How we learn naturally
Human beings are always learning, whether
we are inside a classroom or outside of it. We may not always be conscious of
the process. Our daily experiences of learning may range from figuring out an
online booking system to a new mobile phone, learning a new sport to making a
little child laugh. What is common to all of these, is that they involve a
deliberate and direct approach to learning something that is useful, and
connected deeply to the world that we live in.
Classroom education has been moving away
from the abstract, and rote based learning towards concepts connected to the
real world. Teachers typically gave out information and students were expected
to absorb it passively. Over time, we it has become evident that we cannot
convince a student to learn something because it has been taught that way for
many years and everyone before them learned it. Trio has incorporated
experiential learning in the manner that it complements the offered curricula. When a child is shown how, say, learning to
grow vegetables or calculating their monthly expenses can have an impact on
their life, they will value what they are learning much more.
What is experiential learning
The theory of experiential learning was
proposed by David Kolbe, an American educational theorist. In his words, “Learning
is the process whereby knowledge is created through the transformation of
experience. Knowledge results from the combination of grasping experience and
transforming it.” This form of learning is not always dependent on textbooks or
formal instruction. The experience itself entails that the learner takes
initiative to begin, direct and completely involve themselves in the learning
process.
How experiential learning differs from
hands on learning
The intention behind several school
projects, workshops and trips are typically noble and are chosen to expose
children to new things. However, an exercise like collecting different kinds of
leaves or building a model of an aircraft does not automatically make it
useful, if there is no self-reflection and assimilation involved. Take, for
instance, an exercise to build a great camping tent. An educator can serve as
an anchor and guide, by encouraging students to answer questions like, what is the
purpose of doing this activity, what is your goal, what worked in the design,
what did not work, what can we learn from other teams, what are the challenges
and so on. Experiential learning effectively transforms the learner, by giving
them a framework to approach any new situation with confidence and
open-mindedness.
The cycle of learning
Kolb’s model gives a 4 stage cycle, that
the experiential learning process typically entails.
Abstract Conceptualisation: Gathering information on
how a system works and intellectual analysis of the situation. For example,
learning to grow vegetables in the garden can involve, in this step, watching
videos or reading up about different types of plants, weather, soil, tools etc.
Concrete Experience: Encountering a new situation that catches the learner’s
attention and learning from it. In our vegetable growing example, this may
involve working with an expert gardener, learning to prepare the soil, seeds,
watering, pruning branches and more.
Active experimentation: Taking action towards accomplishing the set goal. In our
example of growing vegetables, this may involve using the skills learned to
setup a small garden and tending to it every day.
Reflective Observation: Carefully observe the situation, and the available information.
This is a critical step in the process where the learner deeply reflects on and
synthesizes their learnings.
One may reflect on what conditions kept the
plants healthy and what conditions caused them to wilt.
Challenges to implementing experiential
learning in the classroom
One of the challenges to implementing
experiential learning, is the amount of preparation required on the part of
educators. Adequate research must go into planning activities and just enough
structure must be provided to students.
One of the most significant changes we
have made at Trio, is creation of a long term plan, with all our educators on
board, to incorporate experiential learning activities throughout the academic
session or adding a component of experiential learning into existing
activities. Teachers are given
sufficient support and resources to come up with activities that the children
are curious about and find beneficial. The more interdisciplinary the nature of
the activity, the better. Field trips or group activities
are no longer concluded with a simple report, but with deeper self-reflection.
Benefits of implementing experiential
learning
When students are involved fully in the
process of learning, and identify how their work impacts them on a personal and
meaningful way, they are more likely to internalise those learnings and pursue
an even deeper inquiry into a topic. They gain skills that they can apply to a
variety of situations both inside and outside the classroom. They become motivated
and autonomous learners who can tackle any challenge that life throws at them.
References
https://www.teachthought.com/learning/experiential-learning-just-hands-doesnt-mean-minds/
