What do you remember most fondly from your childhood at school? Probably not a frontal lesson, but a concrete experience: the first scientific experiment, a creative project or that time you cooked something with your own hands. These moments, which teach us through doing, represent the essence of experiential learning, a method capable of making education not only effective, but unforgettable. In this article we will explore experiential learning in detail, showing its advantages.
What is experiential learning?
Experiential learning is based on a simple but powerful principle: learning through direct experience. This approach transforms children from passive listeners into active protagonists of their learning process, making each activity an opportunity to discover, explore and reflect.
David Kolb is a reference theorist for this method. In his book Experiential Learning: Experience as the Source of Learning and Development, first published in 1984, he proposes a model of experiential learning (ELT – Experiential Learning Theory), organized in a cycle of four main phases:
- Concrete experience – children live a direct experience.
- Reflective observation – they reflect on what has happened.
- Abstract conceptualization – they connect the experience to theoretical concepts.
- Active experimentation – they apply what they have learned to new situations.
This cycle represents an ongoing process in which learning occurs through the interaction between experience and reflection.
Why is it so important for children?
Experiential learning offers numerous benefits, especially for children, who grow up in an age of continuous and rapidly changing stimuli:
Emotional and cognitive involvement: Working on real projects or practical situations allows children to be completely immersed in the activity. This direct connection stimulates curiosity, motivation and long-term memory.
Practical Skills Development: As children face real-world challenges, they learn to solve problems, collaborate with peers, and make independent decisions.
Deep Learning: Connecting theory and practice allows for better understanding of concepts and meaningful internalization.
Creativity and Critical Thinking: Experiential activities encourage children to think outside the box and explore innovative solutions.
Self-Esteem and Resilience: Overcoming difficulties in a practical context strengthens self-confidence and the ability to adapt to the unexpected.
The Kinder International School Bologna Experience
At Kinder International School Bologna, experiential learning is a fundamental pillar of the educational approach. The motto of our method is: “Learning by doing!”
We believe that experimenting is fundamental to learning, and for this reason we start from practical activities to get to the theoretical bases of knowledge, involving students in the creation of real teaching units.
For example?
- Interdisciplinary Workshops: We offer projects that integrate science, technology, art and mathematics (STEAM), where children create prototypes, experiment with chemical reactions or create artwork inspired by nature.
- Outdoor Education: We provide outdoor activities that combine academic learning with contact with the natural environment, such as studying biodiversity or observing astronomy.
- Culinary Experiences: We organize initiatives that combine culture and practice, such as preparing traditional recipes to understand geography and history.
- Social Projects: We believe in community service activities, which teach empathy and civic responsibility.
This approach makes the educational path not only more effective, but also incredibly exciting for our students, who feel inspired to learn.
An Education that Looks to the Future
Encouraging children to learn through experience means preparing them not only to excel academically, but also to face the complexities of life with creativity and determination. Experiential learning provides them with concrete tools to become active, aware and innovative citizens.
At Kinder International School Bologna, we don’t just teach “knowledge”: we teach “doing”. And it is through doing that children learn to dream and build their future.
