Experiencing

A few months ago, in one of the activities during an Erasmus Plus training in which I participated, I stopped to reflect for a few minutes and mentally relived some stages of my trainings from the primary school onwards. I wanted to understand if there were some traits in common throughout this “journey”, the characteristic elements linked to the most representative stages. And here emerged in my mind: games played during physical lessons and during intervals between lessons at the elementary school, the endless game afternoons in a yard, Christmas recitals, music workshops in the middle school, football training sessions and tournaments, physics experiments in high school, practical activities at the University… Have fun, grow, experience new situations and meet new people, make mistakes, get hurt and start again and learn new skills. Beautiful memories, clear in my mind even after many year, related to people, situations, times and places. Memories, indeed, related to experiences… Thinking about the most representative moments of my personal development to my mind continued to come precise episodes, particular situations and specific facts. In those months, talking with people close to me and with education professionals (trainers and teachers) I have had the opportunity to get numerous feedback on my vision, as if there was a thin thread that connects MEMORIES, EXPERIENCES and PERSONAL LEARNING. Which of you doesn’t have strong memories linked to certain moments of his childhood? Who doesn’t remember passion and enthusiasm of their favorite professor? Who wouldn’t want to go back to the times when everyday going to the courtyard was an unforgettable experience? Well, I think if not everyone, at least most of you would. I believe this is where something very important resides, something that more and more educators are understanding and that each of us (father, mother, grandfather, sport instructor) should take into consideration: the importance of EXPERIENCE. A practical activity (playing, reading, dancing) that becomes an experience when inserted into an educational path, considering appropriate time and space. Experience as a fundamental part of learning (what we will soon see), has an immense power to allow a learner (child, boy or adult) to acquire much more than what is visibly taught. And you, what experience did you stamp into your memory?