Wondering if you’re ready for experiential learning vs. traditional learning?
It’s a question I hear a lot. And the truth is, if you’ve never engaged in hands-on learning experiences before, leaping into experiential learning can seem intimidating.
Most likely, you are drawn to experiential learning vs. traditional teaching because you believe in the relevance to students.
Traditional learning relies too heavily on lecture-based, passive approaches, structured curricula, rote memorization, and assessment through testing.
In contrast, experiential learning prioritizes active participation, engagement, and reflection. It places learning in real-world contexts, fostering problem solving, varied assessments, and interdisciplinary thinking.
You may feel nervous about using experiential learning due to concerns about classroom management, lack of resources, alignment to your curriculum, or potential resistance from students or parents.
It’s completely understandable, too. No one wants to put all that effort in only to face unexpected challenges and setbacks like students refusing to engage. But don’t let that stop you!
Benefit #1 – Enhanced information retention.
Experiential learning, with its active involvement, helps students retain information more effectively. By actively engaging with the learning material, students form stronger, lasting connections with the content.
Benefit #2 – Development of critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Experiential learning fosters the development of these skills through real-world application. Through active learning, students learn how to analyze situations, think creatively, and find effective solutions. These are invaluable skills in both school and professional contexts.
If you’ve been feeling like you’re ready for experiential learning, you probably are getting close!
To help you decide, today I’m sharing 5 ways to know if you’re ready for your first experiential learning adventure.
This way you can focus on getting students actively engaged in the classroom – without a ton of extra time or effort.
(And if you’re not ready yet, you’ll know what you need to do!)
Let’s dig in.
5 Ways You Know You’re Ready for Experiential Learning
Only you can say for sure whether you’re ready for implementing this educational approach. As I mentioned above, if it’s been heavily on your mind lately, you’re probably in a good place to start researching your options, at the very least. You may even find that you’re more prepared for it than most teachers.
To help you decide, here are a few tell-tale signs that show you’re more than ready to implement experiential learning in your classroom.
Click here to download your free Project-Based Learning Planner now >>
Readiness Sign #1: Other people tell you you’re ready
Has a fellow educator suggested you try experiential learning?
This is why it’s so helpful to have a support system of colleagues who act as a network of cheerleaders.
When I first started adapting my teaching style to incorporate experiential learning, I didn’t feel I was ready for it. But my mentor teacher, who had observed my classroom over time, raised the topic during casual conversation.
It was a pivotal moment that pushed me to consider the possibilities. Reflecting on this, I realized that sometimes the beginning of a successful journey is sparked by a simple conversation with a colleague who recognizes your potential.
Look at me now, successfully aligning my teaching style with real-world applications and hands-on experiences, with students thriving in their learning journey.
If you don’t have a support system or network of people to give you feedback, try asking a trusted teacher friend or instructional coach. You can even try stepping back and being your own coach. Given the circumstances (and keeping all emotions and fear aside), would you say you’re ready?
Always remember, the first step to change often begins by looking within.
Readiness Sign #2: You are passionate about innovative teaching
You may not feel it now, but your inner drive for innovative teaching methods will invariably steer you in the right direction.
So if you think you’re ready for experiential learning but struggle with self-doubt or imposter syndrome, it can be hard to admit that these feelings don’t reflect reality.
Many educators, including myself, have faced moments of self-doubt when striving for innovative teaching approaches. I vividly recall a time when I questioned my ability to introduce an entirely new project-based learning approach in my classroom.
The fear of failure and worries about the lack of time and resources weighed on me. But here’s the catch: these limiting beliefs are often just thoughts, not the truth. They stem from the understandable human resistance to change.
Here are a few ways to push past it:
- First, picture yourself succeeding in your experiential learning journey. What would it feel like to provide students with a more engaging and enriching learning experience?
- Next, imagine the worst-case scenario – perhaps some initial resistance or difficulty obtaining needed resources. How would you handle it?
- Finally, think about a time in the past when you felt the same way you do now but ultimately overcame it.
Now, remember that chances are, none of the negative scenarios you imagine will come to fruition. Planning ahead and having the confidence to embrace innovative teaching like experiential learning will not only help you survive it but thrive in it.
In the words of motivational speaker and educator Rita Pierson, “We can do this. We’re educators. We’re born to make a difference.”
Readiness Sign #3: You have a long-term vision
Sometimes big decisions come easy because they naturally align with our long-term vision, just like a puzzle piece fitting perfectly into place.
That can feel reassuring in the moment, and many times it’s a source of lasting fulfillment and a catalyst for realizing our dreams of being an effective educator.
So when that happens, the best course of action is to embrace it wholeheartedly. Forces are out there larger than you and the universe seems to be nodding its head in approval.
One teacher I know, John, is an elementary science teacher with a passion for deepening his students’ understanding of science. John felt something was missing in his teaching approach, as he noted that his students often struggled to apply their knowledge to real-world situations.
