Papers by Catherine Shooter
2000 Annual Conference Proceedings
Experiential learning can be simply described as learning through doing. It is a process through ... more Experiential learning can be simply described as learning through doing. It is a process through which individuals construct knowledge, acquire skills and enhance values from direct experience. Traditional engineering education has included experiential components through laboratory assignments often linked with a course. Students would read the lab handout, perform the procedures, and then write a brief lab report describing the results which is then graded and returned. Principles of experiential learning suggest a more active approach that is better suited to design education. Throughout the experiential learning process, learners are actively engaged in posing questions, investigating, experimenting, being curious, solving problems, assuming responsibility, being creative and constructing meaning. A design report tends to focus on the final designed artifact and its satisfaction of the design specifications. It does not often reflect the learning from the experience of designing. Meaningful learning occurs through reflection and resolution of cognitive conflict. This paper describes techniques for processing the design experience; that is, guiding the students through meaningful reflection. The result is that students gain more than just the experience of completing a design, but an enrichment and realization of the methods and skills developed.
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Papers by Catherine Shooter