Experiential Learning: Avoid Formality

During my writing assignments, I encountered many experiential activities of students at the grassroots level. This activity is being widely implemented by many schools in the province and is supported by parents and students. In fact, experiential learning is very necessary and effective, and has been evaluated and affirmed by the world. However, in order for experiential learning to achieve its purpose and meaning, it is necessary to understand and implement it correctly.

Báo Thái Nguyên•30/03/2025

Most of the experiential activities and career guidance activities that schools currently organize for students to visit tourist attractions, relics, museums, farms... (photo source: Internet).

Most of the current experiential and career guidance activities, schools organize for students to visit tourist attractions, relics, museums, farms... (photo source Internet).

According to the 2018 General Education Program, experiential activities and career guidance activities are compulsory educational activities, taking up a large amount of time in the entire program. These activities are oriented, designed and guided by schools. This is an opportunity for students to approach reality, mobilize knowledge and skills from different subjects to perform assigned tasks or solve practical life problems appropriate to their age. Through experiential activities, students can develop their creativity, adapt to life, the environment and future careers.

In the process of implementing the 2018 General Education Program, besides the efforts of relevant parties and many positive results achieved, there are also places and schools that consider experiential and career guidance activities as formalities, socialization... not true to the meaning of education. For example, in some places, during a school year, schools take students of all grades to visit a few places such as tourist attractions, museums, farms... Mainly for students to visit, learn, take pictures... Such activities are essentially outdoor activities.

After the field trip, all schools require students to submit a report. However, because the organization is like a field trip, many students do not absorb much knowledge, so to write a report, many parents have to search the internet for the places their children went to so that their children can find information to complete the report.

As mentioned above, although these activities help students have fun, reduce stress, and learn about activities outside of school, it is not appropriate to equate field trips with compulsory educational activities (experience and career guidance). Obviously, experiential education not only helps students develop their memory through practical learning, but more importantly, it develops skills such as: observation, perception and thinking, feeling, expressing emotions... only then can the goal of the 2018 General Education Program be achieved, which is to aim for comprehensive development.

Source: https://baothainguyen.vn/xa-hoi/202503/hoc-tap-trai-nghiem-tranh-hinh-thuc-9db0583/