How Should We Measure Experiential Learning?

Abstract

The question “What is experiential learning? is one that has been asked frequently in ABSEL. In fact, Gentry (1990) used this question as the title of a chapter in the ABSEL Guide to Simulation Gaming and Experiential Learning. and Gentry (1981) and Ward (1981) also used the same title for editorials in the ABSEL News and Views. But, to a large extent, the discussion has really focused on what is experiential teaching, as much of the verbiage has dealt with the pedagogical domain. Is an internship “experiential learning?" Is computer-assisted-instruction? Part of the issue related to the identification problem which ABSEL itself faced: what topics are appropriate for papers to be given at the yearly conference, and what ones are not? What has resulted is a focus on pedagogy as seen by the instructor or by the developer.