Teaching and Learning > DOCUMENTS
From Site Unseen to Experiential Learning: Religious Studies in the "Discover Chicago" Model
Simon Smith
Abstract
"This paper examines David Kolb's theory of experiential learning and its usefulness in developing religious studies courses in a "Discover Chicago" program, wherein students spend an intensive "immersion" week before the start of the autumn quarter touring, researching, interviewing, discussing, and analysing in a variety of phenomena in the Chicago metropolitan area. Then, during the quarter, they critically revisit issues raised by the immersion week, probing more deeply and letting their initial impressions take on more mature reflective forms by engaging in extensive reading and systematically relating text with experience. Finally, research projects are developed, being outgrowths of the activities of the summer week and the readings and discussions from the first part of the quarter." (p.120)
Comments
This is an interesting approach to studying religions within a community context. In describing his approach Carlson give a good summary of the generic theoretical background to the "Discover Chicago" project, and shows how it can be applied to religious studies, and specifically how it can be integrated into the course that he teaches. The process that he follows shows a good understanding of learning processes, applied into practical situations. He also gives some insight into the integration of literary and empirical information within a teaching environment. The experience also seems to have had a transformative effect on a number of students.
The paper gives a good deal of guidance on how to get students to study religious communities empirically. From this perspective the it is well worth looking at, although some aspects may be too specific to the "Discover Chicago" project to be transferable.
This page was originally on the website of The Subject Centre for Philosophical and Religious Studies. It was transfered here following the closure of the Subject Centre at the end of 2011.
