Developing 21st Century Competencies through Experiential Learning in Science: An Integrative Review

Anuradha Dhiman; Rajinder Singh

doi:10.36948/ijfmr.2026.v08i03.80514

Developing 21st Century Competencies through Experiential Learning in Science: An Integrative Review

Author(s)	Ms. Anuradha Dhiman, Dr. Rajinder Singh
Country	India
Abstract	The demands of the contemporary era have reshaped the objectives of school education that is shifting the focus from the mere acquisition of content to the holistic development of 21st century competencies such as critical thinking, problem solving, collaboration and creativity or shifting from conventional methods to experiential learning method which is beneficial for developing these competencies among students in science. In this context, the leading principles of Experiential Learning emphasize the importance of learning by doing, reflection and real-world participation, which have gained a lot of pedagogical attention. This research uses the integrative literature review method by analyzing search results from the Scopus, Erics, Web of Science and Google Scholar databases. The aim of present integrative review is to assess the existing national and international research on the effect of experiential learning approach on 21st century competencies in science among school students. The main focus of the review is to synthesizes empirical studies, conceptual papers and policy documents based on pedagogical methods such as experiential learning, lab experimentation, simulations, field visits and so on. The analysis reveals that experiential learning improves learning outcomes, increases the interest of students and enhances the 21st century competencies. Furthermore, the review highlights the integration of experiential learning approach with constructivist and other learning theories. Experiential Learning on one hand is very much effective but on other hand it confronts various challenges such as insufficient time, inadequate resources, assessment process, lack of quality teachers. The study highlights that effective adoption of Experiential Learning in science requires curriculum restructuring, professional development of teachers and strong policy support. The review concludes that the integration of Experiential Learning can play a crucial role in developing 21st century competencies among students which make them capable to meet global challenges.
Keywords	Experiential Learning, 21st Century Competencies, Science Education,School Students, Integrative Review, Pedagogical Methods
Published In	Volume 8, Issue 3, May-June 2026
Published On	2026-06-06
DOI	https://doi.org/10.36948/ijfmr.2026.v08i03.80514

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Developing 21st Century Competencies through Experiential Learning in Science: An Integrative Review

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