Experiential Learning occurs when individuals engage in some activity, reflect upon the activity critically, derive some useful insight from the analysis, and incorporate the result through a change in understanding and/or behaviour. (David A. Kolb, Experiential Learning: Experience as a Source of Learning and Development, 1984, 3-4).

Experiential learning is often mistakenly used synonymously with experiential education. Experiential learning is a necessary but not sufficient part of experiential education. Experiential learning occurs naturally for all learners, experiential education structures the educational process to take advantage of experiential learning. Experiential learning does not require and educator to be a part of the mix, whereas experiential education involves the transactive process between educator and student (other terms could be substituted e.g. teacher/learner).

The 4MAT model, created by Bernice McCarthy, is based on the work of Kolb, Dewey and Jung. In the 4MAT model, the educator leads the first half of the learning cycle: engaging the learner and sharing key information. In the second part of the cycle, the learner takes over by practicing the skills learned and performing with their own adaptations.

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