This captures everything that constitutes a learning process — from activities and classes which take place in a traditional classroom setting to those activities, classes, or sessions that occur outside of a traditional classroom environment.
Learning experiences in educational settings should ideally be interesting, challenging, engaging, meaningful, rich, and appropriate to learners’ requirements. They often include different contexts and environments that transform the learners’ views, trigger emotional qualities, assist conceptual understanding, and foster the acquisition of knowledge, skills, and attitudes. When it comes to predicting further learning, previous learning experiences play a crucial role.
For creating an effective learning experience, educators need to understand the learner’s context (past, present, and future), find out and respond to the learner’s current level of knowledge, and provide appropriate and adequate practice over time.
Unlike what many may think, learning experiences aren’t just a binary relationship between a learner and the educational content. Rather, they are about when, where, how, and why a learner interacts with the content. Thus, learning experiences depend on factors like application, engagement, and collaboration. Their efficacy is also evaluated by how well they can meet the learners where they are in their different stages of learning requirements, irrespective of whether they are taking up refresher courses or brand-new ones.
There are different methods to enhance learning experiences in particular ways. For instance, standardized tests and quizzes backed by rapid feedback, trial-and-error activities, or guided step-by-step exercises and demonstrations can encourage a behaviorist approach to learning. Educators can use real-life-based projects, group or individual problem-solving sessions, treasure hunts, etc., to foster a cognitive or constructivist approach. Several other learning activities can be organized to encourage a relational approach or social learning approach. The key is to interact with real people and real-life situations or simulate them to find answers to problems or locate resources that can help address a need.
A lot of learning experiences are designed with the brain in mind. However, it’s important to realize that learning isn’t just about the brain. Several meaningful actions in this world are, in large part, created and driven by social and cultural norms. As a result, learning too is significantly influenced by social and cultural context. Since the emotional, cognitive, and socio-cultural dimensions of learning are interrelated, educators need to consider them when designing learning experiences.
Learning experiences are influenced by multiple factors, which is why they should be designed with a human-centric approach that ignites intrinsic motivation.