Over the past four decades, this innovative learning approach has become a cornerstone of higher ed and used by institutions across the globe. But what does experiential learning mean in practice?
To answer that, and explore what is experiential learning and why it has made such an impact as an educational theory, you first need to look at what came before. Traditional learning theories typically focused – and still focus on – thinking and/or behaviour.
The former centres on how learners process information, solve problems and remember teachings, while behavioural theories prioritise actions and reactions using rewards or repetition – but often without considering how any teaching is being processed by the student.
Experiential learning transcends these approaches, promoting instead learning through experience. It’s not about simply reading or listening – it’s about doing, reflecting and applying.
Experiential learning meaning
Developed by educational theorist David Kolb (see ‘Who is…’ below), experiential learning theory promotes a circular approach made up of four key stages – known as the experiential learning cycle:
Experiential learning benefits
This cycle forms the basis of Kolb’s experiential learning model, which is widely used in experiential learning in higher education. The reason for the model’s popularity is simple; instead of memorising and regurgitating facts – often on-demand in examinations and being rewarded (or ‘punished’ for a bad grade) – experiential learning gives learners the opportunity to make their education their own.
The insights they gain are theirs and theirs alone.
This helps learners to understand, grow and improve their knowledge in a more personal, practical way. It’s what makes experiential learning so powerful particularly for vocations that rely on real-world, constantly evolving processes. And it’s why the approach has become so popular in higher education as it’s seen not simply as a ‘teaching technique’ – but as a framework for lifelong learning.
Who is David Kolb?
An American educational theorist and organisational behaviour specialist, David A. Kolb is regarded as the father of Experiential Learning Theory. While the theory’s roots had been explored by esteemed thinkers including John Dewey, Jean Piaget and Kurt Lewin, it was Kolb who first presented how it could be used practically within education by offering a research-based framework.
Featured in his 1984 book ‘Experiential Learning: Experience as the Source of Learning and Development’, the framework has been adopted by institutions and educators across the world.
“There are two goals in the experiential learning process. One is to learn the specifics of a particular subject, and the other is to learn about one’s own learning process.”
David A. Kolb
Which disciplines is it used for?
So important has experiential learning become over the past 40 years, it is now used to teach in over 30 disciplines across higher education. Common examples of experiential learning include:
Why is experiential learning ideal for certain disciplines?
How does experiential learning benefit students? While the approach can be used across higher education, the previous section offers clues why experiential learning excels in disciplines that require adaptability, critical thinking and real-world application. It offers:
- Experiential learning benefits like improving emotional intelligence and ethical judgment.
- Learning outcomes that go beyond memorisation.
- Safe environments for experiential learning assessment and growth.
Importantly, the framework is typically used in fields where learners must apply their knowledge in real-world situations that can often be unpredictable, sometimes challenging and even high pressured. For such scenarios, experience becomes vital – arguably, lifesaving in some cases if you plan to work in sectors such as healthcare.
In simple terms, experiential learning gives learners the knowledge and ability to ‘think on their feet’ – and so much more besides. Here’s how it breaks down:
What are the nine learning styles of the approach?
To deliver successful student journeys, Kolb’s four-stage model uses nine learning styles that can support experiential learning for students across disciplines. These styles are not rigid, individual pathways but are combined by educators to create a ‘blend’ that meets the needs of both the discipline and the learner.
For example, a nursing student may benefit from emotionally engaged and reflective styles, while an engineering student may be better served using analytical and conceptual approaches (see ‘Different learners, different learning styles’ boxout).
Adaptive blending
Educators can also adapt these blends at the cohort level right down to individual students as learners respond to new experiences and challenges. This flexibility and responsiveness are the core strengths of experiential learning, empowering educators to evolve their teaching strategies with ease.
The nine pathways are:
Different learners, different learning styles
To help understand how these different learning styles can be blended for specific fields and learner cohorts, here are three example ‘personas’:
Learning context: Clinical placements, patient care, ethical decision-making
Learning style blend: Experiencing, Imagining, Reflecting
How the pathways apply:
- Experiencing helps Amina engage emotionally and empathetically with patients.
