Experiential Learning & Self-actualization Carl Rogers Experiential Learning & Self-actualization  

Carl Rogers American Psychologist Humanistic approach to psychology: investigates human existence in terms of meaning, values, freedom, responsibility, spirituality, self-actualization, etc. People are basically good.

Background Studied agriculture and religion before psychology Doctorate from Columbia University University of Rochester Ohio State University University of Chicago University of Wisconsin, Madison Lectured, taught, set up counseling centers, worked with “troubled” children, wrote books on his research

Carl Rogers Experiential learning: learning by doing and reflection on doing Self-actualization: “…man's tendency to actualize himself, to become his potentialities.” If one’s needs are meet, a person can achieve to their full potential. Rogers believed open communication and empowering an individual was key to self-actualization. Source http://www.nrogers.com/carlrogersbio.html

Learner-centered teaching Teachers facilitate learning. You cannot teach directly. What is taught must be relevant to the student, otherwise no significant learning takes place. “Open-mindedness” must be encouraged, otherwise experiences or materials that challenge the organization of the self will be rejected. This is done more easily if there is no perceived threat to the self. Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Rogers

Unconditional positive regard Accepting a person without negative judgment of a person’s basic worth Conditional positive regard can only lead to positive self-worth when the individual meets conditions that have been laid down by others.

From Harold’s PPT last week These things cannot be accomplished without open-mindedness, unconditional positive regard, empowerment, and open communication.

Implementation of Rogers’ Theories

Examples of student based learning and traditional methods By the end of this unit you will be able to build a scale model of a dinosaur. What songs would you like to learn to play on the guitar? Would you rather do a poster about the life cycle of a plant or maybe role play? Traditional methods: This unit will cover dinosaurs. We will be learning the chords and a beginner song that most students learn first. Your homework is to make a poster of the life cycle of a plant.

Important tools for student based learning Group discussions/activities Portfolios Debates Field trips Peer mentoring Journaling Student choices

Learning is stressed as opposed to “teaching”. Students build on prior knowledge to develop lessons in a way that most interests them. Students directs the flow of the lesson, while teachers take the role of facilitators. Testing is done in non-traditional ways, such as final projects that show what the students have learned.

Flaws in Rogers Theories Students for the most part are not used to this type of interaction with their teacher. Parents are sometimes uncomfortable; they think the teacher is not teaching. Teacher has to be confident and comfortable with these methods. Students need to be focused on learning, or the results may not be desirable.

Summary Student centered, teacher facilitated Unconditional positive regard Learn by doing Build on prior knowledge Use non-traditional assessment methods Encourage self-actualization Students must be on task, yet they must have some control over class direction. Open communication is a must.