Experiential Learning Theory(ELT) in Psychology, proposed by David Kolb emphasizes the importance of experience and its role in the learning process(Kolb 1984). According to Kolb, this type of learning is defined as “the process whereby knowledge is created through the transformation of experience, knowledge results from the combination of grasping and transforming the experience.”

“Learning on the job” or On the job Training(OJT), a type of experiential learning involves a combination of observing others and hands-on experience completing tasks under the supervision of a senior hand or an experienced trainer.

Coming into the Journalism industry as a greenhorn with no classroom knowledge in the field, I was exposed to practical experiences that helped me to understand the complexities of the profession through experiential learning. Not only did I learn the technical ‘knowhows’, I was exposed to learning the practical skills and jargon associated with the job by active participation and direct observation of the work environment.

Steele et al’s essay “Experiential Learning and Journalism Education” emphasizes the importance of experiential learning in Journalism and the enormous promise that the technique holds for transforming teaching methods and how crucial practical experiences are for future Journalists.

One of the main aims of getting a Graduate degree in Journalism, Public Relations and other forms of Mass Communication is to grasp the complexities of the field so as to excel in that career, the development of experiential learning techniques provides valuable experiences that stimulates real world practices.

In order to put this strategy into practice as a teacher, each and every student must be involved in activities and internships that are personal to them i.e activities must be personally meaningful to the student, provide opportunities for discussions and brainstorming and acknowledge students prior knowledge, skills and specialty areas(talents).

Just like in the article, students will be able to make inferences from their own real life experiences while focusing on what makes them unique, that way they will be able to share personal narratives and various viewpoints on issues of discussion.

In conclusion, the importance of Project based learning to Mass communication cannot be over emphasized, not only does it foster a practical and applied approach to teaching and learning, it also enables institutions to expose their students to real work experience, it fosters critical thinking, group interaction, builds confidence, empathy and cultural understanding. It helps to empower students to develop into well-grounded media professionals who can make significant contributions to their fields and the society at large.

References

Kolb, D. (1984). Experiential Learning: experience as the source of learning and development. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall. p. 21

Steel, J., Carmichael, B., Holmes, D., Kinse, M. and Sanders, K. (2007), “Experiential learning and journalism education: Lessons learned in the practice of teaching journalism”, Education + Training, Vol. 49 No. 4, pp. 325-334. https://doi.org/10.1108/00400910710754462