Learning by doing

Definition

Learning by doing is an educational approach where students engage in hands-on experiences to develop skills and understanding through active participation. This method emphasizes the importance of practical activities, allowing learners to construct knowledge through real-life tasks rather than passive reception of information. It is rooted in the belief that active involvement enhances retention and comprehension.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Learning by doing is closely associated with John Dewey's philosophy, which promotes experiential learning as a way to connect theory with practice.
2. This approach supports critical thinking and problem-solving skills as students navigate real-world challenges.
3. Dewey argued that learning is most effective when it is rooted in meaningful activities that engage students' interests and experiences.
4. Learning by doing often involves collaboration, encouraging students to work together and share insights as they tackle tasks.
5. It can be applied across various subjects, from science experiments to art projects, illustrating its versatility in education.

Review Questions

• How does learning by doing promote student engagement and critical thinking in the classroom?
  • Learning by doing encourages student engagement by making education interactive and relevant to their lives. When students participate in hands-on activities, they are more likely to invest emotionally and intellectually in their learning. This active involvement fosters critical thinking as learners must analyze situations, solve problems, and make decisions based on their experiences, rather than merely recalling information from lectures.
• Discuss how John Dewey's views on education influenced the implementation of learning by doing in modern educational practices.
  • John Dewey's views emphasized that education should be rooted in experience and relevant to students' lives, leading to the adoption of learning by doing as a key educational strategy. Dewey believed that through active participation, students could connect theoretical knowledge with practical applications. His ideas paved the way for modern practices such as project-based learning and experiential education, which prioritize hands-on experiences as central to effective teaching and learning.
• Evaluate the impact of learning by doing on long-term retention of knowledge compared to traditional methods of instruction.
  • Research indicates that learning by doing significantly enhances long-term retention of knowledge compared to traditional methods like rote memorization or lectures. Engaging actively with material allows learners to create personal connections and contextualize information within real-world scenarios, making it more memorable. Furthermore, this approach encourages ongoing reflection on experiences, further solidifying understanding over time. In contrast, traditional methods may lead to surface-level learning without deep comprehension or application.

Related terms

Experiential Learning: A process through which individuals learn by engaging in direct experience and reflecting on those experiences to enhance their understanding.

Constructivism: An educational philosophy asserting that learners build knowledge through experiences and reflections, emphasizing the role of the learner in the learning process.

Project-Based Learning: An instructional method where students gain knowledge and skills by working on a project over an extended period, often solving real-world problems.