The Experiential Learning Model 1

Understand the Experiential Learning Model. 2

Experiential Learning Model Experience Share Process Generalize Apply Why would it be useful to have this dialog with youth? If you know how youth are thinking, feeling, and understanding an activity, what can you do with that information? How will talking about an activity affect the way youth think about the experience? How do you think young people will feel about sharing their ideas and impressions of an activity? 3

Experiential Learning Model Experience Share Process Generalize Apply Do the activity Provide a hands-on learning experience 4-H curriculum resources may guide you 4

Experiential Learning Model Experience Share Process Generalize Apply Youth talk about the activity Avoid questions that can be answered with a yes or no Some examples of “Share” questions:  What did you do/see/hear/feel/smell/taste during the activity? What was your favorite/least favorite part? What part was easiest/most difficult? 5

Experiential Learning Model Experience Share Process Generalize Apply For example, imagine you have just led youth in a simple robotics activity: What did you see when we plugged the robot into the computer? What did you hear when we started the computer program? What part of building your robot was the easiest? What part of programming your robot was the most challenging? We’ll learn more about providing the “Experience” step later today. 6

Experiential Learning Model Experience Share Process Generalize Apply Youth think more critically about the activity Break down the entire experience Examine and understand each step Point out life skills that learned through the activity Questions will get progressively more specific and direct Think ahead about questions to ask/key concepts to discuss 7

Experiential Learning Model Experience Share Process Generalize Apply Sample questions for robotics activity: What steps did you have to take to build the robot? How did you decide who would do each step of the build? What happened when you programmed the robot according to the guide? What was different when your group created a new program? 8

Experiential Learning Model Experience Share Process Generalize Apply Think of this step as “looking at the big picture” Help youth see what themes or trends emerge. Encourage youth to relate this specific experience with other At first - may need to help youth identify topics and concepts they are experiencing. After using the model, may find that youth are increasingly aware of the themes and trends in their experience. 9

Experiential Learning Model Experience Share Process Generalize Apply Sample questions for robotics activity:   What did you learn about building from a kit? About using a computer program? What did you learn about working as a group to program your robot? How was this activity similar to/different from the projects your group has worked on this year? 10

Experiential Learning Model Experience Share Process Generalize Apply Lead youth to see experience in perspective with other things they do and know Help them to see influence on other areas or events Crucial to helping youth develop and recognize life skills Help young people recognize achievements by naming those skills Talk about skills they have learned and how skills impact their future Short term: future project work, school Long term: education, career 11

Experiential Learning Model Experience Share Process Generalize Apply Sample questions for robotics activity:   How can you use what you learned about working with a computer program? In this project you learned about taking a set of computer commands and making a new program out of them. Where else could you use that creativity? How can you use your knowledge of robotics in the future? 12

Keep these steps in mind as you plan learning experiences for youth. Share Process Generalize Apply Keep these steps in mind as you plan learning experiences for youth. Many resources are available if you would like to learn more about the Experiential Learning Model. 13

“Experiential Learning Process”, University of Illinois Cooperative Extension Service. 4-H 101 Experiential Learning Model PowerPoint, National 4-H Headquarters. <www.national4-hheadquarters.gov/library/4H101_exper_model.ppt> 4-H 101 Lessons 8: Putting the Experiential Learning Model to Practice <www.4-hmilitarypartnerships.org/doc12954.ashx> 14