Principles of Experiential Learning in School Education

Experiential Learning: The Principles of Practice - Association of Experiential Education - www.aee.org
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• Experiential learning occurs when carefully chosen experiences are supported by reflection, critical analysis and synthesis.
• Experiences are structured to require the learner to take initiative, make decisions and be accountable for results.
•  Throughout the experiential learning process, the learner is actively engaged in posing questions, investigating, experimenting, being curious, solving problems, assuming responsibility, being creative, and constructing meaning.
•  Learners are engaged intellectually, emotionally, socially, soulfully and/or physically. This involvement produces a perception that the learning task is authentic.
•  The results of the learning are personal and form the basis for future experience and learning.
•  Relationships are developed and nurtured: learner to self, learner to others and learner to the world at large.
•  The educator and learner may experience success, failure, adventure, risk-taking and uncertainty, because the outcomes of experience cannot totally be predicted.
•  Opportunities are nurtured for learners and educators to explore and examine their own values.
•  The educator's primary roles include setting suitable experiences, posing problems, setting boundaries, supporting learners, insuring physical and emotional safety, and facilitating the learning process.
•  The educator recognizes and encourages spontaneous opportunities for learning.
•  Educators strive to be aware of their biases, judgments and pre-conceptions, and how these influence the learner.
•  The design of the learning experience includes the possibility to learn from natural consequences, mistakes and successes. 

Principles of Teaching through Experiential Learning in Schools

Learning is connected.
Learning is an interconnected process. It is not a linear causal process. It is multi-dimensional –there is a learner, the subject, the context, the purpose.
While learning learners see connections. They are able to connect the present experiences with their previous knowledge. They make new connections. They look for leverage. Leverage for growth and change lies in connections.

Learning is real.
Through experiential learning learners work on real life problems in their locality, work and home context. Experiences from the local context of the learner can serve as a source of teaching and learning. It helps the learners understand their society better and make learning real, authentic and exciting for them.
 
Learning is active and engaging.
When learners work on real-life issues in the society, it not only helps them understand their society  and its challenges better but also empowers them to take responsibility for it. They experience and learn how to make a difference in their society. This is what makes them active citizens.

Learning is authentic
Learners working in/for the community have authentic purpose and audience for their learning. They work on real issues. They can see how their work will make a difference in the community. They work towards it. It engages them and makes them responsible for their learning and the outcome.
 
Learning is challenging and dynamic
Real life is complex. It does not work linearly. It is interconnected and there are loops within loops. It is dynamic. Learners experience true challenge when they work on real-life problems. It engages them at the cognitive, emotional, social  and physical levels.

Learning is doing
Learners work with their hands. They experiment with new ideas. Learners work with expert craftsmen and artisans  on real problems and in the process,  they experience craftsmanship, self-reliance and conservation. They create with hands and experience possibilities and abundance in their community and self.

 Learning is emotional immersion
Experience is engaging. In the process of learning from experience learners get completely immersed in it. They flow with it. This helps learners in figuring out the world around in a holistic and integrated manner. The understanding developed is much more than just cognitive. It transforms the complete human being.

Learning is social and collaborative
Learners  work together as a teams on real-life issues and they take shared responsibility for the outcome. Working in teams enhances their capacity to learn and create. They learn how to appreciate and leverage diversity.

Learning is Community Based. 
Learners share their learning with community members. This not only validates the usefulness of their knowledge but also helps the community members to understand the teaching and learning process of the school. This engages the community in the school and bridges the gap between school and society. It prepares learners for real life.

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