Experiential Learning Notes

Direct Experience and Focused Reflection

 The theory and educational approach known as experiential learning places a strong emphasis on the value of firsthand experience and introspection. Instructors that employ this method purposefully include their pupils in hands-on tasks before assisting them in thinking back on what they have learnt. It aids in students' knowledge growth, skill development, and value clarification.For instance, a teacher in an engineering class might ask the students to design and construct a little bridge. In addition to constructing the bridge, students will need to work on the design, finances, and materials. Following bridge construction, the instructor will lead a class discussion in which students consider the engineering concepts that they have learned, the design process, and the problem-solving techniques they have honed during the assignments.Students who reflect on their learning are better able to comprehend what they have learned and pinpoint areas where they still require further study.Acquire knowledge through action

Learn by Doing

Experiential learning is an active learning method that highlights the value of practical experience and introspection. With this approach, kids pick up knowledge through doing and thinking. Practical laboratory experiments, internships, practica, field work, study abroad opportunities, graduate research, and studio demonstrations are just a few of the numerous ways that this kind of education can be provided.


For instance, a biology instructor may assign students to carry out a lab experiment to see how various fertilizers affect plant growth. Students will carry out experiments and document what they findFollowing the experiment, the teacher will lead a class discussion in which the students will analyze the experiment's lessons—such as how different fertilizers affect plant growth—and how they apply to the subject matter being covered in class. Students who reflect on their learning are better able to comprehend the material and pinpoint areas where they still need to grow.
The purpose of experiential learning activities is to give students real-world, hands-on experiences that will enhance their capacity for critical thinking and help them comprehend the subject matter better.

Acquiring knowledge via practical experience
College classrooms have long taught the idea of learning via experience, and prominent educational psychologists like David Kolb, Carl Rogers, and John Dewey Learning theories centered on this methodology found their basis in David Kolb. He has created tenets that highlight the value of practical experience, or "learning by doing."


John Dewey, for instance, emphasizes the value of active engagement and learning via firsthand experience in his work on experiential learning. His guiding principles place a strong emphasis on giving pupils the chance to apply whatever they have learnt through practical activities and reflection. Similar to this, Carl Rogers introduced the idea of "experiential education," which emphasizes the use of the student's own experiences as a source of knowledge. The experiential learning theory developed by David Kolb likewise highlights the significance of firsthand experience, introspection, and applying knowledge to new circumstances.

Therefore, the idea of learning by experience in college classrooms was theoretically supported by these educational psychologists, whose work continues to have a significant impact on education today.