By Steff LohrmannExperience is the greatest teacher of all time, it's depth is unmeasurable and infinite. Most of what we are taught from the day we are born is from our family, friends and educators. Our personalities, habits and communication abilities are shaped by the people who surround and influence us. Ultimately, we become a result of our environment and the experiences we have had in it. Some affect us positively while others may have a negative influence, either way we learn.The most basic definition of experiential education is "learning by doing". It's about creating platforms for those experiences and an opportunity for students to reflect on their physical, mental and emotional state of being. Regardless of whether students attend outdoor education programs or not they may learn these through other activities in an indirect way, such as with sports clubs or after school programs. The important thing to note is that outdoor education should be focused on getting the best out of each students and making time for students to discuss the outcomes and how they can do better next time.Parents also have the ability to create these experiences for their children and they play a critical role in the development of their children. They teach their child what is right and wrong, what is safe and dangerous and how to cope with certain situations with friends, family or school. However, there is a point where too much involvement in a particular experience may stunt a child's ability to push themselves to their limit, try to figure it out on their own, or even try it at all.Working with students from all over the world and specifically in China, this becomes very prevalent as parents are very much involved in the learning process. Whether it is with school or activities, parent involvement has been a very common theme in China, which is very different from the West where parents want children to be more independent, able...Read More
