WHAT'S EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING

What is experiential learning?

Experiential learning is learning through reflection on doing, which is often contrasted with roteor didactic learning. Experiential learning focuses on the learning process for the individual. Experiential learning requires no teacher and relates solely to the meaning making process of the individual's direct experience. 

However, though the gaining
of knowledge is an inherent process thatoccurs naturally, for a genuine learning experience to occur, there must exist certain elements. 


According to David A. Kolb, an American educational theorist, knowledge is continuously gained through both personal and environmental experiences. He states that in order to gain genuine knowledge from an experience, certain abilities are required:

• the learner must be willing to be actively involved in the experience;

• the learner must be able to reflect on the experience;

• the learner must possess and use analytical skills to conceptualize
the experience; and

• The learner must possess decision making and problem solving skills
in order to use the newideas gained from the experience.