Theories
Theories on student development show that experiential education can benefit students throughout their undergraduate experience.
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I have listed out several theories that support the benefits of experiential education, with short descriptions and a link if you'd like to read more. Additionally, you can navigate through the different theories using the drop-down menu under the theories tab.
Chickering's 7 Vectors: Chickering theorizes that students develop their self-identities through building competency, emotional maturity, autonomy and interdependence, and healthy relationshps with others, all of which are supported through student-centered, hands-on learning.
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Chickering and Reisser's 3 Admonitions: Building off of the seven vectors, Chickering and Reisse provide what they refer to as the "three admonitions", or three factors that if applied, help create educationally and developmentally supportive environments.
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Kolb's Experiential Learning Cycle: Kolb's Experiential Learning Cycle consists of four stages, each important to development of learning: concrete experience, reflective observation, abstract conceptualization, and active experimentation.
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Marcia's Ego Identity Statuses: Marcia's theory explains different stages of going through crises, which in this case refers to challenging decisions that must be made in certain areas of life, including occupational decision-making.
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Constructivism & Baxter Magolda's Self-Authorship: Constructivism is the theory that knowledge is built on personal and group experiences. Self-authorship theory explores this idea further through posing a "crossroads" as a period of critical learning and growth.
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Note that all of these theories are based in the theory of Challenge and Support, proposed by Sanford, in which students should receive the optimal amount of challenge and support to achieve growth in their development. A summary of Sanford's model can be found below.