During a professional development seminar, John was introduced to the concept of experiential learning. At first, he was nervous about shifting from his traditional lecture-based teaching style.
The prospect of giving up control in the classroom and facing potential chaos was daunting. He was unsure if he could effectively manage the classroom and ensure that students would meet the curriculum standards.
However, as John explored experiential learning, he found that it aligned with his long-term vision of creating critical thinkers, problem solvers, and young scientists who could apply their knowledge to their world. He realized experiential learning could bridge the gap he had been struggling with in his teaching.
Other decisions don’t necessarily fall in your lap like magic, it’s more of an “all roads lead to yes” situation.
If you’ve tried various teaching methods and all fingers point to experiential learning, it could mean it’s just time.
For example:
After attempting different teaching techniques, if you find that none adequately fulfill the long-term outcome of empowering students with practical skills and real-world readiness, it may be a compelling sign that the time has come to embrace experiential learning.
In either case, if there’s no other way to reach your big vision for your classroom, it may be time to implement experiential learning.
Readiness Sign #4: You already have a resourceful mindset
Now that we’ve covered some of the mindset signs that will help you determine if you’re ready for implementing experiential learning, it’s time to cover some practical reasons.
Before you embark on the experiential learning journey, there are some things you’ll need to have in place. It makes little sense to jump into this education approach without the right infrastructure and resources.
It’s critical to set the right foundation because, without it, implementing experiential learning can be challenging and may not yield the intended outcomes.
First, having a resourceful mindset means being capable of finding creative solutions to overcome potential challenges that may arise in your process.
Whether you’re faced with limited resources, classroom resistance, or other hurdles, your resourcefulness will make the difference in making experiential learning work. The ability to adapt and innovate in the face of obstacles is vital to ensure a smooth and effective implementation.
Without this resourcefulness mindset, you might encounter difficulties in adapting to unexpected challenges.
For example, if you lack the ability to creatively work around limited resources or address resistance from students or parents, it can hinder the success of experiential learning.
Here’s how you’ll know that experiential learning will be a huge success:
#1. You have access to adequate materials and resources
You will need access to the necessary materials and resources required for hands-on activities and real-world simulations. This includes equipment, supplies, and technology that facilitate experiential learning.
Without these resources, it can be challenging to create engaging and authentic learning experiences.
Here’s what I mean:
In a science classroom, the chemistry teacher attempted to implement an experiential learning activity. However, there weren’t enough materials for each lab station so students couldn’t all conduct the experiment effectively. This led to frustration and a missed learning opportunity around key scientific principles.
#2. You have experience integrating active learning into your existing curriculum
You will want to find support in integrating experiential learning into the existing curriculum if you don’t already have experience in this area. This includes access to curriculum guides, frameworks, and alignment strategies that help you seamlessly embed active learning activities into your teaching.
A well-integrated curriculum ensures that experiential learning aligns with educational goals and standards, enhancing its effectiveness.
One high school history teacher attempted to incorporate experiential learning by organizing a mock United Nations conference as part of a unit on international diplomacy. However, curriculum integration didn’t happen effectively, and several issues arose.
The curriculum lacked clear guidelines and objectives for integrating experiential learning, leading to a disconnect between the simulation and the broader educational goals.
Students struggled to connect the hands-on experience with the historical context. The activity became disjointed and failed to deepen students’ understanding of international relations, undermining the intended benefits of experiential learning.
If you want to know how to do this using project-based learning, I cover it in detail in this post.
#3. Your students are engaged and prepared
You will want to ensure that your students are not only ready but enthusiastic to actively participate in experiential learning activities. This readiness includes students understanding the learning objectives of these activities, their significance in the curriculum, and their role in the learning process.
Creating a classroom environment that encourages engagement, critical thinking and active participation is pivotal. When students are actively engaged, they are more likely to absorb and retain the knowledge and skills presented in hands-on activities.
Students are usually more interested in hands-on learning than in traditional lecture-style teaching. However, if students are not engaged and prepared, experiential learning can fall flat.
As an example, a middle school English teacher aimed to introduce experiential learning by organizing a creative storytelling project. However, the students appeared disinterested and struggled to understand the purpose of the project.
As a result, the storytelling experience lacked enthusiasm and the students failed to embrace the creative writing process. The lack of engagement hindered students’ ability to craft imaginative and well-structured stories,
This was a missed opportunity to enhance students’ writing skills and creativity, highlighting the need to adequately prepare students to participate in experiential learning.
If you’re not quite there yet, here are a few things you can do:
Step 1. Set clear learning objectives.
Begin by clearly defining the learning objectives of the experiential activity. Communicate these to the students so they understand the purpose and expected outcomes. This provides students with a sense of direction and helps them see the educational value of the experience.
Check out one teacher’s example of how to do this.
Step 2. Provide context and relevance.
Explain to students why the experiential learning activity is relevant to their learning and future applications. Relate the activity to real-life situations, career prospects, or personal interests, making it more engaging and meaningful to them.
