Indiahikes conducts Experiential Learning Facilitation Workshop for Teachers from 18 Schools

Late in November 2021, Indiahikes conducted two extensive workshops for teachers on How to Facilitate Experiential Learning for students. The workshops were held in Mussoorie and Bangalore. Teachers from over 18 schools participated in the workshop, travelling from Lucknow, Mumbai, Delhi and several other cities.

“Most educational institutions lay a strong emphasis on academic qualification. But very few of them give children the atmosphere required to develop their interpersonal skills and understand their strengths and weaknesses,” says Izzat Yaganagi, the head of the Experiential Learning division at Indiahikes. 

“These qualities cannot be honed through textbooks or practised in simulated conditions. Children need to be immersed in a real-life experience that carries a seed of possibilities that can reveal and enhance the child’s natural strengths. A trek offers that experience,” she adds. 

To spread awareness on Experiential Learning and how to go about it, Indiahikes conducted its first-ever Experiential Learning Facilitation Workshop for teachers in November 2021.

The Workshop took place at two different locations. The first one happened in Mussoorie in association with Mussoorie International School and the second one was in Bangalore in association with Delhi Public School, North. 

Teachers from schools like Athenia School, CMS Lucknow, Sarla Birla Academy, Jagsom School of Management participated in the workshop. 

Teachers from over 18 schools participated in the workshop. 

The training was conducted by Gerrit Onstein, an outdoor educator from the Netherlands, with over 30 years of experience in outdoor education. He’s also a mentor and trainer for trainers and teachers who work experientially with young people in the outdoors.

In the training, the teachers were introduced to the concept of Experiential Learning and the theory behind it. They participated in Experiential Learning activities themselves to get an in-depth perspective into what the students go through during this program. 

The objective was to enable teachers to take Experiential Learning forward in their schools. 

Experiential Learning requires specially trained people to facilitate learning. We were happy to see that after the training, the teachers were enthusiastic to dive deep into Experiential Learning and take it forward in their own schools. 

Indiahikes will continue to organise such workshops across the country, to help spread awareness about Experiential Learning and enable schools to take it forward independently.

Izzat Yaganagi, Head, Experiential Learning, shares interesting observations from the training 

“Many schools are becoming aware that only academic learning is not enough for a child. They need holistic development. To develop a well-rounded personality values like humility, generosity, empathy and care need to be honed too. 

At the training, I observed that schools are now more open to this thought. It is a good opportunity to integrate Experiential Learning as a part of their curriculum. The schools can take students outdoors and later on to Himalayan treks as well. 

Meaningful learnings from such outdoor activities beautifully complement academic learning. They connect with nature. That way we do not need to tell them how to protect Earth, they would naturally do it on their own.” 

If you are a part of an educational institution and would like us to conduct this workshop then you can write to izzat@indiahikes.com