Which instructional strategy involves students participating in experiments?

Experiential instruction is centered on learning through hands-on experiences and active engagement in real-world tasks, which often includes participation in experiments. This instructional strategy emphasizes the importance of direct involvement in the learning process, allowing students to explore concepts by doing, rather than simply receiving information passively. By conducting experiments, students can apply theoretical knowledge, observe outcomes, and reflect on their experiences, which reinforces their understanding and retention of the material.

The approach also encourages critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaboration, as students often work in groups to conduct experiments and share their findings. This deepens their learning as they actively participate in the scientific process and gain practical skills relevant to their studies. In contrast, other instructional strategies like interactive instruction may involve discussions and collaborative learning without direct hands-on activities, while independent instruction focuses on self-directed learning, often lacking the experiential element found in experiments. Virtual instruction typically employs technology to facilitate learning but does not inherently involve the physical experimentation aspect central to experiential learning.