Uses the example of a diploma in religious education course to explore what constitutes action learning. Concludes that, since students do not set their own agenda for growth and change and do not work on genuine problems resulting in real-world action, it is not action learning. However, experiential opportunities to challenge existing belief…

Presents an activity to help students learn the basics of effective communication. (YDS)

A teacher describes a class activity for teaching and illuminating the allegory of the cave in Plato's Republic, a parable that illustrates Plato's thoughts on enlightenment and the educative process. Students create the cave in the classroom, recreate the experience of its inhabitants, and discuss their own reactions to the experience. (SV)

Three fifth- and sixth-grade classrooms (147 students) were observed over 10 weeks. Science was taught either through (1) short, in-class projects; (2) an ongoing gardening project; or (3) teacher-oriented expository method. Participation in agriculturally oriented experiential activities, such as the projects, had a greater effect on science…

Discusses principles of learning and instructional theories and relates them to instruction in academic library user education. Highlights include a conceptual approach, Gagne's hierarchical knowledge and instructional design, Merrill's instructional theory, Reigeluth's elaboration theory, Kolb's experiential learning, Perry's cognitive…

An elementary education technology unit that involved converting decimal numbers into binary ones used an experiential method based on mass production. The children thus learned about place value, symbolic logic, practical math, and mass production, and at the same time such skills as following directions and listening attentively were reinforced.…

In promoting and operating experiential education programs, educators must ask: Who is accountable to whom? How can accountability be measured? and How can accountability information be used? The perspectives of internal and external stakeholders must inform program assessment. (SK)

Describes a classroom experience in which the curriculum, committed to helping students use language to criticize and change their social world, gained validity and vitality because of the allegedly racist social climate on campus. Argues against those, such as Susan Miller, who essentialize expressivist pedagogies that are grounded in…

Cites research to support the idea that field trips are more successful for students if they receive a process skills orientation as opposed to a cognitive orientation to the field trip experience. Provides details on planning and preparation for a trip to the zoo. (DDR)

A learning activity designed for an Association of Experiential Educators workshop asked participants to lead their group through a maze symbolizing the obstacles and frustration encountered when implementing experiential education programs. Includes goals, set-up, sample presentation, and suggestions for debriefing participants. (LP)

Apparel merchandising students participated in a cooperative research project in which they observed customer service techniques by posing as customers in retail stores. The project taught research processes, collaboration, and principles of customer service. (SK)

Most experiential educators acknowledge the centrality of the learner in experiences they facilitate, indicating a constructivist epistemological vision. Yet participant experiences are lost in research using an outcome-focused, objectivist epistemology. Employing a constructivist epistemology in research embraces a broader range of approaches,…

Describes in detail several activities designed for students studying dynamics. Incorporates life-related mathematical modeling and practical work. Uses computer technology as a tool. (Contains 15 references.) (ASK)

Describes a science experiment involving plant seeds where students observe the germination and plant growth. (YDS)

Explains how to apply Kolb's experiential learning cycle in finance education. Matches learning styles to learning activities in a matrix. Describes a test of the system with finance students at Massey University in New Zealand. (SK)