Experiential Learning in STEM Education

Hands-on learning is an essential component of a successful STEM education, so, when it comes to implementing that “hands-on” approach, educators can incorporate experiential learning into their strategy.

Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) subjects can be challenging for many students to embrace enthusiastically, and once students fall behind when it comes to STEM literacy, they can be negatively impacted well into their academic future and eventual career. By adopting an experiential learning philosophy, STEM teachers can help students avoid this fate.

In this article, we’ll explore the basics and benefits of experiential learning and how it can be brought into the classroom effectively.

Defining Experiential Learning

Put simply, experiential learning is learning by doing. Experiential learning, also called experimental learning or experiential education, gives students the opportunity to learn outside of a traditional classroom setting or activity. Rather than listening to a lecture or reading a book, students will work on a hands-on or immersive project that ties to the concepts they are learning.

According to the Association for Experiential Education, “Throughout the experiential learning process, the learner is actively engaged in posing questions, investigating, experimenting, being curious, solving problems, assuming responsibility, being creative, and constructing meaning.”

In practice, experiential learning centers the students. By offering engaging activities, experiential learning provides students with ample opportunities to develop key critical thinking skills. In the STEM classroom, this pedagogy can be highly effective.

The Experiential Learning Process

Experiential learning can be traced back to ancient philosophers who questioned the world around them, but it was formalized as an educational practice in the 1980s by David Allen Kolb. Kolb’s Experiential Learning Model explains a cyclical process of experiencing, reflecting, thinking and acting.

The four elements of this learning process include:

• Concrete experience: The learner takes part in the activity, taking note of all of their senses through the process.
• Reflective observation: The learner takes time to review and organize how they felt and thought during the process.
• Abstract conceptualization: The learner dissects their reflections in order to reach conclusions or form new theories.
• Active experimentation: The learner puts what they’ve learned to the test and challenges their findings.

Experiential learning can be effectively leveraged by tying in real-world applications of the concepts being taught. 

According to Kolb, experiential learning is a natural process, but by better understanding how it works, educators can ensure their hands-on activities are effective and optimized for maximum student success.

Experiential Learning in the STEM Classroom

A strong STEM curriculum will enthusiastically incorporate experiential learning. According to the National Science Teaching Association, “STEM education makes learning “real” and gives students opportunities to see the connection between the content they are studying and the application of that content in authentic and relevant ways.”

STEM concepts can be intimidating for students of all grade levels and abilities. Often, a modern STEM curriculum will include crucial concepts that are not common knowledge or a subject that parents are comfortable helping out with when it comes to homework. This further alienates STEM subjects from students.

Over time, students who do not have a positive, engaging relationship with these subjects may fail to develop a strong STEM identity. This can have negative consequences when it comes to future career aspirations and academic performance.

Experiential learning aligns well with other educational methodologies and standards, such as the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). When applying NGSS standards to middle school and elementary school STEM, educators can teach NGSS storylines and core concepts through hands-on experiential learning activities.

One of the most effective ways to bring experiential learning into your STEM classroom is through a dedicated STEM program like Kid Spark STEM Labs. The hands-on STEM labs from Kid Spark Education are designed to promote critical thinking and problem-solving skills while teaching key STEM concepts to elementary school and middle school students.

How to Incorporate Experiential Learning into Your STEM Classroom

When designing your STEM classroom, there are a few steps you can take to successfully bring in experiential learning.

1. Schedule a field trip.

There are countless opportunities to take your students out into the world to show them applications of STEM, and these field trips make for great experiential learning projects. Look beyond traditional museums where students may just absorb information visually, and instead pursue those trips that let students explore real-world STEM and get hands-on experience.

2. Choose a hands-on STEM program.

A great STEM program can be the cornerstone of experiential learning in STEM classrooms in elementary school, middle school, and beyond. Look for a program like Kid Spark STEM Program which features a comprehensive NGSS-aligned curriculum and professional development tools, making the integration of STEM into your classroom seamless. Kid Spark STEM programs utilize durable engineering materials for hands-on activities that encourage critical thinking and creativity.

3. Connect concepts to the real world.

Many STEM subjects can seem abstract and difficult for students to engage with beyond a superficial level. Don’t be afraid to bring in news stories and practical applications of what you’ve been teaching, encouraging students to ask questions along the way.

