Blog Post #2

Experiential Learning: 

Overview

I think experiential learning is one of the most beneficial approaches to learning inside and outside of the classroom. The experiential approach to learning is when students take part in hands-on activities and reflection in order to apply and understand knowledge (Kent State University). I think experiential learning is engaging because students can make real-world, meaningful connections with the content, which ultimately increases learning and motivation. 

Experiential learning reminds me of what I have learned about John Dewey in other courses and through my own research. Dewey was a 19th/20th century American philosopher, educational reformer, and psychologist, who encouraged experiential learning and learning by doing. He advocated that children should be fully trusted to learn and grow and be co-contributors in the classroom (Harvey, 2024). I think this increases inquiry, critical thinking, democratic participation, collaboration, discovery, social responsibility, and self-reflection.

Does this approach align with our chosen topic?

I do not think this instructional approach aligns with our topic and learning activities as well as other learning approaches. However, our Blueprint could always be adapted to embed experiential learning. Our topic is learning about the factors that contribute to poverty in Canada, specifically health and cost of living, and identifying some possible solutions. In our Instructional Learning Resource (ILR), we plan to provide content and resources for the learner to engage with (information, articles, graphs, and interactive videos), and they will engage in multiple activities to assess their understanding (multiple choice quizzes, discussion post, and peer feedback opportunities). Learners will also be encouraged to challenge their assumptions when learning about poverty in Canada. 

I was interested to read in Chapter 21 (‘Using the First Principles of Instruction to Make Instruction Effective, Efficient, and Engaging’) of Foundations of learning and Instructional Design Technology that, along with tell-ask instruction, instructional approaches can be enhanced by identifying show and do learning events (Merrill).With these additions to instruction, students can make connections to their own experiences and memories and apply the material to real-life situations to deepen their understanding. Thus, the lessons are more meaningful and engaging (Merrill), which I think is related to experiential learning. Therefore, in our ILR we could “Do-Identify” (Merrill) ways in which we can understand some possible solutions to poverty. We could build a sense of community in the learning environment and share ways in which one can contribute or feel supported by their community. I think you would have to apply a lens of intersectionality, and show empathy and compassion with this approach to instruction for our topic. I would never want to do this in an insensitive way, but we could possibly provide information about activities to learn more about poverty and ways to help fight poverty in one’s local community (links to resources and places to volunteer, information about where and how to participate in food banks/donating locally, information about where and what fundraisers one could attend, etc.).

Let me know if you can think of any other ways that you could use the experiential learning approach to learn about the factors that lead to poverty in B.C. Overall, I think that a different instructional approach would better suit our topic, as it is quite complex.  

References

Harvey, L. (2024, Feb. 25). Are you dewey [Audio podcast]. Historical & Philosophical Foundations of Canadian Education. https://bright.uvic.ca/d2l/le/content/298671/viewContent/2558505/View

Kent State University. (n.d.) What is experiential learning and why is it important? Community Engaged Learning. https://www.kent.edu/community/what-experiential-learning-and-why-it-important#:~:text=Experiential%20Learning%20is%20the%20process,classroom%20to%20real%2Dworld%20situations. 

Merrill, D.M. (n.d.). Using the First Principles of Instruction to Make Instruction  Effective, Efficient, and Engaging. Foundations of Learning and Instructional Technology Design. https://edtechbooks.org/lidtfoundations/using_the_first_principles_of_instruction  

My Comments: