Scientific Method Vs. Experiential Method

Experiential Methods

• Human beings remember 90 percent of what they practice, see, hear and discuss, according to Rutgers University. Traditionally, this combination of experiences occurs commonly in the workplace, but less in classrooms and therapy and training rooms, where the focus is often on talking or reading. However, experiential methods can be used in these situations to increase the effectiveness of the learning experience.

Experiential Learning Activities

• The Association for Experiential Education describes ways for teachers to not feel restricted by traditional teaching methods. Experiential learning tools can be creative and varied. Students might be asked to perform a research project on a subject, beyond library books and journals. Alternatively, a treasure hunt, following historically accurate clues, might be a suitable experience for an elementary school class. Other ideas include playing economics entrepreneurial games with actual tokens or coins, or training workers using practical workshops in which they do the actual tasks they need to perform.

Experiential Learning Model

• In order to optimise learning, the experiential learning model has five parts. The model starts with a hands-on activity such as those described above, and should be followed by a chance to process, share, generalise and re-apply the lessons with another hands-on session. One way of encouraging processing of "lessons learned" is to ask students to maintain a journal of what they are learning on the subject. This might be followed by a group activity applying the lessons with a shared group objective, which allows for sharing and discussion.

Scientific Method

• The scientific method involves a slightly different and more formal approach than the experiential method. A formal question, such as "What is the temperature at which water boils?" is asked, and a theory is created to answer the question. Then an experiment is designed to either prove or disprove the theory. Following the experiment, the evidence gathered is processed and generalized to determine whether the theory is correct or false. If the theory was proved wrong, then the evidence is reviewed and the new knowledge is applied to adjust the theory or create a new one. A new experiment is designed and performed.

Combining the Scientific and Experiential Methods

• The pattern of action, processing what happens and reapplying new knowledge is shared by the scientific method and the experiential method. One difference is that the scientific method must be written down so that the method, results and conclusions are clear to readers. Experiential learning can be recorded in this way, but often lessons are recorded only in students' minds. To follow both the experiential learning model and the scientific method simultaneously, practical group experiments allow discussion. Results can be shared in class between groups. Students can also keep a "lab book," where they process their observations, thoughts and questions during the experiment. This can be reviewed later to write a scientific report.