Experiential Learning Theories And Its Applications In Adults' Training

Experiential learning (EL) refers to the process or capability of learners' first having self experience from everyday life and structured education, then reflecting, summarizing, discussing, evaluating on the experience to obtaining new understandings, emotions or behaviors and finally examining and using them in actual life. EL emphasizes learner-centered. So it can highly motivate the learners, improve their EL ability, and extend their learning effectively in more opportunities, which is quite important to people's lifelong development.As concerned to research on EL, although it has a long history and many achievements, there is few on the instructional models of EL. So teachers are lack of theoretical supports to cultivating learners' EL ability. The main purpose of this research is to explore a general model of experiential learning for adults' training.The research has three major sections: 1. theoretical studies, which based on EL theories and its applications, analyze the psychological mechanism of EL, specify the principles and processes of experiential learning, and finally construct a general model of experiential learning (GMEL); 2.empirical studies, which examining the GMEL under different learning objectives; 3.general conclusion, which conclude the GMEL effects and conditions for having the effects, and also forecast further studies.According to theoretical studies, EL is the most basic and widely-used way of human beings' learning. It has three key elements: experience, reflection and examination. Adults' experiential learning process goes through experience, reflection, sharing, discussion and evaluation, abstract conclusion and actual examination. It should be learner-centered, and adjusted according to different learning objectives. The major roles of teacher are providing challenging experience to learners, encouraging learners to reflect and discuss, and giving learners support when necessary.Results from empirical studies show, GMEL can improve learners' EL ability, improve their working skills and attitudes, and enhance their work performance. Teachers can master the GMEL and apply it into different learning objectives. However, when implementing it in specific class, teacher should take students' characteristics, subject matter, and other requirements into fully consideration.Based on the studies above, we set a high referential value on GMEL, and strongly recommend GMEL be generalized in adult training.