Step 3. Preparation and planning.
Offer students guidance on what to expect during the experiential activity. Provide any necessary background information, prerequisite knowledge, or skills they need to be successful. Encourage them to prepare by researching, reviewing relevant content, or practicing related skills.
If you want you can download my free Project-Based Learning Planner right here to get you started >>
Step 4. Create an inclusive and supportive environment.
Foster a classroom culture where all students feel comfortable participating. Encourage open communication and collaboration, ensuring students can share their thoughts, questions, and concerns. A supportive environment boosts engagement and encourages active participation.
#4. Your administrative and institutional framework is supportive
Your school administration and the institution have established policies, allocated funding, and provided scheduling flexibility that encourages and enables you to seamlessly integrate experiential learning into your curriculum.
This institutional backing creates a supportive environment for you to implement experiential learning effectively. It streamlines the process of integrating this educational approach and helps teachers have the necessary resources, time, and support to overcome potential obstacles.
Without this support, you may encounter obstacles such as limited funding, rigid scheduling constraints, or resistance from the school itself. All of these can hinder your ability to fully embrace experiential learning.
For example, when experiential learning is not aligned with institutional policies and resources are scarce, you may struggle to organize meaningful hands-on activities. This leads to missed opportunities for students to engage in practical and applicable real-world learning experiences.
Here’s how one principal set up the supports in his school to embed experiential learning.
Readiness Sign #5: You have a plan for a student-centered approach
Now, I can hear you saying, “Experiential learning is supposed to engage my students without a lot of extra work!”
And that’s absolutely true. Having said that, every teacher has to have a plan for navigating the times when your students aren’t readily engaging. Because it’s going to happen!
Nothing comes easy, right?
I vividly remember a particular lesson where I’d designed a hands-on activity for my students. However, as I introduced the lesson, I could see that several students appeared disinterested, distracted, and reluctant to engage.
It wasn’t until I recognized the importance of connecting with my students’ interests that I found a solution to this engagement challenge.
That’s when I realized that I needed to plan for this. Poor engagement is just going to happen every once in a while, and should be expected.
Here’s what you can do to prepare so you’re ready for it:
- First, always prioritize creating a student-centered environment that values every student’s unique perspective and needs.
- Get in the habit of using culturally responsive teaching strategies to ensure that your classroom is inclusive and welcoming for all students.
- Remember that students thrive when actively engaged in the learning process. The first time I forgot this, it resulted in disinterest, challenging behaviors, and a lack of participation.
- Be ready to adapt your teaching methods, assignments, or activities to better align with a student-centered approach when challenges arise.
Having a plan like this, even if it’s only in your head at this point, will help you stay committed to placing students at the heart of the learning process.
In addition to this list, I also created a free guide to help you implement culturally responsive teaching. This is a great approach to getting students engaged and on board with your classroom activities.
Click here to download your free Educator’s Guide to Culturally Responsive Teaching now >>
Standing in between you and experiential learning: The Doubt Edition
Usually, the biggest thing standing in the way of your wildest dreams isn’t something external. It’s actually self-doubt.
Some common concerns I hear from my clients are:
- I’ll run out of resources or support
- I’m afraid of disappointing my students and colleagues if I stumble
- What if I decide to change my teaching approach after it’s too late?
Does any of that sound familiar?
The best way to clear those concerns up is to reflect and get clear on your “why”. Why do you want to incorporate experiential learning into your teaching in the first place?
You know experiential learning not only makes education more relevant to your students, but also equips them with valuable skills for real-life applications. This makes it an attractive alternative to traditional sit-and-get teaching.
Standing in between you and experiential learning: Real-Life Obstacles
Real-life obstacles are some of the most obvious challenges you’re going to face with embracing experiential learning.
We’ve already covered common obstacles in this post, but you likely will have some challenges that are unique to your situation, resources, and the realities of your educational environment.
The good news is, most of them can be easily resolved.
So in addition to what I shared above, I recommend working through each obstacle one at a time to brainstorm different ways to overcome them.
And remember, when you’re ready, you’re ready.
If you find that you’re not quite motivated to put in the work, you know that you’re not quite ready to implement experiential learning. And that’s okay, just keep setting the stage for it and you’ll get there.
Want some help on integrating experiential learning into your curriculum? I am ready to support you with thinking through any of your obstacles. Just reach out to me.
That’s a wrap!
I hope this post has helped clarify whether you’re ready to embrace experiential learning in your teaching.
If you’re feeling hesitant or overwhelmed, remember that when I first started using experiential learning, everyone told me it wasn’t the right time to shift from traditional teaching methods.
Now look at me, a dedicated advocate for experiential learning, and most importantly, a partner in your teaching journey.
Have a question about anything I covered today? I am available here, and I also love Instagram and Facebook where I’m always sharing content to keep you up-to-date on everything related to effective teaching and creating empowering classrooms.
Click here to download your free Project-Based Learning Planner now >>
