Experiential learning – A Jargon used by schools without meeting its pre-requisites

Experiential learning is a terminology associated with teaching, where students are taught by providing them practical experiences. That is to say, that students are made to ‘learn through reflection on doing things’. The important essentials to imparting this form of learning are:
Teacher training, because the teachers who have basic knowledge of teaching, have a tendency to mix up practical learning with rotten (mug-up) learning.
Raw material like props and necessary infrastructure to let students do things to understand them hands-on.

With changing mindset of parents, they are seeking schools to provide holistic knowledge to the kid and in order to cash in on this demand, schools are often heard stating they follow the Experiential learning approach to teaching.

We asked few schools in Noida/Greater Noida as to how and to which standards/classes, are they imparting this learning. They were however unable to convince us they do it for classes beyond Pre-nursery/Playway and Nursery. Also interestingly, while they were able to relate this form of learning to practical learning, they were unable affirmatively state the training they are inculcating to get teachers to understand how to provide Experiential learning to kids.

In Noida extension region, for instance, we found DWPS, LVIS and Pacific are some of the schools that are quite particular about teacher training for lower classes as well. While LVIS and Pacific did not disclose the exact hours of teacher trainings conducted per week, DWPS claims to conduct between 2 to 4 hours per week  of training for the teachers involved in Experiential learning.

In Noida expressway region, Shiv Nadar, LVIS and TSMS are some of the schools who have been spending time on teacher training for the same purpose.

Heritage school in Gurgaon is already one of the best schools considered to be expert at this form of learning also leading to excellent academic results for students eventually. No doubt they are spending a lot on teacher training to meet this goal. Any new teacher is being given 4 hrs plus of training per week in the school.

It is given that schools have to invest substantially on teacher training and props and infrastructure to reap the real benefits of Experiential learning. For unless schools let them do (in the right way), they are only creating more confusion in a kid’s mind.

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Last Updated on November 29, 2019 by Go4Reviews