A review of modern perspectives on learning would not
be complete without some mention of the increasing
awareness that we now have of the importance of experiential
learning and its relationship in developing not
only domain skills within the learner but also an understanding
of new applications for such domain skills.
Although experiential learning was first proposed by
David Kolb in his 1984 paper titled
Experiential Learning:
Experience as the Source of Learning and Development
, the principles outlined in this work can be
traced back to the concept of the craft apprenticeships
in the Middle Ages. Kolb also referred to an old aphorism
accredited to Confucius around 450 B.C.: “Tell
me, and I will forget. Show me, and I may remember.
Involve me, and I will understand.” This chapter discusses
experiential learning in a modern perspective
and provides the reader with a deeper understanding of
the concepts associated with these ideas and the likely
future directions for applying experiential leaning
within the context of technology-enhanced lifetime
learning.