Experiential learning: new opportunities for staff development

Experiential learning

Recent findings in neurodidactics and brain research make it clear: words alone are, in fact, a rather limited medium for learning. Content that engages the body and involves doing holds far more potential. Emotional engagement, active participation, reflection and, above all, experience engage all the learner’s senses. This is exactly the basis of a method with a neuroscientific background: experiential learning, or EL for short. For staff development in particular, it is an approach that enables faster knowledge transfer with more lasting results.

The idea behind this modern learning method

This is a model of learning that sets aside artificial learning environments and relies on concrete, real-life experience. The model rests on the assumption that learning only becomes meaningful and effective through hands-on engagement with the subject matter. Experiential learning puts the learner at the centre. It is a special form of situated learning.

The learning cycle is usually divided into four phases

Experiential learning is structured around four phases. Each of these four phases can also be linked to a specific learning style.

Phase 1: Concrete, real-life experience; this is the starting point of the learning process within the model. Preferred learning style: diverger (people with a vivid imagination).

Phase 2: Observation and reflection; the learner looks back over what they have experienced. They play it through mentally and reflect on the causes behind the experience. Preferred learning style: assimilator (people who like to build theoretical models).

Phase 3: Forming abstract concepts; the insights gained from experience are now turned into knowledge. Moving from the specific experience to abstract ideas allows learners to infer the underlying principles and draw broader conclusions about the subject. The insights can now also be applied to other situations. In other words, in this phase the concrete experience genuinely shapes what the learners know. Preferred learning style: converger (people who are strong at putting ideas into action).

Phase 4: Active experimentation; here the focus is on the learner’s actions. You now put your newly acquired knowledge into practice by experimenting in real situations. As a side effect, the learner gains further concrete experience here. This leads them back to phase 1, and a new cycle begins. Preferred learning style: accommodator (people who tend towards intuitive problem-solving).

Why experiential learning is becoming more important for companies

In adult education, EL is becoming increasingly important. Business, too, has taken notice of this modern philosophy of learning. Many companies now include experiential learning among their staff development programmes. There are several reasons for this step. For one, technological changes, changes in production and digitalisation are changing what many employees need to know and do in most industries.

Conventional training no longer does the job

At the same time, both the level of abstraction and the complexity of professional work are rising. As a result, many tasks call for more or new knowledge. Another factor is the growing shift towards process-based working. This raises the technical and subject-matter requirements. At the same time, more and more social and personal skills are needed. Conventional approaches to developing skills and providing further training no longer do the job here, because they set different priorities. Whether it’s team building or a corporate event with a training element, experiential learning through practical, enjoyable activities helps your employees build their knowledge faster and retain it for longer.

Successful staff development informed by neuroscience

As specialists in team building and corporate events, we have delivered successful staff development programmes for years. The Interior Ministry of North Rhine-Westphalia, for example, has recently extended its cooperation with Teamio Event GmbH, covering the delivery of specific staff development programmes and team-building activities, until 2021.

In light of the latest neuroscientific findings, the teamio crew has incorporated experiential learning into the services it offers and the work it does. With a corporate event or team-building activity based on this approach, you can improve knowledge transfer compared with standard seminars.

Corporate events and team building: you also benefit from the emotions they generate

In a variety of simulated scenarios, your employees work out solutions together. Completing tasks and achieving goals together creates positive experiences for every individual participant. According to neuroscientific findings, positive experiences, together with the learner’s own emotional responses to them, are two key factors for successful learning and for lasting knowledge transfer.

At a corporate event of this kind, all participants are involved mentally, physically and emotionally. These emotions further reinforce learning and increase participants’ willingness to embrace change. This makes it easier for employees in companies to meet the new requirements.

Improve staff development in your company

In today’s global, digital world, forward-looking companies need employees who can adapt to changing requirements quickly and without a major loss of productivity. That calls for forms of learning that, compared with traditional teaching methods, give learners the chance to absorb and retain new knowledge. Experiential learning offers a valuable solution here, improving and simplifying both learning and knowledge transfer. Targeted team building or another team event can provide the crucial foundation for this.