1st edition: November 2008
The educational system in Greece focuses on the academic and cognitive development of students, and usually ignores or pays little attention to their emotional and interpersonal needs. This emphasis on academic performance has created a very competitive system that has undermined their motivation for learning, their interest in school and their creative processing of knowledge disseminated in the classroom. Given that personal and interpersonal processes are not dealt with systematically in most schools across the country, students have become passive recipients of knowledge instead of active contributors to the learning process.
If educators want to inspire students to develop their full potential and to assist in their growth, it is essential that they follow a more holistic approach to learning and teaching ,that goes beyond the mere transfer and accumulation of information.
By applying experiential methods, educators use the dynamics of their team, the emotional expression of their students and their introduction to new experiences so as to improve effectively the learning process. In essence, the educator fosters the development of his or her student’s cognitive, emotional, and social skills and competencies. Educators are often reluctant to apply experiential activities in their classroom fearing that they do dot have the necessary knowledge or skill to facilitate intrapersonal and interpersonal dynamics.
Experiential Learning: A practical guide for teachers and psychologists introduces educators, psychologists and all professionals who work with students to the main principles of experiential learning process. It presents in a concise manner experiential theory and methods, as well as issues of group development and dynamics. |