New Supervisor Training

Debriefing Experiential Learning

As you can see, experiential learning requires that the trainer act as a facilitator of learning rather than a dispenser of knowledge. As opposed to the mug-and-jug approach, in which the trainer is like a jug filling up the little mugs, experiential learning takes adults seriously as active participants in learning. Good facilitation is maximally sensitive to the experiences and insights of participants, and so it appeals to adult learners. It also can result in broader application of what is learned. When trainees help develop the learning experience, they are more likely to own the outcomes.

Some trainers fill their sessions with activities, emphasizing the experiencing phase, but fail to work through the ...