Experiential Learning

What is Experiential Learning?

"Tell me and I forget
Teach me and I may remember
Involve me and I learn."
                                                                        Confucius

Experiential learning is a process which students are involved in the hands-on experiences and through which students can develop knowledge, skills, and attitudes.

Experiential learning refers to a broad spectrum of educational experiences, such as academic course, service learning, undergraduate research, and internship etc. Learning considered "experiential" contains the following elements:

• Authentic and real-life experiences for students to engage intellectually, emotionally, socially, and/or physically
• Opportunities for students to pose questions, investigate, experiment, take initiative, make decisions, and be accountable for the results
• Reflective processes that lead to analysis, critical thinking, and synthesis
• A well-designed learning experience that allows students to learn from natural consequences, mistakes, and successes

Experiential learning academic courses at HKUST are encouraged to adopt Kolb's Experiential Learning Cycle (See Fig. 1 below or click the link for further information) such that students are engaged and involved in cycles of experience, reflection, and the formulation of concepts that in turn deepen their understanding of the experience.

The key aim of experiential learning courses is to develop students’ knowledge, skills and attitudes so that they can tackle real-life problem/need. Both the learning process and outcomes should be formally assessed.

Fig. 1 Kolb's Experiential Learning Cycle