The Experiential Learning Cycle

OR A Weekend With the ELCs (pronounce it elks)

by Frog (Sue Wichers) and Frodo

The EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING CYCLE, that's the way we train,
Even though the definition drives us all insane.
Listen as we follow it, as round and round we go,
The EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING CYCLE is the way we go! Um diddle ...

When it is just beginning, the EXPERIENCE is all,
Doing something, having fun, or playing with a ball,
Write a play or make a craft, choose an active word,
EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING CYCLE starts out with a verb. Um diddle ...

Next we share just what we saw and even how we felt,
By sharing information we must get the data out.
PUBLISHING is what we do to move it right along.
Data is the basis to the next step in this song. Um diddle ...

Now we must discuss and search for patterns to be found,
Sorting data, making graphs can make your head spin 'round,
Put it all together, just where does each piece fit?
We call this step PROCESSING, examine every bit. Um diddle ...

Next we pull a Sherlock Holmes and go from A to Z.
If this works here, then it works there, can this really be?
If one flame's hot, then so are two: we don't like being burned!
In GENERALIZING answers come from things already learned. Um diddle...

We now prepare to change the world, but first we make a plan,
APPLYING what we've learned so far, of course we know we can!
We change our ways, we get new toys, do we have graphs for you!
The EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING CYCLE helps to see us through. Um diddle ...

EXPERIENCING, PUBLISHING, then PROCESSING it all,
GENERALIZING, and APPLYING, even if we fall.
Then we start a new cycle, for we learn from the past.
The EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING CYCLE goes on and on ... at last.
(on and on and on and on and on and on ...
interrupted by um diddle..)

©1998 Susan R. Wichers. Permission freely given to Girl Scouts and Girl Guides to copy and distribute without charge. Permission to charge for copy and distribution denied except with previously arranged permission.