Experiential Education
Published on Nov 23, 2015
An evaluation on the current education system and the efforts being made to improve them.
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PRESENTATION OUTLINE
What is education?
ed·u·ca·tion
noun \ˌe-jə-ˈkā-shən\
: the action or process of teaching someone especially in a school, college, or university
: the knowledge, skill, and understanding that you get from attending a school, college, or university
: a field of study that deals with the methods and problems of teaching
Raise your hand if this picture reminds you of your own education.
noun \ˌe-jə-ˈkā-shən\
: the action or process of teaching someone especially in a school, college, or university
: the knowledge, skill, and understanding that you get from attending a school, college, or university
: a field of study that deals with the methods and problems of teaching
Raise your hand if this picture reminds you of your own education.
Photo by RLHyde
When did your view of education change?
Does this picture remind you of your education? If I had asked you to find a picture to represent your education, would anyone aside from art majors have chosen this picture?
The beauty of this picture is that this is a form of experiential education. In elementary art class, you had the chance to both learn about different types of art and make it.
The beauty of this picture is that this is a form of experiential education. In elementary art class, you had the chance to both learn about different types of art and make it.
Photo by Robert S. Donovan
Freshman year, I came to university and did this.
What do you see in this picture?
Books, a computer, lots of pens and pencils, a caffeinated beverage, a calculator, cookies, etc.
I spent most of my time studying, pursuing leadership because it looked good on my resume, all that jazz.
I spent all my time "studenting".
But there's more to life than that, even when you're at a university.
Books, a computer, lots of pens and pencils, a caffeinated beverage, a calculator, cookies, etc.
I spent most of my time studying, pursuing leadership because it looked good on my resume, all that jazz.
I spent all my time "studenting".
But there's more to life than that, even when you're at a university.
Photo by dave.dave.dave
Then I opened my eyes.
My favorite quote of all time says, "Discovery consists of looking at the same thing as everyone else and thinking something different." (Albert Szent-Gyorgyi)
There is so much to be said about the powers of observation and how they change your life.
There is so much to be said about the powers of observation and how they change your life.
Photo by VinothChandar
When I took time to notice,
I realized the faultiness of our own education system.
As I watched, listened and noticed, I saw two alarming trends among many friends.
1. Several of my friends were extremely passionate about engineering, but were questioning their passions because they were performing so poorly in classes which they perceived had nothing to do with their major.
2. At the same time, brilliant people who aced the "weed out" classes moved into upper level engineering classes only to discover they hated engineering. But it was too late to switch.
1. Several of my friends were extremely passionate about engineering, but were questioning their passions because they were performing so poorly in classes which they perceived had nothing to do with their major.
2. At the same time, brilliant people who aced the "weed out" classes moved into upper level engineering classes only to discover they hated engineering. But it was too late to switch.
Photo by derekbruff
How can this be improved?
Can it be fixed?
With the bureaucracy of education (especially within higher institutions), what can be done to improve the current education system?
How can we ensure graduates receive the best education possible both within and outside their field of interest?
With the bureaucracy of education (especially within higher institutions), what can be done to improve the current education system?
How can we ensure graduates receive the best education possible both within and outside their field of interest?
Photo by net_efekt
Interdisciplinary classes.
I'm sorry the word interdisciplinary is slightly caught off, but this picture is too beautiful to be any more obscured.
This is the Panthenon in Rome. The dome with the hole at the center you're looking at could have never have been built with the modern technology. It would fall down.
Yet, it was finished in 14 AD and still stands today as a testament to both art and engineering. When you learn in a setting which combines people of different interests, you will both learn and produce great beauty.
This is the Panthenon in Rome. The dome with the hole at the center you're looking at could have never have been built with the modern technology. It would fall down.
Yet, it was finished in 14 AD and still stands today as a testament to both art and engineering. When you learn in a setting which combines people of different interests, you will both learn and produce great beauty.
Photo by steve p2008
Project based learning.
A second way to improve our education: project based learning.
It is so easy to sit class being lectured out and stop paying attention. You know, you're sitting there and all of sudden your phone is the most fascinating object in the world. In fact, some of you are probably looking at your phones right now.
That's because we are not impassive learners. Our brains are wired for active, hands on learning. And that's what project based learning allows us to do.
Physics here at Illinois is a great example of this. Instead of only watching a video with animations talking about gravity, you go into a lab every week. You can take two balls (or in my case pandas) of different masses and drop them to actually see that they land at the same time.
Some classes get even more in depth such as art classes where your final is a piece of art you produce which demonstrates everything you've learned for a semester. That is PBL.
It is so easy to sit class being lectured out and stop paying attention. You know, you're sitting there and all of sudden your phone is the most fascinating object in the world. In fact, some of you are probably looking at your phones right now.
That's because we are not impassive learners. Our brains are wired for active, hands on learning. And that's what project based learning allows us to do.
Physics here at Illinois is a great example of this. Instead of only watching a video with animations talking about gravity, you go into a lab every week. You can take two balls (or in my case pandas) of different masses and drop them to actually see that they land at the same time.
