Everything You Need to Launch Experiential Learning Today

I have had many people reach out over the past few months asking about experiential learning in k-12 classrooms. What are experiential learning activities? What are some examples of experiential learning? How do I transition to experiential learning in my classroom or home learning environment right now? I have even had educators reach out that are in the process of starting experiential schools. That is really exciting, and from what I'm gathering, also a little scary and chaotic for these educators.

All of the questions that I'm getting revolve around what is needed to launch experiential learning. Most are looking for a curriculum or set of resources to do the trick.  This post is to make recommendations for those exact tools and resources. I have written up two different resource catalogs in this post that will give you everything you need to start experiential learning seamlessly right now.

The resources recommended here promote personalized, student-directed learning experiences for middle and high school students. Check them out and reach out ANYTIME with questions, and continue to follow this  current series on experiential learning for more tips and tricks.

If you're not entirely ready for the plunge or you would like to get a better idea of what experiential learning might look like in your classroom, access my free (and growing) experiential learning library. 

Free Experiential Learning Resource Library

Getting Started with Experiential Learning: Resource Catalog

The following catalog of experiential learning resources is meant to be used by students to design and execute their own learning experiences. So the suggested set of resources here are for those of you that are ready and willing to dive right in into experiential learning. 

Catalog 1: Experiential Learning Starter Kit

This starter kit includes: 

1. Personal learning plan 
2. Learning Activity Tool Kits
3. 21st-Century Skill-Building Portfolio

The rest of this blog post goes over each of elements of experiential learning and how the resources included in the starter kit complement those elements.

1. Resources that Personalize Learning

Experiential learning is personalized, meaning learning experiences are designed around students' unique interests, backgrounds, hobbies, learning styles, and more. Here are a few helpful tools that you can use to get to know your students and for your students to get to know themselves! 
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• Free Project Brainstorming Activities: Students go through a series of activities that help them discover their interests, and therefore, set the stage for future projects or learning experiences. Take a look at this post on interest-led learning.
• Personal Learning Plan: A personal learning plan (PLP) is so important in experiential learning environments, because like I said, experiential learning is personal. Students develop their personal learning plans right away, and modify or add to them throughout the year. Click ​here for a blog post on making experiential learning personal.

2. Student-Directed Learning Resources

As you've seen in my experiential learning blog series, student-led learning experiences are key. How do you make learning student-directed? By giving students choices based on their personal interests and experiences. I have several student-directed learning activity tool kits that can be used over and over and over again, which are all included in the starter kit. 
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• Project-Based Learning (PBL) Tool Kit: Project-based learning, when student-directed, is a powerful learning tool. It is also my go-to learning experience because it is so easy to personalize. Project-based learning is authentic, community-based, real-world, and so much more. Check out my PBL blog series here for more details.
• Problem-Based Learning (PrBL) Tool Kit: My problem-based learning tool kits help guide students through identifying and solving real-world problems. They look at the problem from a variety of angles, research all sides, talk with real people that have been impacted by the problem, and more.  
• Maker Project Tool Kit: I love adding design thinking to any learning experience because of all of the skills involved. Through trial and error students are always improving, they get creative, they practice communication and collaboration skills, and so much more. Click here for blog posts about maker education.
• Scientific Inquiry Tool Kit: Scientific inquiry is student-led scientific experimentation. The student makes the observation, asks the question, designs the experiment, and more. Take a look at my inquiry-based learning series for more.
• Community Action Projects Tool Kit: This tool kit provides the guiding materials for students to run their own service-learning type PBL. Students choose an issue of personal importance or interest, develop an action plan, and take action. For more information on my community action projects, read this post.​

If you're not in need of the entire starter kit, check out some of these smaller bundles. 
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• Student-Directed Learning Tool Kits Bundle: Includes PBL, PrBL, Maker, and Scientific Inquiry Tool kits.
• 21st-Century Skill-Building Activities Bundle: Includes PBL, PrBL, Maker, Scientific Inquiry, and Community Action Project tool kits, plus a digital 21st-century skills portfolio. 
• Personalized Project-Based Learning Bundle: Maybe you only want to start with project-based learning. Try this bundle that includes the PBL tool kit and the personal learning plan. 

3. 21st-Century Skill-Building Resources

Developing skills and competencies for life is equally as important, if not more important, than gaining content knowledge. Content can be Googled. The skills to locate information that is not Googleable is more necessary in the 21st-century. 

• 21st-Century Skills Portfolio: Experiential learners can showcase skills developed through experiential learning with my 21st-Century Skills Portfolio. Students showcase evidence of skill-building and reflect on those skill-building experiences. There is a printable and digital option. Click here for tips on adding 21st-century skill-building to your curriculum.

4. Resources to Showcase Learning

"Assessments" have a different meaning in an experiential world. In my 13 years in experiential education, I can safely and accurately declare that I have never administered a test. Yes, testing might have its place, but that place is not in an experiential learning environment. It simply wouldn't make sense. 

So how do I evaluate learning? 

• Rubrics: I evaluate single projects or learning experiences with rubrics. ** Each tool kit mentioned above comes with its own rubric.
  • Rubric Bundle: If you're not interested in the tool kits, but could use help with the rubrics, consider this bundle.
  • Student-Generated Rubric: As I've mentioned often on this blog, experiential learning is student-directed. So why not have students create their own rubrics? If learning experiences are personalized, evaluations can/should be as well. I have a student-generated rubric template for that reason. 
• Reflections: An important piece of experiential learning is reflecting on the experience. Every single one of my resources includes a reflection piece. But if you're just looking for a generic reflection, check out this freebie in my store.
• Assessment Portfolio: This is key! Experiential learning IS THE curriculum, not a piece of it or a supplemental activity, so if you are really diving into experiential learning head first, get on board with an assessment portfolio. Students add ALL of their learning outcomes (session, year, or even an entire academic career) into one portfolio, such as photographs of their final products, rubric scores, reflections, and more.
  • Free Project Assessment Portfolio: Get it for free when you sign up for my newsletter. It is a Google Slides, digital resource, so can be copied and shared with each student. They then manage their own portfolio over the course of the year.

Catalog 2: Guided Experiential Learning Resources

If you are not a plunge-right-in-and-see-what-happens sort of person, try making a gradual transition to experiential learning with these guided resources rather than getting tool kits mentioned above. At least right off the bat. 
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• Project-Based Learning Instruction Manual + 20 projects
• List of themed project-based learning resources that offer students choice but are still guided. Great for a gradual transition. 

I hope that this has been helpful, and as always, reach out with questions. I have played around with the idea of offering a professional development course that would help educators launch experiential learning. 

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