Understanding Experiential Learning

Imagine exploring math concepts by installing a wooden planter in a community garden. Or studying weather patterns during a nature walk, and writing a story after visiting the local newsroom.

That’s experiential learning, and incorporating it into the school day benefits students and sparks their academic growth.

“Learning doesn't just happen in the classroom. At this age, research shows learning needs to be connected to an experience,” says Lizzie Forshee, a longtime teacher and special education coordinator at Laura Jeffrey Academy, a STEM middle school in St. Paul, Minn. “Experiential learning makes that moment a memory and puts that imprint into our brains. That application of knowledge is where they are going to remember their classroom learning.”

What is experiential learning?

Simply put, it is learning through experience or action. It incorporates real-world application and hands-on activities. And it brings concepts, ideas and textbook lessons to life. It also allows students to investigate, inquire and reflect, as well as expand critical thinking and explore academic concepts in new ways.

“It is the difference between reading a book about staying warm in the winter versus going out and building a Quinzee and starting a fire,” explains Terrence Thigpen, dean of students at Laura Jeffrey Academy, which serves middle school students in grades 5-8.

Why is experiential learning valuable for middle school students?

Experiential learning extends beyond stand-alone field trips at Laura Jeffrey Academy. It’s embedded into the school’s curriculum, allowing students to identify their strengths and apply what they’ve learned. 

“It’s rooted in two-way learning, open conversations, cool experiences and real-world applications,” Forshee says. “It gives them an ‘I can’ attitude and builds their confidence.”

Inside of the classroom, experiential learning could include:

• Cooking pancakes in class to examine different chemical reactions that happen when using various products.

• Learning how to count money and then operating a school store, including stocking inventory, pricing items and a balancing budget

Outside of the classroom, experiential learning could include:

• Visiting an amusement park to better understand the engineering involved in roller coaster design before constructing model roller coasters in class  

• Visiting a Hydroponics and Aquaponics farm to learn about the life cycle of a bug 

• Visiting a skate park or watching the X-Games after using math and science concepts to design and build a longboard 

What makes experiential learning special?

Student engagement is what makes experiential learning special, says Maddi McDonell, a school social worker at Laura Jeffrey Academy. When students are fully immersed in process, action and exploration, it enriches their educational experience and makes learning more valuable — and fun, too.

Another example of experiential learning at Laura Jeffrey Academy is having scholars monitor, research and care for chick eggs before they hatch, McDonell adds. Through this hands-on project, they can:

• Learn how to care for the eggs and raise chicks

• Study incubators, including lighting and temperature 

• Research science concepts like agriculture and zoology

• Identify details and use writing skills to track daily progress notes

• Visit an urban farm to view chicken coops and interview a farmer 

“It’s all about applying it to everyday learning,” Forshee says. “Everyone has information and ideas to share. We can take the curriculum and content we’re teaching and then go out into our community and see it in action. Experiential learning weaves all of these various lessons and experiences together to make learning memorable.”

Laura Jeffrey Academy (LJA) is a tuition-free public middle school in St. Paul MN. Our inclusive, culturally diverse learning environment is open to all students in grades 5-8. At LJA, we develop scholars with big hearts, bright futures and the ability to think critically. They are encouraged to explore their potential, discover their brilliance and develop their intellect.