Some classes get even more in depth such as art classes where your final is a piece of art you produce which demonstrates everything you've learned for a semester. That is PBL.
Photo by St0rmz
Intrinsic motivation courses.
Third: intrinsic motivation courses.
When I think of motivation, I think of exercise.
Why?
Well, when you start out exercise, it takes motivation to get going and keep doing it. You pick what exercise you want to do and you get inspired by the idea of being fit and healthy which keeps you going through the hard parts.
Intrinsic motivation classes are pretty similar. They use project based learning to offer several different projects which demonstrate everything you've learned in the class. You choose the project you're interested in which in turn inspires you to work hard because you enjoy the project. You are intrinsically motivated.
When I think of motivation, I think of exercise.
Why?
Well, when you start out exercise, it takes motivation to get going and keep doing it. You pick what exercise you want to do and you get inspired by the idea of being fit and healthy which keeps you going through the hard parts.
Intrinsic motivation classes are pretty similar. They use project based learning to offer several different projects which demonstrate everything you've learned in the class. You choose the project you're interested in which in turn inspires you to work hard because you enjoy the project. You are intrinsically motivated.
Photo by John Steven Fernandez
Extracurricular activities.
Finally, extracurricular activities.
I think I've learned more about myself, engineering, people, etc. in student organizations than I have in most of my classes.
Extracurricular activities are an opportunity for us to explore our passions, create our own community, specialize, and so much more.
We have extracurricular activities because they enhance our education and make us think outside of ourselves.
I think I've learned more about myself, engineering, people, etc. in student organizations than I have in most of my classes.
Extracurricular activities are an opportunity for us to explore our passions, create our own community, specialize, and so much more.
We have extracurricular activities because they enhance our education and make us think outside of ourselves.
Photo by UC Davis College of Engineering
These opportunities impact more than your career choice.
Everything I just talked about impacts more than just your final career.
Our education here at this university is meant to prepare for the rest of lives, inside and outside of the workplace. We are learning the tools that will teach us how to approach challenges, handle hardship and define success.
These educational opportunities I just talk about give you the means to find joy in your life.
So what other life skills are you learning through experiential education?
Our education here at this university is meant to prepare for the rest of lives, inside and outside of the workplace. We are learning the tools that will teach us how to approach challenges, handle hardship and define success.
These educational opportunities I just talk about give you the means to find joy in your life.
So what other life skills are you learning through experiential education?
Photo by nixter
Teamwork.
Whatever your future career is, you need to be able work with a diverse group of individuals in a team to solve problems in all aspects of our lives.
Improving education by incorporating things like group projects will give you valuable teamwork skills.
Improving education by incorporating things like group projects will give you valuable teamwork skills.
Photo by Kadath
Communication.
I love this picture. Don't you guys?
Communication will also be key to our future careers and our personal lives. You need to be able to talk to people, tell them what you think, and communicate your decisions well.
If our education is turned into a community-oriented experience instead of a individualistic experience, we will learn better communication skills.
Communication will also be key to our future careers and our personal lives. You need to be able to talk to people, tell them what you think, and communicate your decisions well.
If our education is turned into a community-oriented experience instead of a individualistic experience, we will learn better communication skills.
Photo by judy_and_ed
Creativity and adaptability.
Creativity and adaptability.
The fact is that there is no right answer in life. Here in school, it's always about the right answer whether it's a green check mark on physics homework or a high peer review score in geography.
I think this inhibits our natural abilities to adapt and create.
We need to be taught more like we make art: where multiple solutions are accepted and evaluated based on the creativity of the creator and one's ability to adapt.
The fact is that there is no right answer in life. Here in school, it's always about the right answer whether it's a green check mark on physics homework or a high peer review score in geography.
I think this inhibits our natural abilities to adapt and create.
We need to be taught more like we make art: where multiple solutions are accepted and evaluated based on the creativity of the creator and one's ability to adapt.
Photo by chexee
Happiness.
With an improved education system, we will find our passions and where we are truly happy. We will feel like this little girl at Disney World.
An empowering education provides us with the tools to explore and find our future career while giving us tools that will make us successful throughout life, in your personal and professional life.
An empowering education provides us with the tools to explore and find our future career while giving us tools that will make us successful throughout life, in your personal and professional life.
Photo by tonyboytran
Education is more than receiving information. It's about what you do with it.
You are more than a brain on a stick attending lectures and doing homework. You are a person.
Education must be developed to help all students develop to become world citizens who contribute to society.
With the implementation of improved educational methods, we will learn more and do more.
Education is not just a mode of learning. It's an opportunity to be empowered to change the world. I hope all of you will go on to do just that.
Thank you so much!
Education must be developed to help all students develop to become world citizens who contribute to society.
With the implementation of improved educational methods, we will learn more and do more.
Education is not just a mode of learning. It's an opportunity to be empowered to change the world. I hope all of you will go on to do just that.
Thank you so much!
Photo by sciencesque
