Conditioning and Experiential Learning
Through the last few articles, we touched a lot on these two topics so I’m going to condense, reiterate, and explain the connection between all of these “types of learning.” They are all heavily related, so let’s run back through everything.
What is Conditioning?
Conditioning is a type of learning that occurs when an organism, typically an animal or a human, forms an association between a stimulus and a response. In conditioning, a particular stimulus is presented repeatedly in association with a particular response, such as a reward or a punishment. Through this repeated pairing, the organism learns to associate the stimulus with the response, and eventually, the stimulus alone can elicit the same response.
There are two main types of conditioning: classical conditioning and operant conditioning. In classical conditioning, a neutral stimulus is repeatedly paired with a biologically significant stimulus, such as food or pain, which leads to a learned response. In operant conditioning, a behavior is either reinforced (rewarded) or punished, which leads to an increase or decrease in the frequency of the behavior.
What is Experiential Learning?
Experiential learning is an educational approach that emphasizes learning through hands-on experiences and reflection. This approach is based on the idea that people learn best by doing and reflecting on their experiences, rather than just passively receiving information. The process of experiential learning involves several steps, including concrete experience, reflective observation, abstract conceptualization, and active experimentation.
In the first step, concrete experience, learners will engage in a real-world or simulated experience that provides the basis for learning. This can involve participating in an activity, working on a project, or solving a problem.
The second step, reflective observation, involves learners reflecting on their experience and observing what happened, how they felt, and what they learned. This step encourages learners to look at their experience from different perspectives and consider the impact of their actions.
In the third step, abstract conceptualization, learners make connections between their experiences and broader concepts or theories. This step involves analyzing and synthesizing information to create new knowledge and understanding.
Finally, in the fourth step, active experimentation, learners apply what they have learned to new situations and challenges. This step allows learners to test their new knowledge and skills in practical contexts and make adjustments as needed.
If this sounds familiar to you, well, it is. You’ll learn that all types of learning are very interconnected. Cognitive learning involves developing mental processes and strategies for understanding and problem-solving. In experiential learning, learners may develop cognitive strategies for approaching new challenges based on past experiences. Observational learning involves learning through watching others and imitating their behavior. In experiential learning, learners may observe and learn from the experiences of others, such as reflecting on how a team member approached a project and what they learned from it.
So, how does this actually help me?
By using all of these types of learning, learners can change the way they think and approach new challenges. By reflecting on their experiences and making connections between them, learners can develop new cognitive processes and strategies for problem-solving. By observing others and making associations between stimuli and responses, learners can develop new behavioral patterns.
Experiential learning can also be used to improve performance in video games. For example, by engaging in concrete experiences such as playing the game and reflecting on what happened, (VOD Reviewing) learners can develop new strategies for improving their aim or understanding game theory. By abstractly conceptualizing these experiences and actively experimenting with new approaches, learners can make improvements in their gameplay. (Applying what you learned, or hypothesized from the review)