Learning Blog: Pedagogy of Experiential Education

The intention of this page is to condense and synthesize my learning of the history of experiential educational theory. Using Experiential Learning (2002, London: Kogan Page) by Colin Beard and John Wilson. I can journal important passages and responses to apply to later projects.

Learning Theories
From Experiential Learning

Action learning/research - Theory and proactice inform each other as the individual applies theories in the environment. - J Locke, J Dewey, R Revans, K Lewin, D Kolb
Cognitivist - A person perceives stimuli and consciously interprets them in relation to his or her own mental frameworks. - J Bruner, J Dewey, K Lewin, G Kelly
Cognitive development -Children pass through a number of stages of cognitive development. - J Bruner, J Piaget, L Vygotsky
Conditioning (classical) - The greater the frequency and the more recent of a stimulus, the stronger the bond between stimulus and response. - J Pavlov, J B Watson
Conditioning (reinforcment) - Thorndike built on Watson's work but emphasized that after the response there was a "Satisfier" or "Annoyer", thus S-R-S or S-R-A. The former encouraged and the latter discouraged behavior. - E L Thorndike
Conditioning (operant) - Skinner argued that although a stimulus produced some automatic responses (Respondent Behavior), operant behavior in response to stimuli is dependent to some extent on the individual or organism. - B F Skinner
Gestalt - Wertheimer used the term "gestalt" to indicate pattern or configuration. He maintained that we see the whole picture, eg the relationship of notes in music or the relationship between a figure and background in a picture. - W Kohlr, M Wertheimer
Human Development and Self-Actualization - People develop at varied rates and need to be supported and encouraged. - F Froebel, A H Maslow, M Montessori, J J Rousseau
Humanist - The belief that knowledge resides within the mind of the individual and that the role of the teacher is to question the student carefully and thereby draw out this knowledge. - Aristotle, Plato, Socrates, C Rodgers
Hereditary - Focus on our ability to change, and how our genes influence our development. - C Darwin, F Fraser, R Herrnstein
Neuroscience -Understanding how the brain's cells respond to stimuli. - R Carter, S Pinker
Theistic - Mental Discipline is necessary to train the mind towards good rather than allowing evil to develop. - St. Augustine, J Calvin

Carl Rodgers

Known as one of the founders of Experiential Learning Theory. Rodgers, know as a Humanist, held experiential learning consist of several principals. Rodgers explained the principals in Freedom to Learn:

Principles:

1. Significant learning takes place when the subject matter is relevant to the personal interests of the student

2. Learning which is threatening to the self (e.g., new attitudes or perspectives) are more easily assimilated when external threats are at a minimum

3. Learning proceeds faster when the threat to the self is low

4. Self-initiated learning is the most lasting and pervasive.

Rogers, C.R. (1969). Freedom to Learn. Columbus, OH: Merrill.

John Dewey

As early as 1938, Dewey confronted the need for experience based learning facilitation within our classrooms. In Experience in Education, John Dewey laid the foundation for later theorists like Kolb, Lewin, and others.