Dale’s Cone of

Experience
Edgar Dale
1900 – 1985

An American educator who is internationally

renowned as a pioneer in the utilization of
audio-visual materials in instruction. He also
made major research contributions in the
teaching of vocabulary and testing readability
of texts.
 Dale’s Cone of
- It is a graphic depiction of the relationship between how information is

Experience
presented in instruction and the outcomes for learners. It shows the
progression of experiences from the most concrete (at the bottom of the cone)
to the most abstract (at the top of the cone).
- The opportunity for a learner to use a variety or several senses (sight, smell,
hearing, touching, movement) is considered in the cone.
- It is not intended to depict a value judgment of experiences. Dale’s argument
was not that more concrete experiences were better than more abstract ones. 
“Any and all of the approaches could and should be used, depending on the
needs of the learner.” 
 Interpretations of Dale’s
Cone
- Reading and listening (low percentage) does not mean that they are not
valuable learning experiences. But somehow “doing the real thing” can
lead to the retention of the largest amount of information.
- The experiences near the bottom of the cone include real-world
experiences, therefore we make use of more of our senses. It is believed
that the more senses that are used, the greater our ability to learn from and
remember an event or experience.
- Dale’s cone emphasizes learning experiences that appeal to the different
senses and the different ways in which we learn. 
Concrete vs. Abstract Learning
CONCRETE
 First-hand experiences
 The learner has some
control over the outcome
 Incorporates the use of all
five senses
ABSTRACT
 There is difficulty when
not enough previous
experience or exposure to a
concept
 Every level of the cone
uses abstract thinking in
every way
 Verbal Symbols
-Involve words, ideas, principles, formula, and the
likes

ADVANTAGE DISADVANTAGE

Principal medium of Highly abstract

communication
 Visual Symbols
-Charts, maps, graphs, and diagrams are used for
abstract representations

ADVANTAGE DISADVANTAGE

Very easy to produce and Lack of ability to use the

prepare media size of visuals,
simplification of visual
materials leads to
misconception.
 Recordings, Radio, Photos
-Visual and auditory devices that can be used by a learner/group
of learners that could enhance and extend learning experience

ADVANTAGE DISADVANTAGE

Attention-getting Expensive
Size of pictures
Equipment timing
difficulties
 Motion Pictures
-Implies values and messages through television and
films

ADVANTAGE DISADVANTAGE

A solution to time and Expensive

space constraints Viewing problems
 Exhibits
-Experiences that are “for your eyes” only, but some
exhibits include sensory experiences which could be related
to direct purposeful experiences
ADVANTAGE DISADVANTAGE

Present objects or Needs enough space

processes otherwise Time-consuming
impossible inside the Maintenance
classroom
 Field Trips
-Extends the learning experience through excursions and visits
on the different places that are not available inside the classroom

ADVANTAGE DISADVANTAGE

A rich experience in High exposure to

learning about objects, danger/accidents
systems, and situations. Expensive
 Demonstrations
-Visualized explanation of an important fact, idea, or
process

ADVANTAGE
Require nothing more than
observation or students may
be asked to do what has just
been shown how to do.
DISADVANTAGE
Ideas or processes might not
be interpreted or conceived
visibly by all learners.
 Dramatized Experiences
-Learners can participate in a reconstructed experiences that
could give them better understanding of the event or of a
concept
ADVANTAGE DISADVANTAGE

Students understand the Without commensurate

characters portrayed results to limited
Teaches cooperative work participation to individuals
 Contrived Experiences
-Representative models and mock-ups of reality are being
used in order to provide an experience that are as close to
reality
ADVANTAGE DISADVANTAGE

Easy to handle, Simplification leads to

manipulate or operate misconceptions
Expensive or fragile
models, specimens, etc.
 Direct- Purposeful Experiences
-First-hand experiences which serve as the foundation
of learning
ADVANTAGE DISADVANTAGE

Direct participation with Not all things can be

responsibility for the learned through direct,
outcome first-hand experiencing
Implications of the Cone of Experience in the
Teaching-Learning Process
- We do not use only one medium of communication in isolation, rather we use
many instructional materials to help the learners conceptualize their experience.
- We avoid teaching directly at the symbolic level of thought without adequate
foundation of the concrete. Learners’ concepts will lack deep roots in the direct
experience. Dale cautions us when he said: “These rootless experiences will not
have the generative power to produce additional concepts and will not enable
the learner to deal with the new situations that he faces.” (Dale, 1969)
- When teaching, we do not get stuck in the concrete. We strive to bring our
students to the symbolic or abstract level to develop their higher order thinking
skills.
 Tell me and I forget;
Show me and I remember;
Involve me and I understand.
Thank you for listening!