Back in the 1970s an educational theorist at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio

developed what he called the Experiential Learning Model, E.L.M.

His name, David A A Colb.

The Experiential Learning Model is a theory of how we learn through experience.

Colb defines this as the process whereby knowledge is gained through the transformation of experience.

Colbs E.L.M. Experiential Learning Model is composed of four elements which he says are the essence of learning.

These four elements are this. Concrete experience.

Learners must involve themselves fully, openly, and without biased in new experiences.

Then, reflective observation that's reflecting on those experiences from many perspectives.

And then on to create abstract concepts based on those reflections and build them

into logical sound theories. And then finally active testing and experimentation of those new concepts

making the decisions using these new concepts and solving problems.

Now doesn't that sound a lot like a motorcycle trip?

Long or short we experience all kinds of things as we ride. We meet people, we

see new surroundings, we have riding experiences, and then we reflect on those to sort of better understand

what happened and see what we can draw out of them, and we come up with new ideas or logical

sound theories.

And of course, the active testing and experimentation of those

are when we head out the next time and we use those or we even use them in our

everyday life. That's why when we hear about someone's adventure here on Adventure Rider Radio,

and the lessons they've learned through that adventure.

We too learn from taking those lessons

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