I really enjoyed reading your take on experiential learning! I can totally relate to your point about how mastering skills goes beyond just theoretical knowledge or exam results. I’ve also found that actually applying what we learn through hands-on tasks really deepens understanding. Moreover, I completely agree with you on the importance of structured feedback and assessment in experiential learning. While real-world engagement is a huge benefit, without clear mechanisms to assess progress and provide guidance, it can be difficult for learners to understand whether they’re truly mastering the skills or concepts. This also ties into your earlier point about balancing resource allocation, as too much focus on hands-on activities without proper feedback could lead to gaps in learning. It makes me think about how crucial it is to design these experiences in a way that ensures students not only have the chance to experiment but also receive constructive input that helps them grow. I look forward to seeing more posts!
Experiential learning is a hands-on teaching approach in which students learn through direct experiences and reflection. The Experiential Learning Cycle involves engaging in an experience, reflecting on it, thinking critically to form concepts, and applying those concepts through experimentation to create new learning opportunities. (Institute for Experiential Learning, 2023). Instead of passively receiving knowledge, students actively participate in problem-solving and critical thinking through activities and practices. This technique frequently results in a better comprehension, practical skill development, and improved critical thinking ability.
Institute for Experiential Learning, 2023
Experiential learning is a great way to comprehend our topic, health and wellness – myths around fad dieting, since it encourages students to actively participate in real-world health problems. When it comes to dispelling myths about fad diets, health balance, and the impact of social media, this learning approach provides an opportunity for students to actively test health claims and behaviours, track the results, and reflect on their findings.
It will include activities that motivate students to apply their own knowledge in practical ways. For example, students can experiment with various health behaviours, such as exercise meal plans, while monitoring the outcomes. This hands-on experience allows people to have a better knowledge of what genuinely works for their bodies and dispels common myths about quick-fix diets, which are frequently promoted by influencers and social media platforms. By experimenting with different health claims or fad diets and tracking their own results, students gain valuable insight into the realities of health management. It addresses popular but unconfirmed health trends, such as the weight-loss fads, and teaches students how to distinguish between evidence-based advice and misinformation. In other words, while some popular diets advocate for dramatic calorie cutbacks or unbalanced meals, students can experiment with these to see how they affect their health in the short and long term. This analytical approach serves to dispel myths, allowing students to make educated decisions regarding their own health.
Furthermore, it can address the direct impact of social media on health perception. Social media frequently reinforce incorrect expectations and cause confusion about health. Students become more critical consumers of health information online as they practice with these principles in a controlled, reflective context. They learn to discriminate between reliable health advice and viral myths that might be harmful to their well-being.
Ultimately, experiential learning promotes critical thinking, self-awareness, and practical knowledge in the field of health and wellness. Students who participate in this process not only learn about health, but also critically evaluate the material they receive, resulting in a balanced, evidence-based knowledge of what it means to be healthy.
Resource
Institute for Experiential Learning. (2023, December 27). What is experiential learning? – Institute for Experiential Learning. https://experientiallearninginstitute.org/what-is-experiential-learning/
