OUR PHILOSOPHY
 

Our Approach

We believe that diversity is an asset. Through our experiential approach, we have found that addressing issues of difference can be an exciting, enriching and dynamic process that promotes personal growth, deepens community and increases capacity to engage effectively with difference.

Extensive research indicates that traditional rote forms of learning have not worked in bringing about transformational change in attitude or interpersonal and intercultural skill competencies.

The programs most likely to result in change and skill enhancement involve concrete, environmentally positive, action-oriented experiences.

Characteristics of Experiential Learning:

  • Involves learner in own learning
  • Engages all at meaningful level
  • Perceived as relevant and important
  • Confronts learner with situations, problems, tasks to assist them in navigating:
    - Questions they cannot answer
    - Problems they cannot solve
    - Situations which are difficult to handle
    - Differences of opinion
  • Generates data from participants
  • Promotes discussion
  • Challenges learner to do own thinking
  • Requires learner to examine and test own beliefs
  • Promotes learner’s decisions and evaluations regarding their own style and abilities
  • Provides chance for skill practice
  • Incorporates “emergent design” (training process is flexible)
  • Promotes learner self confidence and self esteem

Tell me, and I will forget.

Show me, and I may remember.

Involve me, and I will understand

Confucius

The focus of experiential education theory is experience. Experience serves as the main driving force in learning; then knowledge is constructed through the transformative reflection on one's experience.

It’s convenient to think of knowledge, skills, and attitudes as the three main fields in which learning can occur. Experiential learning is most useful when addressing areas of skills and attitudes.

The foundation of experiential learning involves the learner having a direct experience and then consciously reflecting on and drawing conclusions from it. These ‘conclusions’ or ‘insights’ are the lessons. Experiential learning varies from learning based on the experience of others, which can be what characterizes some more conventional forms of learning through lectures, books, etc.. Ultimately, experiential learning is active, engaged and dynamic, not passive.