Experiential learning

Experiential learning is a pedagogical approach in which knowledge and skills are acquired through direct, concrete experience rather than passive instruction. Grounded in theories by Kolb and others, it involves a cycle of experiencing, reflecting, conceptualising, and applying—enabling deeper understanding and retention than lecture-based methods alone. In computing and accessibility education, experiential learning is increasingly facilitated through simulations, role-playing, and immersive technologies such as Virtual Reality, which allow students to engage with real-world complexity and diverse user perspectives without requiring access to actual user groups. For accessibility training, experiential approaches can foster empathy and perspective-taking by placing practitioners in scenarios that simulate disability-related challenges.