Experiential learning is learning by doing and reflecting on the experience. It is more than just hands-on learning. It involves engaging with real-world problems, challenges, and opportunities that require critical thinking, creativity, and collaboration. Experiential learning can help learners develop skills, knowledge, and attitudes essential for today\’s rapidly changing and complex world. It can also foster personal growth, self-awareness, and social responsibility. This article will explore the benefits of experiential learning, how it works, and why it matters for learners.
Fosters adaptability
One of the benefits of experiential learning is that it develops the learner\’s capacity to adapt to new situations. Experiential learning is a process of learning by doing. Learners engage in hands-on activities that require them to apply their knowledge and skills to real-world problems or scenarios. By doing so, learners gain valuable experience. This helps them adjust to changing circumstances, cope with uncertainty, and deal with ambiguity.
For example, a salesperson who participates in a role-play simulation of customer interaction can learn how to handle different types of customers and objections more effectively than by reading a manual or watching a video. Similarly, a nurse who practices CPR on a dummy can learn how to react quickly and calmly in an emergency more than by listening to a lecture or taking a test. Experiential learning thus fosters adaptability, an essential skill for success in today\’s dynamic and complex world.
Bridges the gap between theory and practice
The second benefit of experiential learning is that it bridges the gap between theory and practice. Experiential learning allows learners to apply their knowledge and skills to real-world situations rather than memorizing facts or concepts. This helps them to deepen their understanding, improve their performance, and develop their confidence.
For example, medical students can learn anatomy and physiology from textbooks and practice their skills on a simulated patient. Business students can learn about marketing and finance from lectures, create a business plan, or participate in a case competition. By engaging in experiential learning activities, learners can see the relevance and value of what they are learning.
It provides a safe space to fail.
Other benefits of experiential learning are that it provides your team with a safe space to fail. Failure is inevitable in any learning process. It can also be a source of fear, anxiety, and frustration for many learners. Experiential learning allows learners to experiment with different approaches, make mistakes and learn from them without facing harsh consequences or judgments. This way, they can develop resilience, confidence, and creativity in solving problems.
For example, a team of engineers can use simulation software to test different designs for a bridge before building it in reality. They can see how their choices affect the bridge\’s stability, cost, and efficiency and adjust accordingly without wasting time or resources. Similarly, a team of salespeople can practice their pitches and negotiations with role-playing scenarios and receive feedback from their peers. They can improve their communication skills, learn how to handle objections, and close deals more effectively without risking losing real customers or revenue.
Delivers a stellar ROI
The fourth point about the benefits of experiential learning is that it delivers a stellar ROI for the company. ROI stands for return on investment, which measures how much value a training program generates compared to its cost. Experiential learning is more effective than traditional classroom learning. This is because it engages learners emotionally and cognitively. This enhances their knowledge and skills and helps them apply what they learn to real-world situations. This leads to higher retention rates, improved performance, increased productivity, and reduced errors.
For example, one study found that experiential learning increased sales by 169% and generated $175,000 in net profit for a company that invested $65,000 in employee training. Another study found that experiential learning reduced turnover by 23% and saved $30 million in hiring costs for a large retailer. These examples show how experiential learning can significantly benefit both learners and organizations.
Allows for accurate assessment of skills
The fifth benefit of experiential learning is that it allows for an accurate assessment of skills. Experiential learning involves learning from experience or by doing, meaning that students can demonstrate mastery of the learning outcomes through authentic tasks and activities. Experiential assessments provide strategic developmental feedback that explains student shortcomings and provides actionable next steps for improvement. Post-assessment, students are given individual skill scores to improve accurate self-awareness and research-backed recommendations for development.
For example, a student participating in an experiential learning project may be assessed on their teamwork, communication, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills through a portfolio, a presentation, a reflection paper, or a peer evaluation. These assessments help students identify their strengths and areas for improvement and apply what they have learned to familiar and new contexts.
It provides the opportunity for creativity.
The sixth point about the benefits of experiential learning is that it provides an opportunity for creativity. Creativity generates novel and valuable ideas that can solve problems or enhance outcomes. Experiential learning fosters creativity by allowing learners to engage in four stages: abstract conceptualization, active experimentation, concrete experience, and reflective observation. These stages enable learners to use their experience as inspiration, test their ideas in practice, observe the results and feedback, and refine their understanding and approach.