- Imagining supports her in considering multiple perspectives during ethical dilemmas.
- Reflecting allows her to process clinical experiences and improve her practice.
Learning context: Classroom management, lesson planning, student engagement
Learning style blend: Initiating, Balancing, Deciding
How the pathways apply:
- Initiating encourages Callum to experiment with new teaching strategies.
- Balancing helps him adapt his approach to diverse classroom needs.
- Deciding supports the practical application of pedagogical theory.
Learning context: Team projects, leadership development, strategic thinking
Learning style blend: Acting, Thinking, Analysing
How the pathways apply:
- Acting encourages Priya to take the initiative in group tasks and simulations.
- Thinking helps her develop strategic frameworks and business models.
- Analysing supports her in evaluating outcomes and refining decisions.
How is the approach delivered in higher ed?
Because it represents such fundamental shift in approach – and takes time, resources and collaboration – experiential learning pedagogy requires careful planning, deep institutional support and buy-in from both teachers and students:
Educators
… evolve their role from being a ‘sage on the stage’ who directs all learning journeys to a ‘guide on the side’ who designs experiential learning strategies around real experiences, embeds the full cycle and assesses experiential learning activities reflectively.
Learners
… take a personal and much more direct stake and responsibility in their learning journey, shifting away from the lecture hall mentality of a ‘note-taker’ to a fully engaged ‘meaning-maker’ who embraces a full, meaningful role in their own education.
Together, this creates the ideal launchpad for experiential learning – but what practical steps do educators need to take to ensure their experiential learning strategy is a success?
Design learning around real experiences
The curriculum – and its inclusion of real-world experiences – forms the foundation of all experiential learning. Educators must identify the richest, most appropriate learning opportunities – such as early clinical placements in nursing – to underpin their experiential learning approach.
To be effective, each experience should align with intended learning outcomes, be properly timetabled (to allow for both preparation and follow-up), and involve external partners who are fully engaged and supportive of learners.
Embed the full learning cycle
Experiential learning is a cycle, not a one-off event, with students needing time to experience, reflect, build theory and apply their learnings. While a weekly or term-long structure will support this cyclical approach, it’s important that each phase is given proper space and time. Allowing students to simply rush through each weakens the impact and ultimately undermines learner progress – and the entire ethos of experiential learning.
Don’t just deliver
Experiential learning goes well beyond traditional education’s approach of delivering and presenting content – instead, it guides learning. To support this, use a variety of experiential learning methods. For instance, prepare prompts and scenarios allowing enough time for students to explore them as well as offer and receive feedback from their peers, plus digest structured feedback from educators and mentors.
Flexibility matters too – educators should put in place additional tasks for fast learners while offering the right scaffolding for those that require more support. To help identify who’s who, create feedback loops such as regular check-ins and reflections so strengths and weaknesses can be identified and addressed at speed.
Assess reflectively and formatively
While it is important to assess what learners produce, assessment should also focus on how students grow. Use regular formative tasks such journals, peer reviews and ePortfolios (see below) and ensure they align with the learning cycle. Rubrics should not only focus on ‘final answers’ but assess thinking, adaptability and application as well. Remember to deliver timely feedback, plus opportunities for students to revise their thinking to help them grow and improve.
Create a safe environment
Experiential learning often requires learners to take risks – from participating in high-stake environments such as clinical placements to a willingness to accept feedback from their peers. Together, this means putting emotional safety front and centre is paramount.
For high-stakes activities such as clinical placement, consider introducing debriefs for learners to air their thoughts and feelings, offer opt-outs and work with support services as and when required. Accessibility is also vital and can be supported by offering flexible formats, responsive materials and variable deadlines.
Keep evolving
Finally, remember that any approach will inevitably change over time. Experiential learning is all about creating a flexible framework that can be adapted to the emerging, evolving needs of students. That’s what makes it such a powerful approach.
How can learning technologies support experiential learning?
