What is Experiential Learning?

rewatisachdeva

The phrase experiential learning’s main idea is building upon what one knows to expand that knowledge into action which means learning comes in part from what experiences and opportunities arise for a person. We can simply put it like, experiential learning is the process of learning through hands-on experience and mind on experience.

David A. Kolb developed experiential learning with the help of Ron Fry and other colleagues at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the 1980s. The idea behind experiential learning is what one knows from educational experiences can be applied to what one will learn later on. In this context, what one knows could be what one’s already done or what one knows to be true. This is what one does, what they experienced, and what one needs to learn about.
We can take an example of a student that if he/she is educated in what it takes to finish a race first, then later on they can apply what they learned to what they did, which was the educational part of what they experienced.

According to what is defined by Kolb, there are four stages of learning one experiences. They are:

The concrete experience stage
The reflective observation stage
The abstract conceptualization stage
The active experimentation stage

Sarthak

Experiential learning is an engaged learning process whereby students “learn by doing” and by reflecting on the experience. Experiential learning activities can include, but are not limited to, hands-on laboratory experiments, internships, practicums, field exercises, study abroad, undergraduate research and studio performances.

NafeesAhmad

Going to the zoo to learn about animals through observation, instead of reading about them. Growing a garden to learn about photosynthesis instead of watching a movie about it. Hopping on a bicycle to try and learn to ride, instead of listening to your parent explain the concept.