EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING

Adapted from writings in the 1980s and 1990s. Updated Dec 2014.

This Laceweb Action Research into Experiential Learning draws upon and adapts the resources provided through the Handbooks of Structured Experiences edited by Pfeiffer and Jones. This Laceweb action research explored enabler facilitated experiential learning while working with groups in corporate environments as well as social and communal environments from the 1960s onwards. In the 1970s, Pfeiffer and Jones were using a cognitive model of experiential learning based upon a step-wise cycle.

In Laceweb Action Research it was noticed that while people were massively transforming their modes of relating with others and their behavioural repertoire they were doing so without any consciousness that they had in any way changed. This had the advantage that they were not sabotaging their own change work.

It also meant that something other than conscious cognitive processing was happening.

In the 1970s, the Action Research of Bandler, Grinder and others in modelling Milton Erickson’s unconscious transformational processes gave hints of what was happening in Laceweb Experiential learning research. In 1987 psychiatrist psychologist Dr Neville Yeomans from Sydney attended workshops with Steve and Connirae Andres in the States based upon Richard Bandler’s book ‘Using Your Brain for a Change’ and the Andres’ sequel ‘Change Your Brain - and Keep the Change’.

In 1987, Dr Neville Yeomans returned from the States and began experiential learning workshops in Sydney Australia passing on ways of engaging with people at unconscious levels. Neville’s opening hour in his first workshop in Balmain, Sydney was devoted to social ecology, values and ethics. He was lovingly tough, specific and very precise in his engaging with the group. When engaging with others below their awareness one has to be meticulous with social ecology. This workshop explored using Eriksonian processes while attending closely to sensory submodalities. For a discussion on the rollout from the Balmain Workshop in 1987 refer Realising Human Potential.

Below is an introduction to the Laceweb experience. First is a glimpse of the Pfieffer and Jones model that did not account for phenomena appearing in the Laceweb Action Research.

A Traditional Theoretical Model (Pfeiffer & Jones, 1998)

Assumes:

a) Acquiring cognitive insight

b) Learning and planning new behaviours

c) Through a Cyclic Step-wise Algorithm:

1. Experiencing (Doing an activity)

2. Publishing (Sharing reactions and observations)

3. Processing (Discussing patterns and dynamics)

4. Generalising (Inferring principles about the real world)

5. Applying (Planning more effective behaviour)

Experiencing

Applying

Publishing

Generalising

Processing

An Alternative Laceweb Model – Eclectic Holistic Mindbody Transforming

Assumes:

a) Little or no cognitive insight –– people transform without noticing they are different, hence no self-sabotaging of their own and each other’s changework

b) Transforming to new integrated behavioural complexes that will be spontaneously evoked and used as appropriate to context

The Process

People become immersed in experiencing with others (reference Coming to One’s Senses – By the Way).

The process engages the following as naturally occurring phenomena:

a) People’s balancing, sensing, moving and feeling are all massively integrated and interconnected - refer By the Way – Appendix 10

b) The above are also massively integrated and interconnected with memories and behavioural repertoires

c) Both (a) and (b) above are largely engaged non-consciously and unconsciously

d) The facilitated experiential process taps into:

1. The unconscious integrated patterning linking moving, sensing and feeling

2. Interrupting dysfunctional patterns - refer By the Way – Appendix 10

3. Disintegrating dysfunctional patterns, and

4. Establishing functional patterns for people to experience