What is experiential learning?

If you’ve ever wondered “what is experiential learning,” think of learning by doing. I heard a lot about the term before coming to university and didn’t fully understand what it meant at first. Once I experienced it myself, it made more sense. Experiential learning is a hands-on, reflective cycle that links theory to practice. It makes knowledge stick and helps you see how it translates to future careers. What stands out most is how experiential learning pairs real-world tasks with feedback and reflection, so you develop deeper insights and transferable skills that you can carry with you beyond the classroom.

Experiential learning is basically learning by doing, then thinking about it, and trying again. It tends to move through these four simple stages: 

• Try something new: You jump into an activity — like joining a club event, volunteering, testing a science experiment, or trying a new skill in class. This is usually how I end up collecting hobbies. 
• Think about how it went: You look back and ask: What worked? What didn’t? What surprised me? What would I change? I think this is the most important stage; the reflection stage allows you to fully understand what you did and guide you to what you want to do. 
• Connect it to what you know: Relate the experience to a lesson from class, advice from a teacher, or something you’ve learned before. 
• Try again with improvements: Use what you learned to do better next time — whether that means adjusting your approach, trying a new idea, or practicing a skill differently.  

All four stages work together: you do something, you reflect, you make sense of it, and you try again. That’s the heart of experiential learning — and in my experience, it helps you grow every time you repeat the cycle. 

My favourite part about experiential learning is that the possibilities are endless — you can learn anything you put your mind to. In many ways, writing the article you’re reading right now is an example of experiential learning. Through my co-op experience, I’ve had the opportunity to develop skills like writing, communicating ideas clearly, and creating content for real audiences. Applying what I’ve learned, reflecting on my process, and improving through practice has shown me how powerful learning by doing can be! 

If you’re still wondering “what is experiential learning?” beyond classes, these activities are great examples of how it shows up inside and outside the classroom. 

• Co-op and internships: Structured work terms where you contribute to real projects, get feedback from professionals, and build a network. I believe co‑op is one of the clearest examples of experiential learning in action. At Waterloo, co-op often alternates academic terms with paid work terms, giving you multiple chances to grow across roles and employers. Waterloo also offers the EDGE program as a co‑op alternative, giving non‑co‑op students a way to gain practical skills and real experience during their degree. 
• Community projects: Course-based projects you complete that help local organizations meet their needs, all while giving you real experience. I like these because you can see the real impact of your work. You might create social media content for a nonprofit or help a food bank understand donation trends. 
• Field studies and simulations: Hands‑on activities that let you practice skills in real or simulated environments. These could be: 
  • Geological fieldwork at a provincial park 
  • Clinical observation at a health clinic 
  • Case competitions like DECA or Inter‑Collegiate Business Competitions 
  • Hackathons such as Hack the North 
  • Mock trials  
  • Chemistry or biology labs 
  • Getting involved through extracurricular activities — Waterloo has 200+ clubs where you can build new skills, join competitions, and learn something new 

Experiential learning strengthens your critical thinking and problem-solving skills. You learn how to understand a situation, look at the facts, compare your options, and make decisions even when things aren’t perfect. Instead of searching for one “right” answer, you learn to adapt and choose what works best in real situations. 

It also can help you build in-demand professional skills: teamwork, communication, initiative, leadership, and time management. In co-op work terms and community projects, you collaborate across disciplines and cultures, give and receive feedback, and navigate uncertainty, which is great preparation for any career! 

At Waterloo, co‑op students have access to more than 8,000 employers across tech, business, engineering, health, and more, which provides the opportunity to collaborate with professionals and learn how a variety of different workplaces operate. 

Career readiness is a major upside of co-op You gain exposure to workplace tools and norms, develop your portfolio, and discover your interests. I think the chance to test out different roles before graduating is incredibly valuable. Waterloo co‑op students can graduate with up to two years of paid experience, earn strong references, and explore several career paths before finishing their degree. 

From my perspective, experiential learning works best when you’re intentional about how you approach it. Here are a few simple tips I’d recommend to help you get the most out of any experience: 

• Set clear goals before you begin and revisit them after each experience. 
• Seek feedback from mentors, supervisors, and peers; ask for specific suggestions on where to improve. 
• Document your work. Keep a brief reflection journal and collect examples for your portfolio. 
• Connect activity to coursework by linking outcomes to concepts, models, or methods you’re studying. 
• Try again. Use what you learned to refine your approach in your next project, course, or work term. 

Experiential learning is a powerful way to build knowledge, skills, and confidence that travel with you — from high school projects to university experiences and, eventually, into your career. 

Want to learn more about experiential learning at Waterloo? Check out The Waterloo experience: Exploring careers and building skills for your future!