In Search of Experiential Learning in the Jesuit Traditions: Loyola Experience

Abstract

Tapping into the wealth of knowledge which the Jesuits have in education, we seek to explore the wisdom embedded in their traditions with a vision to enrich the ‘21st Century Learning’ with ‘high-impact education practices’ for the good of students, teachers, parents, educators and societies in Greater China. Specifically, the first part of this paper is to introduce the nature of experiential education and a practical model of experiential learning through which Loyola University Chicago has successfully brought Jesuit mission of “expanding knowledge in service of humanity through learning, justice, and faith” to live and to fruition. The second part presents the context and preliminary findings of the ‘Experiential Learning and Education Campaign’ and the launching of the Center for Experiential Learning and Assessment (CELA) for cultivating effective learning communities and for guiding their evolution in Hong Kong. Building on the Loyola’s experience, CELA engages younger students with opportunities to be responsible, and through responsibility, to fuel continuous improvement according to what they are capable of. Making the best use of ICT and other social networking tools, CELA also serves as an important platform for sustaining the momentum through contacts and for maximizing every transformative learning opportunity to its full impact potential. The significance of this article is to inspire, to discuss and to stimulate reflections among academia on experiential education towards knowledge transfer and development.