THE CONE OF EXPERIENCE

  What is Dale’s cone of experience?

•      The cone of experience is a pictorial device use to explain the interrelationships of the various types of audio-visual media, as well as their individual “positions” in the learning process.

•      The cone's utility in selecting instructional resources and activities is as practical today as when Dale created it. 

 

Principles on the cone of Experience:

• The cone is based on the relationships of various    educational experiences to reality (real life), and   the bottom level of the cone, "direct purposeful experiences," represents reality or the closest           things to real, everyday life. 

•  The opportunity for a learner to use a variety or several senses (sight, smell, hearing, touching, movement) is considered in the cone. 

• Direct experience allows us to use all senses.

• Verbal symbols involve only hearing.

• The more sensory channels possible in interacting with a resource, the better the chance that many students can learn from it.

•  Each level of the cone above its base moves a learner a step further away from real- life experiences, so experiences focusing only on the use of verbal symbols are the furthest removed from real life.

• Motion pictures (also television) is where it is on the cone because it is an observational experience with little or no opportunity to participate or use senses other than seeing and hearing.

• Contrived experiences are ones that are highly participatory and simulate real life situations or activities.

• Dramatized experiences are defined as experiences in which the learner acts out a role or activity. 

 

Verbal Symbol

•   principal medium of communication
•  bear no physical resemblance to the objects or ideas for which they stand
•  may be a word for concretion, idea, scientific principle, formula or  philosophic aphorism 
• Disadvantage: highly abstract

Visual Symbol  

• chalkboard/whiteboard, flat maps, diagrams, charts
• fits the tempo of presentation of idea, topic or situation
•  very easy to procure and prepare

Recordings, Radio, Still Pictures

•       attention – getting, particularly projected views 
•   concretize verbal abstraction

Television and Motion Pictures

• a solution to time and space constraits
• provides  “windows to the world 
• effective for presenting movements, continuity of ideas or events
•  substitute for dangerous direct learning experiences   
• Limitations: 

                                                     Expensive 
                          Viewing problems 


Exhibits

• Present objects or processes otherwise impossible inside the classroom 
•  Exposure to new ideas, discoveries, inventions
• Problems that may be encountered: 

                                                                  Too little space 
                                                                  Time—consuming 
                                                                  Maintenance
 

Demonstrations  

• visualized explanation of an important fact or idea or process
• may require nothing more than observation or students may be asked to do what has just been shown how to do 

• Disadvantages: ideas or processes might not be interpreted or conceived very well visibility to all learner.

Field Trips  

• undertaken primarily for the purpose of experiencing something that cannot be encountered within the classroom
•    a rich experience in learning about objects, systems, and situations 
• Disadvantages: time-consuming  expensive high exposure to danger /accidents inadequacy of the community’s resources

  


Contrived Experience

• an “editing” of reality 

• substitutes for confusing or unmanageable first – hand experiences
• easier to handle, manipulate or operate
• Disadvantages:

       Simplification  leads to misconceptions, distorted views, and

incomplete pictures of reality no freedom to handle expensive or fragile models

mock – ups, specimens, etc.

Direct, Purposeful Experience

•   unabridged version of life itself 
• direct participation with responsibility for the outcome the basis for the most effective and lasting learning
• Disadvantage: not all things can be learned through direct, first hand experience.