Experiential learning and graphing calculators

Introduction

This wiki explores some of the links between experiential learning and graphing calculators.

Chantelle Bowers

Memorial University

Experiential learning

Experiential learning is learning by experience throughout a person’s everyday life (Neill, 2006). Experiencing what is being studied through a hands-on approach rather than learning about it through an indirect approach allows students to learn through experiential learning (Smith, 2001). Experiential learning can benefit teachers and students. It provides teachers with another view on how students think and learn. This enables teachers to further help students in learning and understanding the topic being studied (Reilly, 2009). There are four categories of experiential learning styles. They include activist, someone who would rather experience learning by doing; reflector, someone who reflects on what they have learned through observation; theorist, someone who chooses to understand concepts, reasons, and relationships; and pragmatist, someone who experiments with things to see if they work (Atherton, 2009).