Experiential Learning

Reading and writing, arithmetic and grammar do not constitute education, any more than a knife, fork and spoon constitute a dinner.
– John Lubbock

The knowledge of the world is only to be acquired in the world, and not in a closet.
– Lord Philip Dormer Stanhope Chesterfield

Introduction to Experiential Learning

Experiential learning is a general phrase that can be applied to a wide variety of learning situations. Experiential learning ought to be differentiated from experiential education even though technically, both can be happening at the same time. Experiential learning is something that a learner can bring to any learning situation, structured or otherwise. It is sometimes referred to as auto-didactic learning – or, quite simple, learning from your own experiences.

Experiential education (EE), on the other hand refers to a learning environment which is structured in a way that creates experiences for the learner and allows for structured reflection on the experience(s). EE is a student-centered pedagogical style in which the teacher designs and facilitates activities which require the student to learn through engaging directly with their subject matter. After reading about composting, they will create a compost bin and compost the food. After reading theories about how to be a better writer, they will spend a semester experimenting, receiving feedback, and reflecting. After reading about how to teach students, they will be placed in a classroom to teach students. They will repair computers, inventory parks and trails, develop business plans for real small businesses. Experiential education at its best works alongside more “traditional” methods of knowledge acquisition such as lecture or reading comprehension; with EE the students are asked to apply the concepts they’ve learned in physical, concrete ways.

12 Reasons Why Experiential Learning is Effective (Luckner & Nadler)

Equality
Developing relationships quickly
Disequilibrium
Projective technique
Decreased time cycle
Meta learning
Chaos and crisis in a safe environment
Kinaesthetic imprint
Common language / common mythology
Encourage risk taking
Diversity of strengths
Fun

For one paragraph descriptions of each of these 12 reasons, go to the SabreHQ website article. More detailed information can be found in Luckner & Nadler’s book (1997)

EE is Alive and Well in the World of No Child Left Behind

Experiential Learning Theory is one of the most widely applied educational theories. Practical applications of these principals can be found in all levels of formal education. We would like to present one example of EE in practice from a Missoula 1^st/2^nd grade class. Christy Meurer wanted to teach the kids about composting and arranged to implement a school-wide compositing program at Lewis and Clark Elementary in the Fall of 2010. During the fall semester the children learned about composting: what one can and cannot compost, what happens to the food, why it’s important, etc. The children then made posters to hang around the school, and wrote, then created a video to teach the other children throughout the school about composting. The video the class made is below; in it you will see the culmination of many, many weeks of reading, researching, writing, drawing, and practicing.

Practical Example of Experimental Learning at Montana Western.

Manuscript Tradition (LIT 274) – students learned about illuminated manuscripts by making one themselves. (see example below-click to enlarge)

Major Contributors to Experiential Learning

John Dewey (October 20, 1859 – June 1, 1952), was fundamental to the Progressive Education movement. He was a psychologist and educational philosopher whose interests in education centered around democracy and civil responsibility. He believed that education should prepare students to understand and critically interpret information in order to be able to vote, and then be able to hold oneself responsible for his/her choices and actions. About hands-on learning or EE, he argued that “if knowledge comes from the impressions made upon us by natural objects, it is impossible to procure knowledge without the use of objects which impress the mind.” He is also credited by some as the originator or Project Based Learning.

Jean Piaget: (9 August 1896 – 16 September 1980) is known for his theory of cognitive development called genetic epistemology.

David Kolb (born 1939^[), is the founder and chairman of Experience Based Learning Systems, Inc. (EBLS), and a Professor of Organizational Behavior at Case Western Reserve University. He created the Experiential Learning Model which consists of the following stages of learning:

concrete experience,
observation of and reflection on that experience,
formation of abstract concepts based upon the reflection,
testing the new concepts,
(repeat).

David A. Kolb (with Roger Fry) created his famous model out of four elements: concrete experience, observation and reflection, the formation of abstract concepts and testing in new situations. He represented these in the famous experiential learning circle that involves (1) concrete experience followed by (2) observation and experience followed by (3) forming abstract concepts followed by (4) testing in new situations (after Kurt Lewin). It is a model that appears time and again.

Maria Montessori (August 31, 1870 – May 6, 1952) was a physician, educator and philosopher. Although she is not formally considered to be connected to EE, we include her here because her Montessori Method was developed during the same time Dewey was developing his philosophies. Although the two differ in important ways, Montessori fundamentally influenced the early childhood education so significantly that elements of her teaching methods can be found in nearly any contemporary early learning environment.