AEE Heartland Regional Conference

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We are here 6

Experiential learning and experiential education are buzzwords within many educational circles. These terms are often used interchangeably. There are numerous published definitions of experiential education (Joplin, 1981; Luckman, 1996; Itin, 1999). The Association for Experiential Education (2004) defines experiential education a philosophy that informs many methodologies in which educators purposefully engage with learners in direct experience and focused reflection to increase knowledge, develop skills, and clarify values. Central to this definition is the distinction between experiential education as methodology and experiential education as philosophy. This distinction suggests that there is a difference between experiential learning and experiential education. Experiential Education … a philosophy that informs many methodologies in which educators purposefully engage with learners in direct experience and focused reflection to increase knowledge, develop skills, and clarify values. Association for Experiential Education (2013) 7

Wilderness Education Adventure Based Counseling Inquiry Service Learning Art, Play, Music, Drama & related Therapies Simulations Experience Based Training and Development Environmental Education Internships Expeditionary Learning Adventure/Challenge Education Philosophy of Experiential Education And more… Equine Assisted Therapy Cooperative Education Project Based Learning Problem Based Learning Appreciative Inquiry 8

EXCELLENT EDUCATIONAL ENGAGING EXPERIENCES 9

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People Talents/Gifts Ideas Insights Inspiration Life Experience Family Beliefs & Ideals Values Theories & Models … People Talents/Gifts Ideas Insights Inspiration Life Experience Family Beliefs & Ideals Values Theories & Models … What Guides You? What shows you the way? 11

“So why do we do it? What good is it? Does it teach you anything? Like determination? Invention? Improvisation? Foresight? Hindsight? Love? Art? Music? Religion? Strength or patience or accuracy or quickness or tolerance or which wood will burn and how long is a day? And how far is a mile? And how delicious is water and smoky green pea soup? And how to rely on your self?” Terry and Renney Russell, On the Loose 12

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John Smith his 18

"Those who stand for nothing fall for anything.” Alexander Hamilton Personal Professional Ethical Philosophical 19

 Community Meetings  Ropes Course Elements  Simulations  Activities  Wilderness trips  Rituals  Curriculum  Sharing/Talking circles 20

“People and environments are never neutral, they are either summoning or shunning the development of human potential.” Purkey & Novak, Inviting School Success See Invitational Education at 21

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 Know my mission: Personally and Professionally 23

The vision of the Association for Experiential Education is to contribute to making a more just and compassionate world by transforming education. 24

 Know my mission: Personally and Professionally  Continuously explore the “why” 25

 Know my mission: Personally and Professionally  Continuously explore the “why”  Look through the activities and into the process 26

 Know my mission: Personally and Professionally  Continuously explore the “why”  Look through the activities and into the process  Understand the medium 27

 Know my mission: Personally and Professionally  Continuously explore the “why”  Look through the activities and into the process  Understand the medium  Strive to keep an open and broad view 28

“… we are bombarded with messages about “what is” and what “ought to be.” [This is a] … “mystification or ‘surface reality,’ that many people take for granted as objectively true.” Maxine Greene, educational philosopher, author, social activist, and teacher “To transcend the effects of mystification, it is necessary to wake up to the world and start seeing it from a variety of vantage points… Humans have the unique “capacity to surpass the given and look at things as if they could be otherwise.” 29

 Know my mission: Personally and Professionally  Look through the activities and into the process  Know (and trust) my medium  Strive to keep an open and broad view  Don’t take myself too seriously 30

 Know my mission: Personally and Professionally  Look through the activities and into the process  Know (and trust) my medium  Strive to keep an open and broad view  Don’t take myself too seriously  Be Intentional 31

“It is not from ourselves that we will learn to be better than we are.” ~ Wendell Berry 32

People Talents/Gifts Ideas Insights Inspiration Life Experience Family Beliefs & Ideals Values Theories & Models People Talents/Gifts Ideas Insights Inspiration Life Experience Family Beliefs & Ideals Values Theories & Models What Guides You? What shows you the way? How have you added to your cairn so far at this conference? 33

It is important to hold in mind … that the person – that center of choice – develops in his/her fullness to a degree he/she is a member of a live community. ~ Maxine Greene (1988) The Dialectic of Freedom 34

Laurie Frank GOAL Consulting To download this PowerPoint, please go to my website: 35