| |
Become
a “Roads Scholar”
“You just had to be there!” Many times we resort to
this expression in frustration when we find words alone cannot convey
the essence of the experience we are trying to describe. While—on
a personal level—we may recognize that there is no substitute
for experience, the concept has not played a large role in much
of our formal education practice. But whether termed active learning,
internship, hands-on, or experiential learning, the basic premise
remains the same. We learn more and remember better through direct,
purposeful experience.
In the 1960s, Edgar Dale studied the relative effectiveness of a
variety of learning experiences. The graphic representation of the
results of his research has become known as “Dale’s
Cone.” What he found was that the least effective method of
learning, which he put at the top of the cone, involves learning
from information presented verbally, such as through lecture. The
most effective method, at the bottom of the cone, involves direct
purposeful learning experiences such as hands-on or field experiences.
Follow-up research conducted by National Training Laboratories in
Bethel, Maine found that lecture achieves an average retention rate
of just 5%, while what they referred to as the “teach others/immediate
use” method achieves an average retention rate of 90%.
One of the best—and in some cases the only—means of
achieving such “direct, purposeful experiences” is through
travel. Experiencing the sights and sounds (not to mention the tastes!)
of a new culture is one of the great joys of travel. Growing numbers
of Americans have come to appreciate the educational opportunities
presented by travel and now venture far beyond the traditional “Holiday
Inn” experience.
In a recent survey commissioned by Travel and Leisure,
the interviewers found that three out of four American travelers
took their last trip for the purpose of “improving their minds,
gaining new perspectives, and meeting new people.” This “life-seeing
travel” (a term coined by the Scandinavian School for Life,
which operates adult continuing education programs to enrich the
mind), as opposed to “sight-seeing travel” is more intellectually
stimulating, culturally enriching, and fun! In 1991, Arthur Frommer
wrote that, “at its best, travel should challenge our preconceptions
and most cherished views, cause us to rethink our assumptions, shake
us up a bit, make us broader-minded and more understanding.”
At CRIZMAC, we recognize the value of “life-seeing”
travel and are proud to offer a range of meaningful and fascinating
travel adventures through our Journeys of Art and Soul program.
Through these seminars, participants will gain in-depth experience
with local art, culture and tradition.
Click
here for CRIZMAC’s 2010 Journeys of Art and Soul |
 |