Experiential Learning - lets do and understand
By Jenny McLeod, G2G3
Small talk is never fun. It's been one week now since my adopted Chinese student arrived in Edinburgh and although his English is not too bad, my dinner table has definitely witnessed more fluid conversation. So, in an attempt to get the ball rolling I decided to conduct some research – learn a bit about Chinese culture so he would feel more at home . In the process, I came across a Confucian proverb, which reads: “I hear and I forget; I see and I remember; I do and I understand”.
Admittedly, our common appreciation of The Dark Knight inspired a more animated conversation than this nugget of wisdom, but there is a resounding truth in this statement that really struck a chord with me.
Increasingly, people are becoming aware that traditional learning techniques are not the most effective way to make sense of complex situations. Formal training methods consist of manuals, lectures and seminars and are usually presented in a de-contextualized form. Yes, they deliver information, but struggle to turn it into understanding without an experiential and realistic element. Hearing and seeing do not cut it.
This is particularly true in the IT industry where the increasing complexity of IT frameworks poses a challenge for traditional methods. These intricate processes require experiential (informal) learning, where clarity and understanding can be cemented through realistic, practical situations. If anything, the IT industry should lead by example in this field as technology is providing a platform for many of these techniques. Simulations, online networking and virtual worlds offer a new and exciting way to share experiences and knowledge in a way that is simple, effective and memorable. We need to do to understand.
Learning should be about challenging, creating and engaging critically with the process. Traditional learning doesn't allow this and often struggles to bridge the gap between knowledge and reality. Effective learning requires experiential methods presented in a realistic context. It's about hearing, seeing and most importantly, doing.
Small talk is never fun. It's been one week now since my adopted Chinese student arrived in Edinburgh and although his English is not too bad, my dinner table has definitely witnessed more fluid conversation. So, in an attempt to get the ball rolling I decided to conduct some research – learn a bit about Chinese culture so he would feel more at home . In the process, I came across a Confucian proverb, which reads: “I hear and I forget; I see and I remember; I do and I understand”.
Admittedly, our common appreciation of The Dark Knight inspired a more animated conversation than this nugget of wisdom, but there is a resounding truth in this statement that really struck a chord with me.
Increasingly, people are becoming aware that traditional learning techniques are not the most effective way to make sense of complex situations. Formal training methods consist of manuals, lectures and seminars and are usually presented in a de-contextualized form. Yes, they deliver information, but struggle to turn it into understanding without an experiential and realistic element. Hearing and seeing do not cut it.
This is particularly true in the IT industry where the increasing complexity of IT frameworks poses a challenge for traditional methods. These intricate processes require experiential (informal) learning, where clarity and understanding can be cemented through realistic, practical situations. If anything, the IT industry should lead by example in this field as technology is providing a platform for many of these techniques. Simulations, online networking and virtual worlds offer a new and exciting way to share experiences and knowledge in a way that is simple, effective and memorable. We need to do to understand.
Learning should be about challenging, creating and engaging critically with the process. Traditional learning doesn't allow this and often struggles to bridge the gap between knowledge and reality. Effective learning requires experiential methods presented in a realistic context. It's about hearing, seeing and most importantly, doing.
posted by G2G3 Blog at
10:22
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