Think back to when you were a child. How did you learn to walk? You probably crawled around for a bit, eventually found your feet, fell over (a lot!) and then, after practice, found your balance and began to walk forward confidently. That is experiential learning in its purest form.

Consider what food you enjoy eating - and what you absolutely can’t stand (for me it’s mushrooms!). I’ll bet that you’ve tasted the foods on both lists, haven’t you? Your hobbies, too, whether it’s playing football, reading, swimming or travel - the chances are that you’ve experienced something that you like or that challenges you. Through sport, with practice, you’ve improved. If you love to travel, you can tell me about your favourite destinations and why they captivated you.

Everything we do, see, hear, taste or feel - and how we make sense of those experiences - has its roots in experiential learning. This is why learners can derive so much meaning from these experiences. The more personalised the experiences are, the more transformative they become.

In educational contexts, experiential learning takes numerous forms: project-based learning where students tackle real-world challenges, service learning through community engagement, work-based learning, simulations, case studies, and collaborative research projects. Each approach recognises that we learn best when we’re actively engaged, not passively receiving information.

For working professionals, parents with caring commitments, or those from underrepresented backgrounds who may have felt excluded from traditional educational settings, experiential learning offers something revolutionary: education that adapts to you, rather than demanding you adapt to it.

David Kolb’s experiential learning cycle illustrates this beautifully: we have concrete experiences, reflect on them, form abstract concepts, and then test these in new situations. John Dewey championed “learning by doing“, while Paulo Freire emphasised how learners bring their own experiences and perspectives to education. This isn’t just educational theory - it’s how humans naturally learn.

For neurodiverse learners, this approach can be particularly powerful. Rather than forcing everyone into the same learning mould, experiential education recognises that people process information differently and learns from those differences.

My doctoral research, spanning over a decade of delivering experiential learning across traditional universities, degree apprenticeships, foundation programmes and online environments, revealed something compelling: students who learn experientially become more immersed in their education. They take ownership of their learning journey and develop not only subject-specific knowledge, but also autonomy and agency as learners - skills that prove invaluable in both life and the workplace.

This research consistently showed that experiential learners demonstrated higher retention rates, better problem-solving abilities, and increased confidence in applying their knowledge to real-world situations.

Traditional lectures can be passive experiences where students might hide at the back or become distracted. Experiential learning is inherently active - it encourages participation, collaboration, and genuine engagement. Rather than the hierarchical “expert speaks, student listens“ model, experiential learning values what students bring to the table, building on their existing knowledge and experiences.

When people engage in new experiences, they develop crucial transferable skills: communication, teamwork, time management, project management, critical thinking, adaptability, leadership, and emotional intelligence. For working adults juggling multiple responsibilities, these aren’t just academic exercises - they’re skills that immediately enhance their professional and personal lives.

An essential element of meaningful learning is embracing challenges. Your comfort zone feels safe - you can sit, listen, and let others take the brave steps. But real growth happens in the growth zone, where you’re challenged but supported. Here, you might struggle initially, but with persistence and a growth mindset, you’ll discover capabilities you never knew you had.

At IHCL, our unique pedagogic approach - ACEL (Adaptive Chunked Experiential Learning) - specifically supports students through this transition, providing scaffolding and encouragement as they develop confidence and competence.

You might think experiential learning only works in traditional classroom settings, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. In our modern workforce - with remote colleagues, virtual meetings, and project-based work - the types of experiences workers encounter are incredibly varied.

Experiential learning thrives everywhere: in workplaces, online environments, community settings, and even in your daily life. What makes an experience educational is variety, novelty, appropriate challenge, and opportunities for contextualisation and reflection. Expert facilitators can create these conditions in any setting, making quality education accessible regardless of location or circumstances.

Learning is deeply personal, which is precisely why experiential approaches are so powerful. In a lecture, everyone hears the same words. In an experience, learners take different things away. While one team member might excel at research, another might discover their leadership potential. One student might thrive in analytical tasks while another finds their strength in creative problem-solving.

This personalisation is particularly valuable for students from diverse backgrounds or with different learning needs. Experiential learning doesn’t just accommodate differences - it celebrates and learns from them.

The key is simple: put yourself out there and embrace the opportunity. Yes, raising your hand in class or taking an active role in group work might feel daunting initially, but it becomes easier with practice. Playing an active role in team settings can develop skills and reveal capabilities you never knew you possessed.

For busy professionals, parents, or anyone balancing multiple commitments, experiential learning offers something invaluable: education that recognises your existing knowledge and experiences as assets, not obstacles. It meets you where you are and helps you grow from there.

The invitation is simple: say yes to the experience, to the challenge, to the growth. You won’t look back.