Masters Project Topic Post #1

Reflecting on my own experiences as a student in the classroom, and from my own recent observations and experiences in a fifth grade classroom I discovered experiential learning and the power that lies within these practices.  It has become evident to me that student’s attitudes toward learning drastically improve and they are exponentially more engaged when experiential learning methods are enacted.  I was always a student that responded well to physical movement and interaction. These learning experiences from my time as a student are the ones in which I feel that I gained a deep understanding, my experience was memorable and more robust than any other traditional learning experience. I am intrigued by what makes this so, why do the components that make up experiential learning seem to lead to more authentic learning experiences and how can we effectively manage and implement them into a classroom setting. With the implementation of the Common Core Standards, it seems as though their will be more opportunities for experiential learning to take place, thus, it will benefit all educators to have background knowledge regarding this effective learning process. As a result, I created what I think will be my research question: What happens to student’s engagement in the learning process when experiential learning is integrated into language arts on a regular basis?