Experiential Learning: A Key to Profession Market

As the economy continues to take sides and practically so, I realize the importance of “continuous learning”, inculcated in me as a “lifestyle choice” by my parents in my growing-up years. While in school that offered plethora of extra-curricular activities ranging from Debates, Group dance & songs, Skits, Elocution, Scouts & Guides, and all sorts of such ‘skills’, my parents wanted me to really learn something substantial with every passing year, and not just stay complacent with the school offerings that help nurture a kid’s talents.

At an age of 6, I sang ‘Dhrupad’ on stage, playing a Harmonium and being accompanied on Pakhawaj. At that time, it seemed very natural and effortless because the rigorous training that preceded that performance was a ‘sincere effort’ made by my family members (read: mom, dad, and grand-dad). Apart from singing, I was also trained in Fine Arts (I have a 5-Year Diploma in it), Gymnastics, a brief period of learning Kathak Dance. All these, for 10+ years. I mean, when I got placed in an MNC firm after graduation, I thought to myself: If I don’t like it, I’ll quit & do ‘oil painting’, the Fine Arts part that I really love & excel to a professional extent (Yes, my paintings have been on sale, but mom denied to sell them as she loved to keep my creation until I decide to pursue Fine Arts professionally). I started working in 2007 at an MNC, in its India office. It is 2016 now, and, over the past nine years, I have learned and acquired some more skills that continue to keep me afloat in the “profession market”.

There. I deny to use the phrase “job market” because I think the ‘job’ word is being over-used, and that, it has a ‘negative tone’ to it that sort of undermines a human potential, to a level that is depressing.

So, there is learning that we all know. We learn so many skills, we use those skills at executing some tasks, and get done stuff. And there is “experiential learning”, the kind of learning that we learn so well that we create an experience out of it, for others.

I’d like to talk a little bit more about it here, with an example.

Suppose I learn to paint a portrait in oil colours. My learnings are: Knowledge of colours, skill of mixing the right amount of correct shades, choosing the right medium (i.e. canvas board, or a raw Masonite board, or a glass plate, etc.), and finally using an appropriate frame to go with the painting. My “experiential learning” are: Creating a theme that encapsulates the essence of the subject (i.e. the portrait), telling a story around it: a story that people will relate to, putting up a website to showcase the piece of art with the story, and opening it up to people for their feedback.

By successfully creating an experience for others, I have opened up a new frontier in my life and made an impact in the profession market.

That is what “experiential learning” does to you with every skill.

Especially for young students whom I love to mentor and serve, I’d say that merely learning some skills is never good enough. *Experiential learning* is a necessity to make a mark in the world where everybody is *learning* something or the other to progress in life. And, this is not just about materialistic gains, the benefits go deep down in developing you as a better human being who is self-confident, humble, physically & mental strong, has a heart that feels for others, and a spine that is ready to serve others in need.

I’d love to hear from you all, and continue the conversation. I’ll come back again to write more posts, to discuss about how *experiential learning* is a healthy ingredient in our learning ecosystem, and how a strong learning ecosystem is a solution to a better future for our next generations.

Wish you all a great new year 2016. Be grateful & be happy :) .

Love,

Reshma.