What Is Experiential Learning & Why Does It Matter in Education?

Experiential learning is a transformative approach that redefines traditional education by prioritising active engagement over passive learning. Instead of sitting and listening, students learn by jumping in, trying things out, and reflecting on their achievements. This article explores what is experiential learning and its practical applications, focusing on its implementation at UNIS Hanoi.

By bridging classroom theory with real-world practice, experiential learning fosters holistic development, equipping students with essential skills for the modern world. Let’s get started!

Table Of Contents

What Is Experiential Learning?
Benefits of Experiential Learning
9 Experiential Learning Styles
How UNIS Hanoi Implements Experiential Learning
Promote Experiential Learning for Holistic Development with UNIS Hanoi

What Is Experiential Learning?

Experiential learning is an educational process in which learners get involved in actual activities and reflect on those experiences to better understand them. It engages students in practical activities, such as internships, science experiments, or community projects, allowing them to apply theoretical concepts to real-world situations.

This approach significantly boosts both academic progress and personal development. Through hands-on tasks, your child deepens their understanding of subjects, builds skills like teamwork and leadership, and grows in confidence, responsibility, and awareness of the world around them.

By linking lessons to everyday life, experiential learning ensures your child develops into a capable, well-rounded individual ready to tackle future challenges to navigate a complex global landscape.

Benefits of Experiential Learning

Experiential learning offers a dynamic approach to education, enabling children to engage actively with knowledge rather than passively receiving it. Below are distinct advantages that can significantly benefit your child’s development:

Enhance Practical Understanding

Experiential learning bridges the gap between theory and practice by allowing students to apply knowledge in real-world contexts.

For instance, a science lesson involving a simple experiment, such as building a model volcano, helps students grasp chemical reactions more effectively than reading about them in a textbook.

Encourage Collaboration and Communication

This approach promotes teamwork and verbal interaction as students often work together on projects or problem-solving tasks. A group activity like designing a small garden teaches children to share ideas, delegate tasks, articulate their thoughts clearly, and work cooperatively with peers.

Cater to Different Learning Styles

Experiential learning accommodates visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learners by incorporating diverse activities, such as drawing, listening to instructions, or physically assembling objects.

A child who struggles with traditional lectures might excel when tasked with constructing a bridge from craft materials, addressing all learning preferences.

Develop Soft Skills

Beyond academic knowledge, experiential learning nurtures essential soft skills like critical thinking, adaptability, and resilience.

For example, when students participate in a mock business fair, they learn to negotiate, solve problems under pressure, and adapt to unexpected challenges, preparing them for their future personal and professional lives.

Provide Real-Time Coaching and Feedback

Teachers can observe students during activities and provide immediate guidance, accelerating learning and building confidence.

During a practical activity, such as a maths game involving budgeting, an instructor can correct mistakes on the spot, helping students adjust and learn more effectively at the moment.

Fosters Lifelong Learning

By making education interactive and enjoyable, experiential learning instils lifelong learning for discovery that extends beyond the classroom.

When students explore topics like nature through a school gardening project, they develop curiosity and a proactive attitude towards learning, encouraging them to seek knowledge throughout their lives.

9 Experiential Learning Styles

Students engage with experiential learning differently, depending on personality, background, and preferences. Below are nine unique styles that show how your child might engage with this active learning process, offering a clear picture of their strengths and areas to grow.

Below are the styles and their characteristics:

Experiencing: Some children dive into learning with their hearts, focusing on feelings and actions rather than just theories. They are warm and intuitive, shining in group projects where they build trust and work well with others.
Reflecting: Reflective children prefer to pause and think deeply, relying on their feelings and ideas. They are great listeners—patient and thoughtful—which makes them skilled at spotting problems and understanding different viewpoints.
Analysing: Analytical learners love logic, careful planning, and taking time to reflect rather than rushing in. They are precise and methodical, excelling at breaking down tricky topics, like solving a puzzle step-by-step.
Imagining: Imaginative children blend feelings with thoughtful reflection, enjoying open-ended tasks. They are kind and creative, coming up with fresh ideas – like designing a story or art project – and supporting their classmates.
Thinking: Thinkers focus on logic over emotions, balancing thought with action. They are calm and organised, excellent at explaining ideas clearly or working through maths problems with a steady, independent approach.
Acting: Action-driven children jump into tasks with energy. They are confident and focused, thriving in tasks like leading a game or finishing a challenge, even when time is tight.
Deciding: Decisive children mix thinking and action to solve problems directly and simply. They might take charge in a game, setting goals and figuring out the best way to win with a practical approach.
Initiating: Initiators jump into action with enthusiasm, guided by their feelings. They are bold and adaptable, eager to try new things – like starting a class activity – and keep going even if the project fails.
Balancing: Balancers adapt to any style needed for a task, switching between thinking, feeling, and doing. They are versatile, stepping in to fix problems or help, like adjusting a group plan to ensure everyone’s success.

How UNIS Hanoi Implements Experiential Learning

UNIS Hanoi embraces experiential learning to enrich our student’s education journey. Our approach fosters practical, hands-on experiences that resonate beyond the classroom.

Field Trips: We take students to cultural sites, businesses, and natural settings, offering direct interaction with environments illuminating their studies.
Project-Based Learning: We assign innovative projects linked to real-life problems, prompting students to plan, collaborate, and create, honing their analytical and creative capacities.
Service-Learning: Our service initiatives empower students to contribute to the community, applying their learning to practical ends while fostering civic engagement.
Experiments and Lab Activities: We conduct practical experiments, enabling students to explore variables, interpret results, and develop critical thinking through scientific inquiry.
Debates and Discussions: We encourage debates on current topics, where students research, argue, and discuss, building confidence and communication skills through structured dialogue.

How UNIS Hanoi Implements Experiential Learning

UNIS Hanoi defines experiential learning through a curriculum rich with practical experiences, from discussions to scientific labs, ensuring students connect concepts to reality. Our students thrive by applying knowledge practically.

The centre of our approach is Service Learning Projects, which are aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. We guide Middle and High School students to work with our community, tackle critical global issues, and award certificates for significant efforts towards these aims.

Promote Experiential Learning for Holistic Development with UNIS Hanoi

Experiential learning promotes balanced development, uniting hands-on experience with insight. At UNIS Hanoi, we embed this to empower students fully. Knowing what is experiential learning illuminates its value in our approach.

Join us at UNIS Hanoi to experience this transformative journey. Our admissions team is ready to guide you. Apply online for the 2025-2026 academic year or contact admissions@unishanoi.org for personalised support.