Post #2 – Experiential Learning

Experiential learning is a learning process where students can take more ownership over their learning and do it in a more hands-on way, they can also reflect throughout the experience. Kolb’s cycle has four stages to break down the rotation of exponential learning. There is a stage of concrete experience where one is doing or having an experience (Kolb, 1984). After this stage, there is reflection and observation where the individual reviews what they have done in the experience (Kolb, 1984). Next comes the abstract conceptualization, this is when one can learn and create new ideas from their experience (Kolb, 1984). Following abstract conceptualization is active experimentation, in this stage, new ideas can be tested and individuals can they what they have learned so far (Kolb, 1984). The cycle then repeats by going back to engaging directly in an experience, then reflecting, followed by learning, resulting again in an experimentation stage. The cycle just continues to repeat its self as the learner continues growing their knowledge. In experiential learning students are guiding there learning as they are the ones taking initiative, this means they are responsible for the outcome and there is much to learn from both their success and ideas that do not have the predicted outcome.

Experiential learning aligns with my pod’s (#4) method. Our pod is using Scratch, which is a browser-based educational programming environment. It lets anyone learn the basics of programming by snapping blocks together to create games. This is done using hands-on learning that is trial and error based. This relates to Kolb’s cycle in that learners have the experience of trying a possible combination, reflecting on the outcome, learning what may or may not work, creating a plan with the knowledge they just learned, and then they have the ability to try again. 

Kolb, D. A. (1984). Experiential learning: Experience as the source of learning and development. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.