Wednesday, July 12, 2006
Experiential Learning, Education, and Training
Why should you consider experiential training?
Classroom learning often produces knowledge that can be recalled when tested but not applied in practical situations. And knowledge that is not exercised is quickly forgotten. Experiential learning encourages trainees to apply their knowledge and thereby better integrate the new learning into actionable understanding. And it's more enjoyable, which aids learning and retention.
Why do most experiential activities fail?
Experiences may feel good but teach nothing. Whilst participants may report that they both had fun and learnt something, temporary "feel-good" effects lead to unreliable self-reports. Most experiential activities are so abstract that they teach nothing of use in the real world; worse, they may train the wrong responses (negative training).
What sort of experiential activities should you avoid?
Unfocused and vague activities are unfortunately the most common: self-discovery hikes, rope courses, outward-bound adventures, find-your-own-meaning field trips, self-appointed executive coaches, motivational speakers, self-help cheerleaders, and rah-rah social activities.
What sort of experiential activities should you prefer?
Well-designed, data-driven, and outcome-focused training simulates the situation, challenges the trainee, helps the trainee achieve the learning objectives, and produces performance data. In other words, it simulates, stimulates, educates, and explicates.
Why should you choose Consequence Consulting?
Consequence Consulting supplies training that is research-based and results-driven. Consequence Consulting's instructional designers and instructors are all academics with years of prior experience designing training products for academia and government.
Consequence has developed the exclusive ADAPT (Applied Dynamic Activities for Practical Training) method for experiential training.
The ADAPT design principles include:
- Progressive complementary learning opportunities
- Foci on cognitive, decision-making, and communication skills- Iterated tests of component skills - Exposure of negative behaviors - Adaptability through multiple skill and difficulty variations - Flexibility for multiple uses - Potential for scenario development and innovation by instructors.
Please visit Consequence Consulting at: www.ConsequenceConsulting.com
Classroom learning often produces knowledge that can be recalled when tested but not applied in practical situations. And knowledge that is not exercised is quickly forgotten. Experiential learning encourages trainees to apply their knowledge and thereby better integrate the new learning into actionable understanding. And it's more enjoyable, which aids learning and retention.
Why do most experiential activities fail?
Experiences may feel good but teach nothing. Whilst participants may report that they both had fun and learnt something, temporary "feel-good" effects lead to unreliable self-reports. Most experiential activities are so abstract that they teach nothing of use in the real world; worse, they may train the wrong responses (negative training).
What sort of experiential activities should you avoid?
Unfocused and vague activities are unfortunately the most common: self-discovery hikes, rope courses, outward-bound adventures, find-your-own-meaning field trips, self-appointed executive coaches, motivational speakers, self-help cheerleaders, and rah-rah social activities.
What sort of experiential activities should you prefer?
Well-designed, data-driven, and outcome-focused training simulates the situation, challenges the trainee, helps the trainee achieve the learning objectives, and produces performance data. In other words, it simulates, stimulates, educates, and explicates.
Why should you choose Consequence Consulting?
Consequence Consulting supplies training that is research-based and results-driven. Consequence Consulting's instructional designers and instructors are all academics with years of prior experience designing training products for academia and government.
Consequence has developed the exclusive ADAPT (Applied Dynamic Activities for Practical Training) method for experiential training.
The ADAPT design principles include:
- Progressive complementary learning opportunities
- Foci on cognitive, decision-making, and communication skills- Iterated tests of component skills - Exposure of negative behaviors - Adaptability through multiple skill and difficulty variations - Flexibility for multiple uses - Potential for scenario development and innovation by instructors.
Please visit Consequence Consulting at: www.ConsequenceConsulting.com
