Experiential Learning and the Transformative Power of Threshold Concepts

Experiential learning refers to a process of reflection that centers on hands-on learning. Through this process, students develop metacognition and can engage with threshold concepts in a discipline. This research examines twenty-one personal narratives written by students who participated in experiential learning in an interdisciplinary, upper-level course. Students reflected on how it shaped the way they saw themselves as learners and professionals, and integrated the learning experience with their course material and identified transformative concepts that emerged during this experience. The findings consider the effectiveness of experiential learning as a pedagogical tool for engaging threshold concepts across disciplines.