Benefits of Experiential Learning - Essay Example

Benefits of experiential learning Learning through experience is known as experiential learning. People learn many things by performing different functions. Experiential learning are very practical than theoretical learning. This type of learning experience plays a vital role in expanding the knowledge of the learners. It is a learning process through reflection. Experiential learning is very much different from classroom learning. Experiential learning has a similarity with adventure learning, action learning, free choice learning, service learning and co-operative learning. People learn many important things by doing experiments. This is a major part of experiential learning. This type of learning supports the learners in applying their knowledge in practical field. It facilitates the learners in dealing with several problems. Laboratory, studio and classroom act as a setting for experiential learning. This essay will highlight the importance of experimental learning in studying rural community in details. Benefits of experiential learning Experiential learning has several benefits which influence the learners to practice this type of learning system for gathering knowledge about different subjects and topics. The main benefits of experiential learning are as follows: This learning process is very much interesting which influences the learners to actively participate in the learning process. By this way the learners can gather information about rural community and will be able to know different things which will be beneficial for them. It helps the students to focus on the things which are important to them. As a result their concentration level will increase. Experiential learning provides opportunities to the learners in applying their theoretical knowledge into practical situation occurring in the rural community. By this process the students will get to know the importance and value of the theoretical knowledge and its relevance in real world. They will also have the knowledge about the processes they need to follow for applying their bookish knowledge in real life. As a result their academic performance will be improved by this educational system (Knapp & Stubblefield, 2000). Communication skills of the students are enhanced by this type of learning process. For learning different things from real world or situations, the learners need to have good communication skills for communicating their ideas to other. This is a vital thing for experiential learning. Goods communication knowledge will also help the student in understanding languages of other people which is required in this type of learning. By having proper understanding of different language, the students will be able to able to collect information from various sources or real life situations. Experiential learning influences the learners to work with different communities. This process benefits them by improving their attitude and behavior towards different people. By working with community and different people, the students get a clear understanding about diversity. The tolerance level of the students is also increased by experiential learning (Ambrose, Bridges, DiPietro, Lovett & Norman, 2010). Networking opportunities are developed by experiential learning. By conducting practical studies and experiments the students are able to interact with many people. It helps them to build strong networking with different individuals which benefits them in their future. Experiential learning opposed to traditional education Experiential learning is very much different from the learning gathered from traditional education system and traditional university lectures. Traditional educational system provides knowledge to the learners through class room lectures. Books are the major source of information in this education system. Various things are learned in traditional educational system by doing assignments and projects on different topics and subjects. In traditional university lectures the professors provide knowledge to the students from different books, journals etc. With the help of this knowledge the professors explain different theories to the students which help them to understand about different things they need to consider and know for apply their knowledge in practical situation. In traditional educational system the main focus remains on the secondary knowledge which is derived from different sources. With the help of this knowledge the learners try to improve their skills and capabilities (Strage, 2000). They gather information by studying various things. Experiential learning is a modern form of traditional learning. For studying rural community in details the experiential learners work with the rural people, interact with them directly. By this process the learners are able to have accurate knowledge about the culture, traditions and language of the rural people. By conducting different experiments and by doing practical surveys the experiential learners understand the cultural and traditional norms of the people in a better way which is not possible through traditional way of learning. The university lectures only highlights the things which are told earlier by the different authors or researchers. In the changing environment the culture and tradition of rural people are changing a lot. Therefore experiential learning will provide correct information about the rural communities. It will consider the recent changes which have taken place in the rural community. Outdoor education and service learning facilitates the learners in applying their bookish knowledge in real life situations. The views and the opinions of the people living in rural community can be understood in a better way through experiential learning (LinnHoward and Miller, 2004). Interacting with them effectively will help the learners in acquiring many information regarding the language and knowledge of rural community. Differences of experiential and classroom learning Experiential learning is very much different from classroom learning. Experiential learning mainly takes place outside the classroom. In this type of learning, the learners apply their theoretical and bookish knowledge in real life situations. In classroom learning the information of rural community are proved on the basis of different books. Sometimes the books are not sufficient to provide correct and accurate information regarding the culture, tradition and the language of rural people. The books used in the classroom and the lectures given their only describe the views and opinions of the authors or the researchers regarding rural community. Therefore the information given in the classroom comes from limited sources. In classroom learning the students have to believe the things which are taught to them. In classroom they do not get the opportunities to gather knowledge from practical field (Moore, 2010). On the other hand in experiential learning, when the students work closely with a rural community they will have a proper knowledge about the community from the grass root level. They will understand the community in a better way. By staying within the community and communicating effectively with them the learners of will gather a detailed knowledge about the traditions practiced in the community. In experiential learning, the students will conduct different experiments and learn many things from their actions or the things happening in the real world. This knowledge helps them to understand more about the culture and behavior of the people living in the rural community. Traditional classroom learning sometimes seems boring to the student in understanding various things of the rural community (Wurdinger & Carlson, 2010). But experiential learning makes the learning process very interesting for the students and influences them in gathering more knowledge about rural community. In this way experiential learning differs from classroom learning. Conclusion Experiential learning and traditional learning system are highlighted in this essay. There are some basic differences between these two types of learning process which influence the learners in selecting any of this learning process for gathering knowledge. Experiential learning process is very much practical. The learners receive knowledge by performing different functions in real situations. The essay focused that classroom learning only provides theoretical knowledge to the students which sometimes is not sufficient for them for dealing practical situations. This essay also highlighted that through experiential learning, the student are able to understand the culture, tradition and language of a rural community in a better way. References Ambrose, S. A., Bridges, M. W., DiPietro, M., Lovett, M. C. & Norman, M. K. (2010). How learning works: 7 research-based principles for smart teaching. San Francisco: Jossey- Bass. Knapp, J.L. & Stubblefield, P. (2000). Changing students’ perceptions of aging: the impact of an intergenerational service learning course. Educational Gerontology, 26 (7), pp. 611-621. Linn, P. L., Howard, A., and Miller, E. (2004). The handbook for research in cooperative education and internships. NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. Moore, D. T. (2010). Forms and issues in experiential learning. In D. M. Qualters (Ed.) New Directions for Teaching and Learning. New York City: Wiley. Strage, A. A. (2000). Service-learning: Enhancing student learning outcomes in a college-level lecture course. Michigan Journal of Community Service Learning, 7(1), pp. 5-13 Wurdinger, D. D. & Carlson, J. A. (2010). Teaching for experiential learning: Five approaches that work. New York: Rowman & Littlefield Education. Read More