What is experiential learning

We can explain experiential learning as a way of learning, in which all the senses are used . In childhood experiential learning, the child through these knows the world around him, discovers sensations, experiences, receives stimuli from the outside, etc. It is in this way that not only by listening to or observing the adult, he learns, but also becomes a participant in his own learning .

The experiential learning methodology affirms that unlike other techniques, the experiential is based on the child’s own action, so that it becomes the engine of its own rhythm . The main objective of this methodology is that the little ones through action, using their senses and reasoning ability , obtain their own educational experience , making them participate actively.

It should be noted that the role of the child or adult educator must be merely an observer and companion, not interfering in the child’s action, that is, having a role of guide and mediator, since all they are going to do is act in case of real need.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING?

We can highlight many benefits of this way of understanding education , beyond even the mere benefits of educating. It should be borne in mind that only the approach of this method is beneficial, since it makes the child the one who promotes his learning, establishing the rhythm, discovering what motivates him and what catches his attention. However, from PregDream we leave you a series of benefits that this particular method has that make it different from the rest. Some of them can be:

• • It is a purely meaningful learning that, unlike conventional learning, better internalizes what has been discovered and is retained in long-term memory.

• • It makes it possible for the child to base their learning on their own experience , thus making them more aware of what they learn, their motivations, their difficulties, etc. Knowing yourself and acquiring autonomy.

• • It does not have an age limit nor does it establish a range, each child sets his own rhythm, decides what he wants to experiment, up to what level and in what way he wants to do it.

• It facilitates the integral development of the child , since this learning method involves the use of multiple dimensions, both social and personal, psychology, creativity , self-esteem and personality, etc. Achieving development at the motor, intellectual level, etc.

WHAT ACTIVITIES CAN I PROPOSE TO CARRY OUT AN EXPERIENTIAL-BASED TEACHING ?

There are many activities that can be proposed if what we want is to carry out an experiential learning . The main thing we have to take into account, as we have already mentioned above, is to know that we are going to have a role only as a guide and mediator, in which we are going to teach them the activity, to show them what we have prepared, but to let them discover by themselves without interfering in his action, unless it is necessary, because there are conflicts between him or the children.

Some examples of activity or experiential dynamics can be:

• • Free artistic installations: To carry out this activity it is necessary to have a large space, without distractions for the little ones, empty and free of dangers. In it, various objects will be placed in an artistic way, generally the activity is composed of three classes: one that favors movement, another that produces sound and another that encourages symbolic play. There has to be a connection between the three objects.Once everything is placed in the room, the children are presented with the installation, allowing them to enter the room; It is important to tell them that they can play with them however they want without hurting others, that the activity is free. That said, they are allowed to pass and use each object as they want, although the purpose for which they use them is not what we adults expected, we should not intervene. The duration of this activity usually lasts between half an hour and an hour, and can be lengthened or shortened depending on the needs or the activity of the group of children.An example of objects that we can use as winter is approaching are: strips of toilet paper hanging from the ceiling simulating rain or flour spread on the ground in such a way that it looks like snow, ping pong balls along with white plastic cups and the floor lined with bubble wrap for wrapping.

• • Treasure basket, Montessori : This activity consists of placing in a box or in a basket, various everyday objects, such as wooden spoons, saucepans, strainers, milk cartons, mirrors, pinecones, kitchen paper rolls, etc. In short, everything you can think of that stimulates children’s senses and imagination.The basket will be presented in a room where children can interact with the objects freely, and it will be left to them freely. They will discover and use each object as they see fit, learning both on a motor and psychological level, etc; and finding out what creative possibilities the objects available to them give.

• Heuristic game: It is very easy to confuse the heuristic game with the basket of treasures or with the artistic installation, since all three are non-directed activities, in which the main objective is the exploration and discovery of connections between objects, as well as interacting with them.On the other hand, in the heuristic game, the materials or objects to be used are strategically placed in the room, dividing them into several game points, grouping said materials according to certain characteristics, for example wooden objects on one side, round objects on the other, etc.The older the heuristic game differs from the other two by a specific aspect, the placement of the space can be carried out in front of the children, they will observe how the adult or the educator arranges the objects in the classroom. This cannot be done in the artistic installation, since the surprise factor of the aesthetic environment is important in it.