Experiential learning in ed-tech refers to the use of digital experiential learning platforms and tools to support hands-on, reflective learning experiences – making learning journeys meaningful and manageable for educators and students alike.
From mobile apps to ePortfolios, today’s digital tools help learners connect theory to practice by capturing experiences, sharing insights and demonstrating progress aligned with curriculum goals and professional standards.
By its very nature, experiential learning often involves complex and personal challenges – whether students are on placement, in the field or working on project-based learning. Critically, learning tech helps educators design, create and manage each of these pathways, support learners in real time and track development across diverse learning environments.
How PebblePad supports the approach
Experiential learning platform PebblePad makes it easier for educators to scaffold experiences, track progress and align activities with learning outcomes and professional standards.
Using the platform’s flexible templates, structured workbooks and reflective models – including a dedicated learning space for each student – educators can take full control over the process, creating pathways that encourage reflection, growth and evidence-based development. Students are supported by PebblePad, too, helping them capture their experiences, make sense of their learning and showcase their achievements. Importantly, the platform’s flexible structure also supports the accreditation of prior experiential learning, enabling learners to document and reflect on experiences gained before formal study.
Ultimately, by enabling feedback, collaboration and external engagement, PebblePad’s close alignment with the experiential learning definition ensures every experience delivers lasting value for both learners and institutions. It achieves this through using four core tools:
Experiential learning edtech in action
The following case studies offer real-world experiential learning examples of how educators and students use PebblePad to support the approach:
The university implemented Student-Led, Individually-Created Courses (SLICCs) using PebblePad to support credit-bearing experiential learning. Students engage in self-directed projects, reflect on their growth and align their work with institutional outcomes. The framework is now embedded across 30+ courses and supports curriculum transformation. Read more.
PebblePad was used to support a nature-based experiential programme. Students documented their learning through ePortfolio workbooks during US National Park visits, enabling deeper reflection and skill articulation in an immersive, outdoor setting. This innovative approach fostered engagement and personal growth in non-traditional environments. Read more.
PebblePad was deployed to streamline the assessment of professional competencies for Master of Social Work students. Learners used ePortfolios to document field experiences, reflect on practice and demonstrate readiness for professional roles with the platform improving transparency and consistency in experiential assessment. Read more.
PebblePad replaced paper-based placement records with digital workbooks, allowing nursing students to log clinical experiences, receive feedback and reflect in real time. This improved placement management, enhanced student confidence and supported alignment with professional standards. Read more.
How experience transforms education
Why is experiential learning important? Because it isn’t just another pedagogical approach – it’s a powerful way to connect theory with practice, deepen engagement, and prepare students for the complexities of the real world. Key experiential learning benefits include underlining:
- The importance of experiential learning in personal and professional growth.
- The advantages of experiential learning such as adaptability and resilience.
- An important, arguably essential shift away from passive to active learning.
Experiential learning encourages students to take responsibility for their learning, deepening their involvement and commitment with their chosen curriculum because they play such an active role in shaping its form and structure. From clinical placements to legal clinics and sustainability projects, such experiential learning examples demonstrate time and again how students take full ownership of their learning journey.
Design and deliver
Crucially, by using the right learning technology, educators can confidently design and deliver these experiences, ensuring that they are properly structured and aligned with professional standards. This ensures institutions can give every learner access to authentic, outcome-driven opportunities for fostering personal and professional growth – and helps students build the confidence, resilience and evidence they will need to thrive beyond graduation.
Key takeaways: Experiential learning benefits at a glance
About PebblePad
PebblePad is the only ePortfolio, workbook and assessment platform designed to unify the entire learning journey, from pre-arrival to alumni.
Built for the ambitions of higher education, the platform provides educators with powerful tools to support learning, teaching and assessment at scale. PebblePad seamlessly supports all activities, from the classroom to work experiences and even temporary endeavours like study abroad.
It’s a vital tool for institutions committed to fostering holistic, well-prepared graduates who are ready to embrace the opportunities – and face the challenges – of our ever-changing world. Learn more here.