Experiential learning, or learning by doing, is a highly acclaimed method of study. Research shows it is very effective in helping students understand complex lessons. School teachers of all grades boost academic outcomes when they incorporate it into their lessons.
Traditional learning is more passive - the teacher lectures students from the front of the class while they sit, listen, and watch. In this model of learning, students only use their ears and eyes to take in information, hence their learning is purely focused on theory.
With experiential learning, students not only take in the theory part of lessons, they also get an opportunity to put their learning into action. For example, in a math class, students learn theory and then apply what they have learned to solve problems. In a chemistry class, students participate in lab experiments while in a physics class, they build electric circuits. In an English class, they write essays or stories, while in a history class, they recreate historical documents. Experiential learning is a more practical form of study.
There are many benefits to this hands-on, explorative form of study, the major one being enhanced understanding. Active learning involves more than one or two sensory organs - it activates broader sections of the brain for alertness and improved comprehension. And research proves this.
A 2015 study by professors from the University of Chicago had two groups of students in a physics classroom learn about angular momentum. This is the concept explaining why bicycles are more stable when they are moving than when stationary. The first group learned the concept by actively experimenting with the wheels of a bicycle, while the second group simply watched.
Afterward, both groups took a test and then underwent an MRI scan. Those who participated in the experiment did better on the test than those who just watched. Furthermore, their MRI scans showed increased activation in the sensory and motor segments of the brain when they thought of the science concepts they had just learned.
Another reason why students subjected to experiential teaching methods gain a better understanding is because they leverage the power of repetition. Repetition is a powerful tool in learning. This is why kindergarten teachers have students sing rhymes over and over until they memorize them. With higher grade students, experiential learning forces them through a learning cycle of applying effort, making a mistake, reflecting, and refining. This repetitive process of action and discovery personalizes learning, making it more memorable.
There are additional benefits to experiential learning beyond advanced comprehension. These include sharpened critical thinking, added opportunities to practice creativity, and increased motivation to learn, since students can see the real-world applications of classroom theory. Another benefit is strengthened communication skills, since many experiments involve students working together to solve problems. Such interactions builds students’ emotional intelligence, teamwork skills, and confidence.
Science teachers who want to make their classes more hands-on can try a number of approaches. For example, they can have their students do small projects relating to science topics using classroom or school yard resources. Many physics concepts like gravity and force can be taught through relatively simple class activities. Even in biology, teachers can involve students in planting and gardening to teach concepts like photosynthesis and plant life cycles.
Alternatively, teachers can use videos to show these concepts in action. When doing so, they should encourage students to take notes on their observations and even ask them questions that invite their curiosity. Afterward, teachers can use frequent low-stake quizzes to reinforce classroom studies. These quizzes are not meant to assess students, but rather give them opportunities to recall classroom content and apply it to answer questions.
It is worth noting that experiential learning does have its challenges. For one, teachers have to play a more active role in guiding students as they experiment or undertake projects. This may require greater patience, especially with students who are not among the quickest to grasp a new concept.
