If our approach to teaching is experiential, as a teacher, we have to figure out how to create a learning instruction that is ‘like real-world experience’ within the confines of the classroom. In my opinion, the closer we can get to a learning approach that emulates a human who is discovering by doing, the more influential the lesson will be. Think about figuring out how to create fire, in a survival situation, from experimentation of hitting different types of rocks together. This is an example of experiential learning that is primal and undoubtedly educational because it brings together survival, instinct, emotion, excitement and even hunger. There is an obvious need to create the fire, and there is a clear outcome for the success of making the fire. Making the fire will fully engage the learner because it is an activity that serves a purpose for the entirety of that person. As a counter-example, imagine reading a textbook where the learner is only doing the reading because he has been told by someone he barely knows that it might be a good idea; this likely won’t engage the learner, especially if the material is boring, because there is no definite reason to take the material seriously. An example of experiential learning that happens in a classroom would be for biology students to learn how plant growth functions in relation to levels of nutrients and sunlight by trying to grow plants under several different conditions and comparing the results.
For my Pod’s project, we are creating a resource that informs people who have recently moved to Victoria about ways to be more sustainable in the city. One way I want to implement experiential learning is the following: I want our evaluation to consist of a self-reflection on implementing these lessons that the learner can fill out over the next month after taking the course. The learners can apply what they have learned about sustainable resources in Victoria by exploring the one’s we discussed and even possibility discovering more. For example, our learners could try Nulla reusable cup systems and see for themselves if this type of system works well, or if seems like a viable alternative to disposing of cups in the trash or recycling.
Hi Sam! Great overview of experiential learning with its practical application! It is a wonderful idea to ask your students to try reusable cup systems and reflect on their experience. It is an excellent strategy to motivate them to construct their personal knowledge. You may want to tie your ideas to the resources discussed this week.