7 Experiential Learning
Experiential learning involves engaging with concepts, problems, or processes through concrete, authentic tasks and experiences. It can occur in a variety of settings, including classrooms, laboratories, workshops, studios, workplaces, and in the community. Experiential learning is appropriate for all disciplines, student levels, and course formats, including online, blended, and traditional classroom settings.
While there are several frameworks for experiential learning, Kolb’s learning cycle is frequently cited. It includes the following components, although the sequence of events will differ based on context:
- Plan: Learners anticipate what will happen based on current knowledge.
- Concrete experiences: Learners do something.
- Reflection: Learners analyze what happened during the experience.
- Conceptualize: Learners make generalizations to help plan for future events.
Practice examples
Select the following links to read more about experiential learning taking place at educational institutions:
- Ryerson University: Best practices in experiential learning
- University of Tennessee Knoxville: The 12 types of experiential learning
- Yale University (Law): Clinical and experiential learning
Additional resources
- Eyler, J. (2009). The power of experiential education. Liberal education, 95(4), 24-31.
- Kolb, A. & Kolb, D. A. (2005). Learning styles and learning spaces: Enhancing experiential learning in higher education. Academy of Management Learning & Education, 4(2), p. 193–212.
- Olesova, L., & Miller, D. (2014, September). Designing and Implementing Experiential Learning Through Multimedia-Based Activities and Blogging in Asynchronous Online Courses. In Innovations in Teaching & Learning Conference Proceedings (Vol. 6).