4. Modify existing activities.

Many of your existing classroom projects and activities may already closely align with experiential learning practices. Review those activities that are hands-on and have real-world applications to identify which projects would best work with this learning approach. Take students through the Experiential Learning Model when completing this activity, leveraging guiding questions at each step to help trigger engagement and critical thinking.

5. Practice reflection.

Reflection is an essential component of experiential learning, but it is an often overlooked skill for students. Take time to teach what good reflection looks like and continually incorporate it as a practice. You may benefit from creating a reflection journal for your students to work on during and after they complete a STEM project.

6. Leverage project-based learning.

Students can learn by doing—and they can also learn by teaching. Consider opportunities for students to conduct their own research on a STEM topic, potentially in collaboration with other students, and then present those to the class. Incorporate guiding questions and reflection into those presentations and projects.

Key Benefits of Experiential Learning

STEM educators already face a barrage of pressures, so the prospect of bringing in potentially complex experiential learning practices into the classroom can seem stressful. However, the benefits can be well worth it.

Benefits of experiential learning include:

• Critical thinking: The cyclical process requires regular reflection and critical thinking, allowing students to build those skills.
• Student engagement: Learners get the opportunity to see STEM concepts in action while taking a break from traditional education methods.
• Academic performance: Many students benefit from non-traditional learning techniques, giving them a better chance for academic success.
• Socio-emotional development: Experiential learning brings in regular reflection, allowing students to dive into their thoughts and emotions, along with practice collaborating with peers. 
• STEM identity: By having hands-on opportunities to learn STEM, students can begin to develop their own STEM identity as early as elementary school.
• Digital literacy: When students have learned to use and troubleshoot technology themselves, they can develop better digital literacy skills that will help them both in and out of the classroom.
• Career preparation: Experiential learning goes hand-in-hand with career and technical education (CTE) programs, as it provides students with their first look at potential future careers in STEM.
• Self-confidence: Learners are encouraged to explore their own autonomy in their education while developing their relationship to what they are learning.

This education methodology is particularly flexible, so it can be adjusted as needed within your STEM classroom and based on the needs of your students.

Experiential Learning with Kid Spark STEM

At Kid Spark Education, we developed elementary and middle school STEM programs with the value of hands-on activities top of mind. Our programs cover essential topics including applied mathematics, engineering, robotics, coding, and invention.

We offer two STEM labs which serve students in elementary school and middle school:

• Foundational Fluencies STEM Lab (PreK - Grade 1): The Foundational Fluencies STEM Lab and curriculum help Pre-K to 1st-grade students develop key skills for lifelong STEM learning. The lab's materials are child-friendly and collaborative; even beginners can build prototypes and gain confidence in STEM.
• Early lessons cover basic STEM skills like spatial reasoning, sequencing, symbolism, patterns, and symmetry.
• STEM Pathways Lab (Grades 2 - 5 and Grades 6 - 8): This STEM lab is highly flexible, including everything needed for students learning a range of technologies and subjects.

Our labs are student-friendly and reusable, and they come with a complete curriculum and all the educational materials you need to bring hands-on STEM to your classroom.

For example, the STEM Pathways Lab includes the Spark:bit, a robotics controller that can be combined with sensors, motors, and other Kid Spark materials to create interactive, robotics systems. Students with little to no coding experience start with simple drag and drop coding and can transition to text-based coding when they are ready.

The Spark:bit gives students the chance to learn a concept, decide what interactive robotic system they want to make, and then execute that project. It’s the perfect hands-on STEM Educational tool for experiential learning.

Chat with Kid Spark about Our STEM Programs

Experiential learning provides students with a clear connection between the concepts in their textbooks and STEM in the world around them. The practice promotes student engagement and fosters curiosity not just in STEM subjects but in the world around. For students as young as elementary school, this type of learning can help establish a strong STEM identity, which will be key for future careers in STEM.

When implementing STEM experiential learning, educators and school districts can look to Kid Spark Education and our hands-on STEM labs. Our elementary and middle school programs are comprised of progressive units of instruction that cover essential STEM concepts, accompanied by durable engineering materials that are student-friendly and provide easy classroom management. 

At Kid Spark, we are dedicated to disrupting the pattern of educational inequity and bringing hands-on STEM to students of all backgrounds and abilities. We are nurturing the next generation of successful professionals, bold thinkers, and passionate leaders.

To learn more about Kid Spark STEM programs, explore our curriculum—you can make an account at no cost to download our educational materials. You can also get in touch to schedule a time to chat about your STEM classroom needs.