Experiential Learning

Pedagogy & Learning

A pedagogy in which students learn through direct experience and structured reflection rather than passive reception of information.

Rooted in the work of theorists such as David Kolb, experiential learning follows a cycle of concrete experience, reflective observation, abstract conceptualisation and active experimentation. It is valued for building practical skills and transferable competencies.

Related Terms
Internship
Supervised practical work experience tied to a course of study.
Project-Based Learning (PBL)
Learning organised around extended, real-world projects through which students build knowledge and skills.
Capstone Project
A culminating project that demonstrates a student's cumulative learning at the end of a program.
Adaptive Learning
Technology that adjusts content, pace and difficulty in real time based on each learner's performance.
Andragogy
The theory and practice of teaching adults, as distinct from pedagogy for children.