John Dewey's Experiential Learning

Who is John Dewey? John Dewey (20 October 1859 - 1 June 1952) was an American philosopher, psychologist and educational reformer whose ideas has been influential in education and social reform. (source: wikipedia)

"Learning by doing", perhaps this is the best way to explain Dewey's theory. It is explained that people learn best when they are personally involved in the learning experience which will affect the differences in their behaviour. 

Children are naturally active learners. They must interact with their environment in order to adapt and learn. They will be encouraged to learn better and are able to solve any problems if they are involved in the process and situation. This is called "student centered learning" where learning requires student involvement and the teacher acts as a facilitator. These are the strengths of Dewey's experimental learning theory.

How do you apply Dewey's theory in the classroom? The teacher as a facilitator will design learning experiences that will lead to independent learning. Do not sit down and give instructions. Plan active and hands-on classroom activities, like; open-ended questions to promote inquiry, discussion to express their own opinion, allow them to solve a situation independently and explore multiple disciplines to pursue their interests. The teacher  should engage with the students through interaction and play a major role in selecting experiences and to give proper directions to the students.

Reminder to self and readers that learning is a continuous process. It is an opportunity to stay curious, to pursue interests and try new things that will bring you to new experiences and lead you towards innovation.

Thank you.