Teaching for Experiential Learning: Five Approaches That Work

by Scott D. Wurdinger

This book describes how to change the way in which educators conduct business in the classroom. Our current educational systems lack ways to reach today's learners in relevant, meaningful ways. The five approaches in this book inspire and motivate students to learn. The authors provide in-depth descriptions into these overlapping approaches for experiential active learning, problem-based learning, project-based learning, service learning, and place-based education. Each of these five approaches includes an element of student involvement and attempts to engage students in solving problems. The chapters are presented in a consistent, easy-to-read format that provides descriptions, history, research, ways to use the approach, and resources. This book will help educators transform their classrooms into dynamic learning environments.

Genres: Nonfiction, Education

126 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[Dave Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

I came to this book as an instructor who has done very little in the way of experiential education and is eager to learn about it. The authors' writing is highly accessible. Each chapter does a great job of describing a form of experiential learning, giving some of the history behind it, presenting research that speaks to its effectiveness, and, perhaps most importantly, providing practical instruction on how to put these pedagogies to use. I will need to start implementing one or more of these approaches before I can definitively weigh in on the book's overall quality. Yet my first impression of this text is as favorable as it could possibly be.