Experiential Education

I found Zimmerman’s study of place based learning to be particularly interesting because it rests on a similar educational philosophy as that of Programs like Outward Bounds of SPOT. The motivating philosophy behind outdoor educational experiences is that, with the guidance of an expert, people may push themselves to adapt to often inclement or less than ideal situations, challenge themselves to accomplish tasks that are both physically and mentally demanding, integrate themselves into an environment by not just learning but experiencing the flora, fauna, topography and weather patterns of that area, and reflect on the above experiences with the ultimate goal being personal growth. I am a strong advocate for these types of educational experiences because they emphasize the application and contextualization of knowledge, something that is often difficult to communicate in a classroom setting.