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ACTIVE LEARNING at GCC

Experiential Learning Project - Loyola University Chicago

Discover Loyola University Chicago's Center for Experiential Learning, where students can engage in academic internships, service-learning opportunities, undergraduate research projects, student employment, and more.

Toolwire - Experiential Learning (Learning by Doing)

Since 1998, Toolwire has had a singular focus: to be the world's leading innovator of Experiential Learning technologies.

These learning technologies are helping Higher Education institutions and Corporate Universities bridge the widening gap between what students learn … and what they DO.

The Culmore Literacy Project at George Mason University

Several George Mason University students participated in a field study during which they taught English to residents of Culmore, Va.

What is Experiential Learning?

For the things we have to learn before we can do them, we learn by doing them.” – Aristotle

Experiential Learning is a process by which the learner develops meaning and insight from engagement in direct experiences, i.e., “learning from experience” or “learn-by-doing”.

Experiential Learning includes a variety of activities with one common goal—to immerse you in hands-on learning outside the classroom where the learner’s experience is at the heart of the learning process.

David A. Kolb's Cycle of Experiential Learning Model (ELM)

David A. Kolb, an American educational theorist, helped to popularize the idea of experiential learning drawing heavily on the work of John Dewey, Kurt Lewin, and Jean Piaget. His work on experiential learning has contributed greatly to expanding the philosophy of experiential education.

According to Kolb, knowledge is 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;

      •   be able to reflect on the experience;

      •   use analytical skills to conceptualize the experience

      •   possess decision making and problem solving skills in order to use the           new ideas gained from the experience.

Experiential Learning Resources: Web Links

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