Experiential education (EE) is an approach to learning that bridges theory and practice. Students engage in concrete applied experiences and then reflect on their experiences using the theoretical knowledge they have learned.
What is experiential education?
As a course director, it is likely that you are already engaging your students in some type of experiential education (EE), whether that is through using simulations in the classroom, inviting in a guest lecturer, or engaging students in a community initiative. The pan-university EE Common Language document (2017) [PDF] provides a common language for describing the variety of EE strategies taking place at York University, and it details three main areas of focus.
Quick Links
- EE for Remote/Online Teaching
- Funding to Support EE
- Reflection in EE
- Teaching Commons
- EE Guide for Students
- FAQ
- Appreciation for Guest Speakers and Community Partners
Overview of Experiential Education opportunities at York University.
Where can I find resources and support?
How and why should I engage students in experiential education?
Benefits for Course Directors
EE offers a number of benefits for course directors that can potentially enhance teaching, learning, research and service:
- EE provides an opportunity for connecting teaching, service and research [ix]
- Certain forms of EE foster the establishment of community contacts that may be useful for future research collaborations [viii]
- Student projects may generate ideas for future research projects
- EE can be a means for integrating current issues in the course thereby creating more interest on the part of the student
- EE ensures that students have a deeper understanding of key course concepts
- EE engages students as active learners, fostering a higher degree of participation and relevant student contributions to class discussion
Benefits for Students
Experiential education can help students develop and strengthen skills and attributes related to academic performance, civic engagement, and employability.
Academic performance:
- Understanding of concepts
- Oral and written expression
- Academic performance
Civic engagement:
- Multicultural competence
- Interpersonal skills
- Improved attitudes toward social responsibility
Employability:
- Knowledge exchange and mobilization
- Professional networking opportunities
- More defined career plans
Read more about how EE helps develop the core competencies valued by employers.
Literature Review
This presentation and literature review prepared for the Department of Psychology outlines some of the findings related to the impact of Experiential Education.
Presentation on some of the benefits of EE (PDF)
Annotated bibliography on the benefits of EE (PDF)
Summary of annotated bibliography on the benefits of EE (PDF)
Kolb’s Experiential Learning Cycle
Simply giving students a concrete experience is not enough to foster critical thinking. An experience alone may not deliver the appropriate lesson unless it is framed and debriefed appropriately. David Kolb (1984) believed that “learning is a process whereby knowledge is created through the transformation of experience” (p. 38). For Kolb, fostering critical thinking among students around a concrete experience requires appropriate framing and debriefing. His cyclical conceptualization of the Learning Cycle captures this philosophy and consists of four stages. One may begin at any stage, but then must follow in sequence (See Figure below). The phases are:
- concrete experience ( “DO”)
- reflective observation (“OBSERVE”)
- abstract conceptualization (“THINK”)
- knowledge transfer or active experimentation (“PLAN”)
While the cycle is a simplified description of how students learn, it also serves as a course planning tool. In a typical course, a student can go through the cycle once or multiple times, depending on their level of engagement and the intentions of the instructor. It is through the intentional sequencing of activities in line with Kolb’s Cycle that instructors can achieve the dual outcome of teaching course material and fostering critical thinking. Instructors teaching in this manner will also find that, through instructing their students, they too come to realizations and new understandings about their work and subject matter.
Structured reflection is integral to all EE strategies, and it can be defined as any planned activity or exercise that requires students to refer back and critically examine the concrete experience in light of existing theory and/or what is being covered in the course. For example, following a concrete experience, students may have to: explain why certain events occurred; justify the necessity of certain procedures; consider the experience from multiple perspectives; or challenge their assumptions or beliefs. The specific reflection activity or exercise will depend upon the intended learning outcome(s) for the students.
You can learn more about reflection, its benefits, and see examples of reflection activities and assignments.
Community partnerships are an essential component of many EE strategies, and like any relationship, they are built on time, trust, and experience. Therefore, where possible, the goal should be to foster an ongoing, reciprocal partnership. A long-term collaboration will yield tremendous results, as each year, you and your partner are able to improve on the student experience.
When establishing a relationship with a community organization, several key factors must be taken into account. These include:
- Your pre-existing relationship with the organization
- The productive overlap between course content and the work the students will do for the organization
- The location of the organization or work site
- The relevant legal procedures required when working with the organization
For help in connecting with a community organization and designing a project, you are encouraged to contact the Experiential Education Coordinator. Other ways to connect with prospective community partners are:
- Contacting your existing networks
- Attending local fairs, conferences, and other public events related to the field/course theme
- Finding community organizations of interest through websites, like Volunteer Toronto, and directories, like Toronto 211