Publish at January 20 2020 Updated March 26 2025
There are many ways to learn. Obviously, the image most associated with learning is that of the class hanging on its teacher's every word. This applies fairly well to more theoretical knowledge. In practice, however, other approaches are obviously preferred.
Let's take the example of a young child who, out of curiosity, takes his little toy to an electrical socket in his house. He has no idea what to do next. He gets a shock. An unpleasant experience from which he'll remember: these holes hurt and are dangerous, I'm not touching them anymore.
This experiential method has been described by David Kolb in a diagram to address the issue of experiential learning. In this context, the learner experiences something and observes what happens. They reflect on what has just happened and develop a line of reasoning that they can then put into practice.
In the context of modern pedagogy, more and more children are interested in experiential learning. And with digital tools, it's becoming easier to organize and propose experiential situations. Because this pedagogy is mainly based on challenges and problems presented by the teacher and that the students have to solve. This changes the school dynamic to one that is more proactive and not based solely on theoretical and rote questions.
This approach is even more interesting with adults. Adults are more intolerant of the idea of sitting in a chair for hours on end. As this document from UNIL (University of Lausanne) reminds us, experiential learning can be applied to case studies, simulations and role-playing, digital portfolios, serious games and other projects. Moreover, universities are increasingly trying to set up partnerships with local businesses or communities, for example. A good opportunity for students to put theoretical concepts into practice.
For some, experiential learning is the pedagogy of the future. Why impose long lectures on young people when they can learn more by experimenting in the classroom or in the field? It's also true that this approach enhances skills that are already in demand in professional circles and that will become even more important in the years to come. Whether it's problem-solving, innovative approaches, self-learning and evaluation, collaboration or team communication, the global skills developed through experimentation are highly relevant to tomorrow's world.
On the other hand, we must be careful not to believe that this method applies to everything. In fact, some subjects are not as well suited to an experimental approach. Humanities such as philosophy, history or literature don't offer as many contexts for experimentation. That's not to say, however, that some teachers can't try to add more concrete aspects. Nevertheless, we shouldn't dismiss the theoretical side of learning either; after all, it can be a basis for reflection when it comes to evaluating a situation.
Illustration: April Bryant from Pixabay
References
"Experiential Learning." Digital Human Library. Last updated: August 22, 2019.
https://www.digitalhumanlibrary.org/lapprentissage-experientiel/?lang=fr
"Eager to Expand Your University Education Through Experiential Learning?" Concordia University. Last updated: February 12, 2019.
https://www.concordia.ca/cunews/main/stories/2019/02/12/eager-to-expand-your-university-education-through-experiential-learning.html
Formation Continue UNIL-EPFL. Last updated June 2019. https://www.formation-continue-unil-epfl.ch/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/enseigner-a-des-adultes_20141125.pdf
Gaskell, Adi. "Is Experiential Learning The Future Of Professional Education?" Forbes. Last updated November 7, 2019.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/adigaskell/2019/11/07/is-experiential-learning-the-future-of-professional-education/#3b76b6366862
"Le Cycle De Kolb, Ou La Pratique En Théorie." Sydology. Last updated: September 26, 2019.
http://sydologie.com/2019/09/le-cycle-de-kolb-ou-la-pratique-en-theorie/
Peterson, Deb. "Why Experiential Learning Is a Powerful Tool for Adults." ThoughtCo. Last updated May 9, 2019.
https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-experiential-learning-31324
Saint-Cricq, Jacques. "L'importance De L'apprentissage Par L'expérience - Être Parents." Being Parents. Last updated: November 14, 2019.
https://etreparents.com/l-importance-de-l-apprentissage-par-l-experience/
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