Foundations of Experiential Education and Practice

24 July 2011

Laurie FrankGOAL Consulting

Agenda1. Introduction

- Ground Rules- Introductory Activities

2. Why Experiential?- Frameworks- Research

3. What?: Experiential Learning- Your learning experience- Experimentation, Exploration, Example,

Empathy

Agenda4. What? : Experiential Education

- The EE Umbrella- Experiential Learning Model

5. How…?- Safe Environment/Risk Taking- Learner vs. Teacher Centered- Pedagogy and Andragogy

6. Now What?- Connecting to your experience and situation

“Education – true education is not a process of pouring in from without, but of calling forth what is within. It’s not a process of memorization or socialization or instillation, it’s a process of nurturing, of allowing, of evoking. It’s a process of bringing forth the person one is meant to be.”

~ Jeff White

Ground Rules

• Assume Good Intentions

• Ouch/Oops

• Make the experience work

• Right to Pass

• Others?

Why Experiential?

Maslow’s Hierarchy

of Needs

Retrieved from: http://two.not2.org/psychosynthesis/articles/maslow.gif

HELPS MEET BASIC NEEDS

FREES THE BRAIN FOR LEARNING

Caine and Caine refer to “relaxed alertness” as when the brain is at its best for learning.

Brain-Compatible ElementsFor Learning

• Absence of threat• Meaningful content• Choices• Adequate time• Enriched environment• Collaboration• Immediate feedback• Mastery (application)From ITI: The Model, Integrated Thematic Instruction, by Susan Kovalik, 1994

Supports Social and Emotional Learning

See www.CASEL.org

What is EXPERIENTIAL EDUCATION?

Experimented Explored Learned from someone else’s example Put yourself in the place of someone or something

(empathy) It was a process Safe place to take risks It was challenging or a “stretch” Reflected or thought about what you were learning Related to your life experiences and/or interests You were ready to learn it Knew it was Important to learn

• Happens all the time• Is a natural way to learn

• Experimentation• Exploration• Example• Empathy

EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING…

• Process-based• Safe environment that supports risk taking• Student/learner centered• Experiential Learning Model

Commonalities

• Harnesses the natural power of EL• Is a formal way to support learning

•Shared philosophy, different methodologies

EXPERIENTIAL EDUCATION

Pedagogy: the art and science of educating children

Teachers direct learning: What, how, and when

Andragogy: the art and science of helping adults learn. Also refers to learner-focused education for people of all ages.

Teachers facilitate learning: 5 Issues

Wilderness Education

Adventure Based Counseling

Inquiry

Service LearningArt, Play, Music, Drama Therapies

SimulationsExperience Based

Training and Development

Environmental Education

Internships

Expeditionary Learning

Adventure/Challenge Education

Experiential Education

And more…

What?

So What?

Now What?

HOW?

"Of all the things that count, nothing is as important as the people in the process. Teaching machines, microcomputers, programmed materials, distance learning, communication highways, and other technological advances may play an important role in education, but they cannot substitute for human relationships. Teaching is a way of being with people. This 'being-with' process has a great impact on students' ideas about themselves and their abilities."

Purkey and Novak, Inviting School Success

A Safe Place to Learn

ComfortZone

Panic Zone

Growth Zone

BLUE

GOLDGREEN

ORANGE

RELATIONSHIPS

WHY?

INFORMATION

WHAT?

MODELS

HOW?

TRIAL & ERROR

WHAT IF?

LEARNING STYLES

FEELING

THINKING

REFLECTINGDOING

BLUE

GOLDGREEN

ORANGE

FEELING

THINKING

REFLECTINGDOING

LSFrank@mac.com

www.goalconsulting.org