Abstract:
Experiential Learning Instruments (ELls) are employed to modify the
leamer's apprehension and / or comprehension in experiential learning
situations, thereby improving the efficiency and effectiveness of those
modalities in the learning process. They involve the learner in reciprocally
interactive and determining transactions with his/her environment.
Experiential Learning Instruments are used to keep experiential learning a
process rather than an object. Their use is aimed at the continual refinement of
the learner's knowledge and skill. Learning happens as the leamer's
awareness, directed by the use of Ells, comes to experience, monitor and then
use experiential feedback from living situations in a way that facilitates
knmvledge/skill acquisition, self-correction and refinement.
The thesis examined the literature relevant to the establishing of a
theoretical experiential learning framework within which ELls can be
understood. This framework included the concept that some learnings have
intrinsic value-knowledge of necessary information-while others have
instrumental value-knowledge of how to learn. The Kolb Learning Cycle
and Kolb's six characteristics of experiential learning were used in analyzing
three ELls from different fields of learning-saxophone tone production,
body building and interpersonal communications.
The ELls were examined to determine their learning objectives and
how they work using experiential learning situations. It was noted that ELls
do not transmit information but assist the learner in attending to and
comprehending aspects of personal experience. Their function is to telescope
the experiential learning process.
