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Helpful Tips for Experience

The Experience component of Experiential Learning focuses on what the student does in these opportunities. The two elements of Experience are:

Authenticity

The experience must have a real-world context and/or be useful and meaningful in an applied setting or situation. This means that it should be designed in concert with those who will be affected by or use it, or in response to a real situation.

Reflection

Reflection is the element that transforms a simple experience into a learning experience. For knowledge to be discovered and internalized the learner must test assumptions and hypotheses about the outcomes of decisions and actions taken, then weigh the outcomes against past learning and future implications. This reflective process is integral to all phases of experiential learning, from identifying intention and choosing the experience to considering preconceptions and observing how they change as the experience unfolds. Reflection is also an essential tool for adjusting the experience and measuring outcomes.

Adopted from the Society for Experiential Education Eight Principles of Good Practice for All Experiential Learning Activities.
Reflection is often neglected when it comes to Experiential Learning, yet is a crucial ingredient. Reflection provides students the opportunity to think about their learning, make meaning of their experience, and practice metacognition. Most students have never engaged in reflection so providing them with a template and opportunities to practice will enhance their ability. Below are some suggested reflection models you can share with students and incorporate into your assignments and practices:
Learn more about the two other criteria for Experiential Learning: