Document Type
Conference Proceeding
Publication Date
Spring 3-12-2009
Keywords
service-learning, experiential education
Abstract
The central challenge to educators in the liberal arts as in all areas of study is transfer of learning i.e. how can we design learning environments and instruction to that students will be able to use what they learn in appropriate new contexts? Alfred North Whitehead described this as the problem of ‘inert knowledge’ nearly a century ago and Dewey noted that instruction which helps students reproduce what is studied on exams might not produce the depth of understanding that allows for recognizing the relevance of what is known to a particular situation and the ability to apply it. Knowledge that is not conditionalized (i.e. in which the learner does not know when where and why it is to be used) is inert.
Recommended Citation
Eyler, Janet, "Effective Practice and Experiential Education" (2009). Mosakowski Institute for Public Enterprise. 1.
https://commons.clarku.edu/mosakowskiinstitute/1
Comments
Clark/AAC&U Conference on Liberal Education and Effective Practice