Hi RJ,

I enjoyed reading your post on experiential learning. I agree that experiential learning supports our pod’s chosen topic of play-based learning. In our resource, our students are learning from their experiences of the environment that surrounds them as well as their experiences interacting and learning alongside their peers. I learned a lot from your post. I especially like the graphic you included depicting the cyclical nature of active experimentation-concrete experience-reflective observation-abstract conceptualization. I agree that experiential learning occurs throughout life and not just in classroom settings. I find that the most authentic learning experiences occur outside of the classroom from everyday experiences and interactions with others. It is when we can make learning real-world realistic that we are more likely to stimulate student engagement and motivation.

Another note. As a part of the BC curriculum, BC educators aim to include the First Peoples Principles of Learning in their practice. One of the principles values the importance of experiential learning. It states that “[l]earning is holistic, reflexive, reflective, experiential, and relational (focused on connectedness, on reciprocal relationships, and a sense of place)” (FNESC, 2020).

First Peoples Principles of Learning – First Nations Education Steering Committee FNESC. (2020). Fnesc.ca. http://www.fnesc.ca/first-peoples-principles-of-learning/

‌Hi Vikrant! Open pedagogies is something that interests me and I have explored it briefly. Last summer I took EDCI 339 (Distributed and Open Learning). In this course, I learned a lot about OER (Open Educational Resources) and explored open learning and developing personalized learning networks. If you are looking to research more into this topic I suggest looking up Laurence Lessig. He is one of the co-founders of creative commons. He was also the recipient of the Honourary Doctorate of Education (DEd) at my Uvic convocation this June.