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Hands-on learning boosts student engagement
Students in AIC’s Business Solution Architecture course are gaining hands-on experience through interactive activities designed to connect theory with real-world practice.
Applied Management Lecturer Nishika Jayasinghe says experiential learning offers an effective approach for addressing the theory-practice gap in education.
“Traditional classroom methods, such as lectures focused only on explaining concepts, often create a disconnect between theoretical knowledge and its practical application,” she says.
“To bridge this gap, experiential learning provides one of the most impactful strategies lecturers can adopt.”
Following Kolb’s experiential learning theory, Nishika designed and implemented activities in the course to encourage students to learn through doing, reflecting, and applying concepts in practical situations.
The activity she designed asked students to explore the concept of big data architecture by selecting a real-world organisation. Nishika provided scenarios for students to study and discuss, encouraging them to use grey literature, academic sources, and AI tools to brainstorm ideas. Students then created diagrams, presented their work to the class, and took part in group discussions.
She says the level of student engagement was remarkable, with students demonstrating a deeper understanding of concepts through active participation.
“Students were able to grasp concepts more deeply and apply them in practice by doing, reflecting, and learning from their own experiences,” she says.
Nishika thanked students for participating in the activities throughout the block and engaging with the learning process.
“They applied theoretical ideas, reflected on their learning, and developed practical skills that will support them beyond the classroom,” she says.
