Examines philosophies, methods, and objectives shared by experiential education and feminist pedagogy. Focuses on the explicit analysis of power in the teacher-student relationship, the value of personal experience as a valid form of knowledge, and the goal of social justice. Recommends eight strategies to infuse a more feminist way of teaching…

The first part of the process model for experiential learning (EL) includes student characteristics and needs (role of experience and prior knowledge, different learning processes, active involvement, affiliation needs, life context) and conceptual foundations of EL (definitions of knowledge, elements of cognition, constructivist teaching,…

The first step in portfolio construction is building a folio--accumulation of all possible materials documenting a person's learning. Materials may include artifacts created by the learner and attestations from other people and organizations. (SK)

A portfolio is a carefully edited collection of artifacts and attestations selected from a folio. It serves as a documented history of learning and a structured record of accomplishment. It may be used for self-evaluation, for progress assessment in adult education, or as a vehicle for engaging learners in active reflection on experience. (SK)

As school systems face more budget cuts, elaborate field trips are being axed. A Virginia middle school experimented with an overnight lockout in the school gym. Since seventh graders were already grouped into four heterogeneous teams for a pilot instructional program, these groups were maintained during the "gymboree." Each student wore…

William Heard Kilpatrick, who pioneered project-based learning in the early 1900s, advocated basing schools on child-chosen projects engendering "purposeful activity." When children are allowed to choose what to explore, they become intrinsically motivated to work hard and strive for the highest quality. A fifth-grade teacher describes…

The crisis in American education is converging with an equally significant concern: the unchecked destruction of our natural environment. Through its Science Institutes for youth, the National Audubon Society is helping teachers foster appreciation for the natural world and produce the know-how to conserve it. Programs in Maryland, District of…

Presents ideas to help elementary teachers encourage their students to discover the excitement of doing descriptive, historical, or experimental research by seeking new information, testing hypotheses, gathering data, drawing conclusions, and using appropriate vocabulary. The article includes questions for children to investigate and words used by…

Butler County (Pennsylvania) Vo-Tech motivates better attendance and achievement through an incentive program with tangible rewards such as the Win-a-Car contest. A two-day self-esteem program involves action-oriented experiential learning activities designed to develop leadership, teamwork, self-esteem, and problem-solving skills. (SK)

Four groups of 24 undergraduates each received the following instruction on logic circuits: (1) lab, then readings; (2) computer simulation, then readings; (3) readings, then lab; and (4) readings, then simulation. Results showed that advance exposure to experiential activity (lab or simulation) aided the learning of unfamiliar technical material…

Describes a role-play exercise that offers an experiential means to teach counseling students about process consultation. Claims exercise provides an experiential framework for understanding the role of the consultant but also illustrates the complexity of interpersonal dynamics within an existing organization. (ABL)

Texas has opened the door to electronic instructional media, allowing science students new ways to explore the world. Hands-on activities make science concepts real. Videodiscs provide teachers with rich instructional material, displaying still shots, graphics, and film clips on monitors. Students can now explore extreme weather conditions,…

Describes the following steps to encourage the natural process of story-making within groups: finding an appropriate setting; sitting in a circle; involving group members through drawings; adding movement; combining individual's drawings to create a group story; rehearsing the story for presentation; finding a proper spot for the performances; and…

Kolb's Experiential Learning Model suggests that people differ in how they perceive and process information. Public agency training should incorporate knowledge of brain hemisphere dominance and learning style preferences in training design. (SK)

Describes a miniscience unit on frogs for elementary grades that teaches students about how frogs develop from tadpoles and how frogs need water during their entire life cycle. Students learn such skills as observation, collecting, and recording data. Provides addresses for ordering resources for teachers and students. (SM)