Experiential Learning

Carl Rogers

Carl Rogers believes that there are two types of learning:

Cognitive Learning, such as memorization of knowledge used when learning a multiplication table, which Rogers sees as meaningless
Experiential Learning, such as the hands on process of learning to repair a bike, which Rogers sees as significant

The key difference that he saw is that experiential learning addresses the needs of the learner, while cognitive learning does not. This is because memorization does not include as much personal involvement as a hands on lesson. Hands on learning is more easily self-initiated and evaluated which Rogers sees as important in learning. For example, it is easy to know if you mess up learning how to repair a bike because of physical constraints not allowing you to place something in the wrong place.

Rogers sees experiential learning as personal change and growth. He believes that anyone can learn, and that it is up to the teacher to allow people to learn. Teachers can allow their students to learn by doing 5 things:

Creating a positive climate for learning
Making the lesson and its purpose clear to the learners
Organizing learning recourses, then making those recourses available to leaners
Balancing intellectual and emotional components of learning,
Sharing feelings and thoughts with learners without taking control of the lesson

According to Rogers, learning is most effective when:

Students participate completely in the lesson, and have control over its direction and purpose.
it is mainly based off directly solving practical, social, personal or research problems
The lesson is designed so that the learners are participating in self-evaluation

The Experiential Learning Process

Principles

Significant learning takes place when the subject matter is relevant to the personal interests of the student
Learning which is threatening to the learner (e.g., new attitudes or perspectives) is more easily assimilated when external threats unrelated to the learning are at a minimum
Self-initiated learning is the most lasting and pervasive.

http://www.instructionaldesign.org/

"Experience is for me the highest authority. The touchstone or validity is my own experience No other person’s ideas and none of my own ideas are as authoritative as my experience. It is to experience that I must return again and again to discover a closer approximation to truth as it is in the process of becoming in me."