CONE OF EXPERIENCE

Jerome Bruner

> an American Cognitive Psychologist

> he created the idea that the goal of education should be intellectual development
> he proposed a 3-tiered system of internal representations: enactive, iconic, and
symbolic

Three-Fold Analysis of
Experience

Jerome Bruner’s cone of

experience is presented in its
inverted form, such that the
base is broader than its apex.
It is made up of eleven bands
which are arranged in an
increasing degree of
abstraction as one moves from
the base to the apex.

It is a visual model, a pictorial

device that presents bands of
experience arranged according
to degree of abstraction and
not degree of difficulty. The
farther you go from the bottom
of the cone, the more abstract
the experience becomes.

1) Enactive
● refers to the direct or actual experience or encounter with what is. This
is life on raw, rich, and unedited.
● the real thing
 2) Iconic
● refers to the more abstract experiences which could be in the form of
pictures.
● pictures, film, sculpture (dolls)

3) Symbolic
● refers to the use of words or printed materials which no longer resemble
the object under study.
● language and maths

Edgar Dale

> an American educator

> he theorized that learners retain more information by what they “do” as opposed
to what is “heard” , “read” or “observed”
> he introduced a learning model that illustrates the concreteness levels of learning
experiences based on the medium

Edgar Dale's Cone of Experience

(1940) often depicted as a visual
model, is a framework that
illustrates various methods of
learning and the degree of
abstraction involved.

The Cone of Experience is a

pictorial device used to explain
the interrelationships of the
various types of audio-visual
media, as well as their individual
positions in the learning process.

1) Direct Purposeful Events

● hands-on, real-world activities (Examples: field trips, experiments,
demonstrations)
2) Contrived Experiences
● simulated or artificial (Examples: roleplaying, case studies, simulations)

3) Dramatized Experiences
● dramatized or theatrical presentations (Examples: plays, skits,
reenactments)

4) Demonstrations
● presentations or displays of a skill or concept (Examples: educations,
exhibits, visual presentations)

5) Field Trips
● visits to real-world locations (Examples: educational trips, site visits)

6) Exhibits
● meaningful displays with limited handling (Examples: galleries and
museums)

7) Motion Pictures
● films or videos (Examples: educational films, documentaries)

8) Television
● broadcast or televised programs (Examples: educational TV shows,
documentaries)

9) Recording, Radio and Still Pictures

● auditory presentations (Examples: educational broadcasts, podcasts)

10) Visual Symbols

● visual representations without words (Examples: charts, graphs,
diagrams)

11) Verbal Symbols

● spoken or written words (Examples: lectures, discussions, written or
spoken explanations)
In summary…

> Edgar Dale’s Cone of Experience and Jerome Bruner’s Three-Fold Analysis of
Experiences offer valuable insights into how individuals learn and process information.

> Both theories highlight the importance of hands-on, sensory experiences in the
learning process.

> Edgar Dale emphasizes the need for active involvement, while Bruner stresses the
role of active learning and interaction with the environment.

> These theories remind us that simply receiving information passively is not enough –
we need to engage with our senses and actively participate in the learning process. By
doing so, we can enhance our understanding, retention, and transfer of knowledge.

> Educators and learners alike can benefit from incorporating these principles into
teaching and learning practices, creating rich and meaningful educational experiences.