Experiential Learning: Benefits of Learning by Doing

“For the things we have to learn before we can do them, we learn by doing them.”

― Aristotle, The Nicomachean Ethics

Experiential Learning is the process of learning by doing. By engaging students in hands-on experiences and reflection, they are better able to connect theories and knowledge learned in the classroom to real-world situations.

We start to walk and talk by actually doing it and not by learning a book about how to walk or talk. Learning for kids should also be by experiencing, practicing and refining the techniques. Experiential Learning is not a passive way of learning, rather, it involves active participation and complete engagement in the process.

Indian Education system is 1000s of years old. Ages ago, education was given by sages and intellectual people with real life learning and sharpening of skills by practice. Young kids learnt skills like farming, carpentry, pottery, etc. with their parents or elders. The Industrial Revolution (during English rule) made people to learn the needed skills for working in the factories. After independence, Indian education system has been limited to prepare skilled workers to work in factories and offices. Population has been increasing and there are more skilled workers in India than number of jobs. Already established industries laid down a set of rules, procedures and manuals, which percolated into the Indian education system to create people who could fit into that system.

The world and India is changing rapidly in recent times, and young generations are becoming free thinkers. They do not want to follow already set rules, procedures or jobs. They are keen to discover new pathways. Whether skilled or not, everyone is trying to break the wall that has been long set. In this process of learning, failing and re-learning, whoever gets up to run again, whoever fails fast and learns faster, whoever shows more resilience is making a difference in society and life. Because of such people, India is making its presence felt on the world stage in multiple sectors. This is the new reality in which kids will grow up in, and it is our duty to guide and prepare them well.

Time has come a full circle to again start learning by practice and in the context of real-world application. The society will have more and more free thinkers, who would believe in change. Our education system should be prepared for this new generation. Many countries have already started changing their educational system, curriculum and teaching methods, with the intent to make the difference early. We hope a fast and steady implementation of our new education policy will help India to achieve these goals with success.

This also brings back into the discussion the great importance of Experiential Learning.

#1 - Accelerated Learning

Any activity which kids do, they learn faster and the concept becomes more clear in mind. Let's take an example of teaching Profit & Loss.

Theoretical Learning - Just a subtraction statement. Profit = Selling Price - Cost Price. Just remembering the formula might get confusing over time (multiple such formulae to remember and multiple problem variations).

Experiential Learning - You can give them money and ask them to buy and sell something. Let's say, they buy for Rs.100 and sell it for Rs.150. Naturally, they become sad (however small they are). However, if they sell it for Rs.50, they make a profit. With that money, if they get to buy a toffee or a toy, they become happy and also understand the emotions related to profit and loss. This experience puts the child on the pathway of concept clarity.

#2 - Change in Mindset

Experiential Learning lets students perform their task on their own, which creates multiple solutions to one problem. Students get more creative when they face challenges in the process. They apply their own brains (use of creative and critical thinking) to find solution and not just follow an already defined set of instructions to solve the problem. Thus, children get to know and discover their own uniqueness. The mindset of good or bad student has no relevance here. The learning during this process is very personal and intuitive, enabling everyone to focus on developing a growth mindset as against the (traditional) fixed mindset.

#3 - Student Centric

Current education system is mainly focused on completion of school curriculum and tests based on the same. Whoever runs at that pace are labelled as good students. The rest, unfortunately, don't find a good consideration. This thought has to change, as everyone learns, at their own pace, and should be considered as improving in the process. Experiential Learning removes this idea of segregation and gives a platform to everyone to learn in their own way and at their own pace.

#4 - Bridges Gap between Theory and Practical

Experiential Learning, by definition, is learning using a practical approach. In standard methods of learning, the formulae and concepts are imposed on kids to remember, apply and practice. They do not get any idea how that formula is derived and what its significance in real life is. Kids should define the theory by doing practical and by relating to real-life situations. Thus, Experiential Learning promotes theory and practical to go hand-in-hand.

#5 - Increased Teamwork and Collaboration

Being an effective team player is a very important aspect for success in today’s world. When students do a project together, they have to think like a team, work on each others' weakness and use each others' strengths to showcase the results as a team. Experiential Learning promotes this behavior in students through collaborative project work, peer discussions and team presentations.

#6 - Learning beyond Classroom

Learning beyond the classroom takes a child out of the educational “closet” and provides exposure to the “real” world. Students have been found to better grasp ideas and concepts that are presented to them directly in such contexts. They are able to observe, think critically and experiment. As active learners, even after their student life, they will carry forward this culture of learning into their professional and daily lives.

With hands-on learning, students widen their intellectual capabilities and capacity, enabling them to apply what they learn. Such learning environments foster innovative thinking and new solutions for our world.

At Sparkyo, Experiential Learning is at the core of everything we teach. We have devised the concepts and formulae as activities and games, which enables every student to not only enjoy what they learn, but also learn it for their life. At Sparkyo, we are driven by the purpose to create a positive impact on every child.

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