved from https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1092129.pdf
Joe Tiner 