Experience - A Leap of Faith?

Experienial learning - I seem very drawn to this theory. What makes it so enticing and familiar?? Oh right, it's what I do!! From the day I decided to start teaching adults first aid, the ability of the students was dependent on experience. Not only the experience my students bring to class, but the experience post class of helping someone in need. When many a student enters my classroom, they are taking a leap into unknown territory. I try to take their experience, and mine, to make this new experience as dynamic

The key message in learning about teaching first aid is creating relevant context for the learners and make use of the learner's life experience to support the content. Any information/skill taught however, must be restricted to what is relevant for the learner. This may mean varying the content according to each class. Allowing the students time to reflect on the content and how to implement the knowledge in different circumstances is important, as is identifying learner outcomes in terms of skills and knowledge and confidence.

It seems no matter where I look in researching the education of adults, the students' experience is essential for skill building and retention. Wonder why pedagogy doesn't follow the same theory?

http://infed.org/mobi/donhald-schon-learning-reflection-change/

This site shows an interesting model of learning and experience.

Time to sign off from PIDP 3100. It's been a blast!!