For example, a student who learns about entrepreneurship through experiential learning can develop creative solutions for real-world challenges. This is done by applying theoretical concepts, experimenting with different strategies, experiencing successes and failures, and reflecting on their learning process. Experiential learning thus nurtures creativity and innovative thinking by facilitating a cycle of action and reflection that enhances learners\’ cognitive flexibility.
Gives meaning and relevance to skills
The seventh benefit of experiential learning is that it gives meaning and relevance to the skills and knowledge being taught. Experiential learning allows learners to apply what they learn to real-world situations, which helps them see the value and purpose of their education.
For example, a medical student who practices CPR on a dummy can understand how their skills can save lives in an emergency. A business student who participates in a simulation can appreciate how their decisions can affect the performance and profitability of a company. By making learning more meaningful and relevant, experiential learning also increases learner motivation, engagement, and retention.
Encourages reflection and feedback
Another point on the benefits of experiential learning is that it encourages reflection and feedback on the learning process. Reflection is an integral component of experiential learning theory, as it allows learners to connect concrete experiences and abstract concepts and evaluate their strengths and weaknesses. Feedback from peers, instructors, or self-assessments provides learners instant information on what to keep doing, what to tweak and repeat, or what to change. By reflecting on their experiences and receiving feedback, learners can improve their skills, knowledge, and attitudes.
For example, a student who participates in an internship can reflect on how they applied their classroom knowledge to real-world situations, how they handled challenges and opportunities, and what they learned from their supervisor and colleagues. They can also receive feedback from their supervisor on their performance and areas for improvement. This can help them identify their learning outcomes and develop reflective skills.
Increases content knowledge and skills.
The ninth benefit of experiential learning is that it increases content knowledge and skills. Content knowledge refers to the factual information and concepts students learn in a specific subject area. Skills refer to the abilities and competencies that students develop through practice and application. Experiential learning enhances content knowledge and skills. This is achieved by providing students with direct experience and focused reflection on deepening their understanding. This improves their performance and clarifies their values.
For example, a student who participates in an internship at a hospital can learn about medical terminology, procedures, and ethics (content knowledge) and communication, teamwork, and problem-solving skills (skills). A student who conducts undergraduate research can learn about scientific methods, theories, and findings (content knowledge) as well as data analysis, critical thinking, and presentation skills (skills). Experiential learning is a powerful and effective way of learning because it engages students in active and meaningful ways that foster their cognitive, affective, and psychomotor development.
Improves thinking skills and complexity of understanding
Experiential learning improves higher-order thinking skills and the complexity of understanding. Higher-order thinking skills are thought processes that help you connect information meaningfully and use those connections to solve problems. These thought processes are innovative in that they apply knowledge in new, creative ways. Experiential learning fosters higher-order thinking skills. This is attained by engaging students in authentic, real-world situations that require them to analyze increasingly complex problems.
For example, a student participating in a service-learning project may have to use critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and creativity skills to address a community issue. A student who conducts a research project may have to use inquiry, synthesis, evaluation, and reflection skills to generate new knowledge. According to a study by Experience Learning at the University of Tennessee Knoxville, experiential learning significantly increases students\’ critical thinking abilities. Therefore, experiential learning can enhance students\’ higher-order thinking skills and complexity of understanding by providing meaningful and challenging opportunities to apply their knowledge in novel contexts.
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Conclusion
Experiential learning is a powerful way to acquire new knowledge and skills through direct experience and reflection. It can help you to increase your confidence, maturity, self-management, problem-solving, critical thinking, research, communication, teamwork, and citizenship skills. It can also help you to transition to the workforce and earn income while learning. Experiential learning can take many forms, such as internships, service learning, simulations, field trips, and projects. David A. Kolb says, \”There are two goals in the experiential learning process. One is to learn the specifics of a particular subject, and the other is to learn about one\’s learning process.\” If you want to enhance your personal and professional development, we encourage you to explore more about experiential learning strategies and find opportunities that suit your interests and goals.