Experiential Learning in Education

Schools have been around for as long as we can remember. Education is at the forefront of these institutions and an important part of our growing society. Most notably different styles of teaching have become more and more relevant as we recognize that people learn and understand information in different ways. Experiential learning is a different style of teaching that continues to become more and more commonplace in schools. But what is experiential learning and what does it hold for the future of our education system? 

Experiential learning is a learning style based on the act of doing (experiencing). Experiential learning was invented by John Dewy as a way to better translate concepts learned in the classroom to real-world applications, encouraging students to further engage and demonstrate critical thinking skills with material. School field trips, volunteer work, internships, and lab experiments are all examples of experiential learning, but what do they have in common? All of these activities are hands-on, engaging learners in unexpected and different ways than a normal class setting would. In contrast, an example of a more traditional style approach (not experiential learning) could be reading a textbook. Generally speaking, being shown or told about something as well as reading about a topic would not be considered experiential learning but physically doing something (i.e., trying something new) would be. 

That said, why is experiential learning done and what do learners get out of it? Experiential learning is so important because it is not a linear path, and learning can be achieved no matter the outcome. Experiential learning may also force individuals to go through a process of trial and error. When doing a science lab or even learning to crawl, you may fail at first but it is the takeaways and unconscious rerouting you do in your brain, from these experiences, that ultimately allows you to further your learning and adjust your actions to achieve a better result or further your understanding. Experiential learning encourages different learner profiles to approach problems and activities through different angles, actively engaging them in what they are doing, and how their peers may be approaching it. Research from the University of Chicago reveals that “experiential learning can lead to retention rates as high as 90%, compared to just 5% from traditional lectures”. This is attributed in part due to engagement and the attention required through involvement.

This all begs the question, if experiential learning is so useful why does most learning in school still follow a more traditional approach? For starters, experiential learning is often hard to replicate in a classroom setting. It may require transportation, money, or resources to recreate which are not readily available to teachers. Many subjects also do not lend well to this type of education, mathematics in particular given there are a set of materials that need to be covered under certain time restraints. While giving learners space to reflect on challenging problems does implement elements of experiential learning, mathematics is based upon a set of rules which would be impractical to teach through activities requiring individual “discovery” of these rules. An overloaded curriculum and the creativity required to provide more experiential learning opportunities may prevent many educators worldwide from focusing further on this learning style.

Experiential learning through schools is beneficial for learner engagement, retention of material, and more closely mirroring a subject's real-world applications. All whilst allowing for growth despite the outcome of the “experience”, through reflection. It is a more modern style that helps to vary up older classic teaching methods, which may not be suitable for all learners. Aspects of a more classical approach, like sitting at a desk for long periods of time whilst paying active attention, can be near impossible for many individuals. Regardless, experiential learning cannot be a complete substitute for other learning styles. As the queen's journal points out, “Education is not one size fits all—everyone processes information differently”. The need for balance and unrealistic expectations surrounding a complete switch to experiential learning create restrictions. That said, most agree it still has and will continue to have a valuable impact on our education system, paving the way for more adaptive learning styles which help to boost all learners forward.

Works Cited

“Experiential Learning | Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning.” Northern Illinois University, https://www.niu.edu/citl/resources/guides/instructional-guide/experiential-learning.shtml. Accessed 30 October 2024.

“The History of Experiential Learning in Higher Education.” EduSourced, https://www.edusourced.com/what-is-work-integrated-learning/. Accessed 30 October 2024.

“Lesson 5 - Theories of Learning: Strengths and Weaknesses of Experiential Learning Models.” Technology-Enabled Learning Lounge, https://tell.colvee.org/mod/book/view.php?id=647&chapterid=1130.

Accessed 30 October 2024.

Wang, Herbert. “Education is not one size fits all—balance is key.” The Queen's Journal, 7 February 2023, https://www.queensjournal.ca/education-is-not-one-size-fits-all-balance-is-key/. Accessed 30 October 2024.

“What is Experiential Learning and Why Is It Important?” Kent State University, https://www.kent.edu/community/what-experiential-learning-and-why-it-important. Accessed 30 October 2024.