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Did you know how learning by doing can make your brain smarter?
With the advancement of educational theory, more and more experts have begun to realize the importance of experiential learning. This learning method emphasizes the acquisition of knowledge through practical experience rather than relying solely on traditional lecture-based learning. David A. Kolb’s experiential learning model emphasizes this and stresses the importance of reflection as it helps learners extract meaning and apply what they have experienced.
Experiential learning is the process of allowing students to absorb knowledge through direct experience, so learners are more likely to retain information.
Theoretical basis of experiential learning
Experiential learning originates from Aristotle's view that knowledge needs to be acquired through practice. It was not until the 1970s that Kolb further developed the theory and established an essentially coherent series of stages of learning, including concrete experience, reflective observation, abstract conceptualization, and active experimentation.
Kolb's Experiential Learning Model
Kolb's model suggests that concrete experience is the starting point of learning. Learners first enter a concrete experience phase, followed by reflection, and then further extract theory and finally apply it to future practice. This process is not only applicable in academic environments, but is also widely used in business internships and workplace training.
Learners must actively engage in experiences, be able to reflect, have analytical skills to make sense of experiences, and possess problem-solving abilities to effectively apply new knowledge.
Application of experiential learning in schools
Many internationally renowned schools, such as Hyper Island in Sweden, encourage students to participate in experiential learning through hands-on curriculum design. These designs are not limited to classroom teaching, but also include diversified activities such as cultural exchanges and nature adventures, aiming to help students learn in diverse situations and improve their understanding and application of knowledge.
The role of emotions and feelings in the learning process is considered to be an important factor in increasing the probability of experiential learning.
Challenges of implementing experiential learning
Although experiential learning can significantly contribute to learners' growth, its successful implementation requires meaningful guidance from teachers and assistants. Specifically, teachers should ask questions, guide students to reflect, and help them integrate their experiences with teaching content. Although this guidance process is challenging, a skilled instructor can help learners think more deeply and achieve faster learning results.
Experiential Learning in Business Education
As education systems continue to change, business and accounting professions are increasingly incorporating elements of experiential learning. Research shows that employers want students entering the workforce with practical, professional skills, which can be developed through experiential learning. Today's business courses often include simulated case studies, role-playing, and other interactive forms of training to help students gain in-depth insights into the specific applications of what they have learned in the workplace.
In business education, it is important to emphasize the application of different learning styles. This helps students develop well-rounded skills and be able to apply what they have learned in different contexts.
Multiple advantages of experiential learning
The benefits of experiential learning are numerous, the most prominent of which is that it effectively allows students to perform practical operations. Students learn in real situations and can better understand how to apply textbook knowledge to solve complex problems in practice. This way of learning not only improves students' academic achievement, but also strengthens their adaptability in future work.
Conclusion
Therefore, experiential learning is not only a teaching method, but also a window to the future for students. It not only promotes the absorption and understanding of knowledge, but also enhances students' practical application ability. Have you ever thought about how to use experiential learning more effectively to improve your abilities in your own learning process?
