Experiential Learning – What and Why?

What is experiential learning? According to David Kolb, experiential learning is when the core of learning is one’s own experience. Professor Kolb also has a experiential learning cycle which I would use an experience I have had to apply on. Concrete Experience (1) and Abstract Conceptualization (3) are different ways to grasp experience, Reflective Observation (2) and Active Experimentation (4) are ways of transforming experience. I believe through real life experiences, it is a more efficient and effective way of learning.

Concrete Experience. This was during my internship when I went for Work & Study Exchange in Shanghai. As part of our internship, we were given the chance to teach about recycling in one of the schools in the neighbouring city – Changzhou. We were told that students from the school are from families who do not do very well financially. When I first stepped into the class, I did some warm-up activities with the class and they actually made great response, and they were very welcoming. Throughout the lesson, they were all very responsive and almost all of them put up their hands whenever I post a question to the class. I was so happy to see a class like this and I saw their motivation in studying despite the odds. At the end of the lesson when I was leaving, some of the students told me “see you next year” and it was these little actions that made all the sleepless nights and preparations beforehand worthwhile.

Reflective Observation. The students were also willing to share their ideas with the rest of the class and are not afraid of making mistakes which I feel is one of the most important values a lot of us are missing out today. After the day at the Primary School, I had a different reflection. Initially, I thought my reflection would be on how well the program was carried out and whether all the contents were covered which determined the success of the program. However, I felt that success at the end of the day was how responsive the children were, how much they learnt and also what I have learnt from them.

Abstract Conceptualization. One of the things I learnt from them was their willingness to give everything a try, and them not being taken aback from the difficulties they are facing. That made me reflect about how much effort I have been putting in for the past years as compared to them, when I am actually living more comfortably and given more opportunities than they are. From then on, I tried to make small steps to improve myself. They also gave me feedback on my handwriting being not too nice when I wrote on the chalkboard, which I told them I will go back and practice to learn to write nicer!

Active Experimentation. If I were to be given another chance to go back in future, I would reduce the amount of time on having them listen to me, and instead include more activities as well as having the children to present their idea or creation to the class, allowing them to have more opportunities to show what they have done.

One thing I would have done differently would be instead of standing in front of the classroom to speak to them and walking around to only see what they are doing, I would switch to the interactive mode, such that I will walk around and make conversations with each of the groups which I believe would be a better method.

King, D. (2017, June 1). What is Experiential Learning? Here is Everything You Need to Know! Retrieved November 10, 2019, from https://www.growthengineering.co.uk/what-is-experiential-learning/.