Definition of Experiential Learning
Experiential learning not a new concept but has been done for a period of time. The groundwork of experiential has been made by John Dewey (1859-1952), Carl Rogers (1902-1987), and David Kolb (b. 1939) that focus on “learning through experience” or “learning by doing.” (Rogers, 2010) . There are various types and definition of experiential Learning. The Association for Experiential Learning as cited by (Wurdinger S. D., 2005) define experiential learning as “a process through which a learner constructs knowledge, skill and value from direct experience”. While The National of society for Experiential Education (NSEE) define it as “ Inductive, beginning with experience that is process through an intentional learning format and transform into working, useable knowledge” (Wurdinger S. D., 2005).
According to Gentry (1990), Hover and Whitehead (1975) have defined experiential learning as, “Experiential learning exists when a personally responsible participant cognitively, affectively, and behaviorally processes knowledge, skills, and/or attitudes in a learning situation characterized by a high level of active involvement.” This definition has described the meaning of phrases such participative, contact with the environment, relating the process of learning with content of learning and the role of teacher and children. It means that student and the place that learning takes place play the role in the experiential learning. (Rogers, 2010)
Experiential Learning also refers to the proses of learning that involving the transformation of experience into knowledge that initiated by the learner (Torkington, 1992). Children must proactive and reactive in the learning process so then they can get learn f...
... middle of paper ...
... can be a failure if it is not conducted under the right condition. Coherently, Roger (2010) argued that it is hard to predict the outcomes of the experience.
It is the role of the educator to make sure the learning succeeds. Therefore, the educators need to guide the children and ignite their interest in solving the problem by giving leading question (Wurdinger, 2005). The educators need to state the purposed of the study to the children, so then they will able to relate it with their life (Wurdinger 2005). Roger (2010) mentions that the educators need to lead the children to do self-reflection and integrated the knowledge they have learned in the previous lesson with the current lesson. The educators need to attract and gear up their child’s interest in learning since if the children lost their interest in learning, they will frustrated and then getting bored.
Morality, which is one’s general standards about right and wrong behavior, also includes prosocial behavior and other traits such as honesty, fairness, and concern about other people’s rights and welfare (Omrod, 2014). Both morality and prosocial behavior involve multiple parts of the brain, emotions and complex reasoning abilities. Some age-typical characteristics for preschool aged children include, some understanding that behaviors causing physical or psychological harm are morally wrong, a sense of guilt and shame about misbehaviors that cause harm to others, also display empathy and sympathy, and children at this age also show an appreciation for the need to be fair.
Every student has a diverse learning style. I believe that students should learn in a safe, caring, and understanding environment. As professional educators, we should provide this safe and open-minded environment.The ways to ensure this environment is to make sure students are actively involved in their education, to make sure teachers are providing the best materials for students to learn, and to make sure parents and the community are involved in students education.
I observed at St. Eve’s Learning Center location in their preschool room. The center has a naturalistic feel to the environment and all of the staff is friendly and welcoming. The classroom displayed best practices, modern theories and research, and followed expected standards set by their accreditations.
While walking through the front gates of County elementary school, you see children of all ages playing while they wait for the school bell to ring. Walking to the classroom that I will be observing you see students with their parent’s line up waiting to get signed in. The students are to be signed in by a parent or guardian for safety precautions, and shows that the child was signed into school. As a visitor, I am to sign myself in, this shows I was in the classroom, at what time was I there, and reason for visiting the classroom.
I believe that teaching and learning is both a science and an art, which requires the implementation of already determined rules. I see learning as the result of internal forces within the person student. I know that children differ in the way they learn and grow but I also know that all children can learn. Students’ increased understanding of their own experience is a legitimate form of knowledge. I will present my students with opportunities to develop the ability to meet personal knowledge.
I believe that learning is a journey that both child and educator set out on together. This journey is a privilege that I take seriously, realizing that a child’s early years are a key formative time in their life. I believe that it is during this time that important foundations are being set in place that will not only impact them in the present but will also influence them later on in life.
As a teacher I believe that the most effective way to teach children is teaching through play and example by using pictures and gestures. Children are motivated to learn when they have opportunities to make choices in an environment that are inspiring and stimulating. Children are interested from infancy and have a desire to learn from their environment and those around them. When children are encouraged to interact with their peers and adults in positive ways, they feel safe to explore their surroundings. I as teacher have the opportunity to nurture and educate my students on all levels, making sure that my students are being taught developmentally appropriate
Stage 2 of Kolb’s 1984 four-stage Experiential Learning Model, involves reflective observation of an experience. The cycle treats reflection as an imperative part of learning. Upon reflection of the patient counselling scenario, I have realised that actually experiencing an event, rather than simply observing, has proven effective in my learning. This is supported by Bonwell and Eison (1991) who discuss how active learning is important in aiding student education.
Experiential Learning is a powerful form of learning. As stated by Lewis and Williams “In its simplest form, experiential learning means learning from experience or learning by doing. Experiential education first immerses learners in an experience and then encourages reflection about the experience to develop new skills, new attitudes, or new ways of thinking.” (1994, p.5). Learning through experience is something that each one of us do in our daily lives, often on a subconscious level. Rather than reading, viewing or thinking of how to do something with experiential learning we can learn by doing. Traditional teaching or training may not always be the best way for all students in both the educational setting or corporate setting to learn. Often when you use reading a book, or listening to a lecture the
"Learning and knowing are integrally and inherently situated in the everyday world of human activity" (Wilson, 1993, p.71). Learning is situated in the context in which it is taught. In other words, the context in which something is learned is very important. The activity in which the learner is engaged in at the time of learning is also important (Griffin and Griffin, 1996, p.293). If the goal of a learner is to solve day-to-day life experiences, they must engage in such opportunities.
According to my own life experience, I strongly believe that early childhood experiences are very important to forge our personality over time. I grew up in a nurturing and loving environment where I always felt safe, loved and my parents always made me feel important. I was a strong-will child. I used to throw temper tantrums if things didn’t go my way. I used to be very demanding as well, my mother used to joke about my personality and she used to ask me where I had left my crown --I acted like I was a queen--. Despite of my strong-will personality, my mother’s nurturing unconditional love and attention, shaped my personality. My mother was very patient and compassionate. She used to explain things so well to make me understand why things couldn’t always be how I wanted them to be. With her help, over time, I learned how to deal with my emotions and situations and these experiences shaped my behavior and personality. The conversations we had still remain in my mind and I still think
Before the lesson is prepared, the teachers must have a clear understanding of the objectives of the lesson to be taught. By having an understanding of what they students will able to accomplish at the end of the lesson, the content remains focused and thorough. The teacher must then express these objectives to the students including the standards for performance. Students can then be held accountable for expectations that are known.
Passive observation and Active experiment- “ in accordance to Kolbs theory learners perceive and process information from concrete experience , reflective observation, abstract conceptualization and active experimentation”—which is the process of being completely involved in the process of learning and processing a new experience. “Learning is the process whereby knowledge is created through
Preschool programs began in the United States during the first quarter of the twentieth century with the first public preschool opening in 1925 in Chicago at Franklin School. After the 1970s the popularity of preschools increased as women were entering the workforce and people believed that children needed initial skills before they attended elementary school. (“All About Preschools, History…”2).
We need to continuously assess and evaluate our students so we can set appropriate goals for each student and individual instructions. Each child learns different, so as a teacher we need to have different styles of teaching for positive reinforcement.