The document discusses learning by doing as an educational concept. It proposes that traditional classroom-based education focuses too much on factual knowledge and passive learning. In contrast, learning by doing emphasizes skills development and learning content in a practical context. The concept involves concrete experiences, reflective observation, abstract conceptualization, and active experimentation. Assen Zlatarov University has implemented good practices like a student practices project that gives students 240 hours of unpaid work at organizations, allowing them to gain experience and learn from mentors and tutors. This provides students real-world learning experiences and better prepares them for their careers.

1. LEARNING BY DOING
Education and training at Assen Zlatarov University –
Burgas, Bulgaria
Assoc. prof. Penka Peeva
Vice Rector for Education
at Prof. Assen Zlatarov
University-Burgas

2. ABOUT ASSEN ZLATAROV
UNIVERSITY – BURGAS
(www.btu.bg)
• The University was founded in 1963 as a
chemical institute.
• Now there are four faculties and three
colleges with more than 6000 students.
• The Faculty of Social Sciences
• The Faculty of Natural Sciences
• The Faculty of Technical Sciences
• The Faculty for Public health and HealthCare
• The College of Tourism
• The Technical College
• The Medical College

3. THE MAIN PARTNERS OF THE
UNIVERSITY
• LUKOIL Neftochim Burgas AD is the biggest petrol
refinery on the Balkans producing and supplying high-
quality fuels, petrochemicals and polymers. The refinery
is among the leading suppliers of these products not only
on Bulgarian and the Balkan markets, but also in Europe
and the USA.

4. THE MAIN PARTNERS
• Burgas Chambers of Commerce and Industry. They
were founded to assist and stimulate the business
relations, economic development in the region and the
contacts between education and business.

5. THE MAIN PARTNERS
• Port of Burgas - the biggest port of Bulgaria, with a
clear strategy for development of the passenger
service.

6. THE MAIN PARTNERS
• Educational organizations
• Medical organizations
• Small business enterprises

7. THE PROBLEMS OF EDUCATION
Today the situation is more or less different from
what it was in the late 1980s.
What has
changed?
A lot more
computer-
based learning
and training
A lot more
understanding of
training as a
necessity and
priority
What has not
changed?
Still large
classrooms,
prevailing
passive learning
Still few hours of
training in business
and educational
organizations
Dull computer-
based courses,
namely video-
lectures

8. UNRESOLVED PROBLEMS
undesired
consequences:
not well prepared young people for
real-life situations and professional
realization
Education is in need
of radical change

9. WHAT’S WRONG WITH THE
ACADEMIC LEARNING ?
• The SUBJECTS
• STUDENTS don’t
object to this.
Why?
• PROFESSORS
don’t object to
this. Why?
• We still use
CLASSROOM-
based techniques,
because we have
always done it that
way.
• We still teach by
talking. Why?

10. LEARNING BY DOING
• Therefore, the question how to prepare students for the “real-
world” and their professional realization is still actual.
“Trying to teach people
to do their job with a few
hours of training is
really an absurd idea.
People learn by doing,
from experience, and
from failure.”
Roger Schank

11. • "For things we have to learn
before we can do them, we learn
by doing them."
–Aristotle,
Nicomachean Ethics
WHAT SHOULD WE CHANGE?
1. The process of learning
Learning by doing is an ancient
concept

12. THE CONCEPT
Learning through experience (David Colb’s model)
Concrete
Experience
Reflective
Observation
Abstract
Conceptualization
Active
Experimentation

13. THE CONCEPT
• The primary goal of this CONCEPT:
• To foster skill development and the learning of factual
information in the context of how it will be used.
• Values:
• skills rather than factual knowledge
• learning occurs in the context of a relevant, meaningful
and interesting to the student goal
• content knowledge is closely related to how students will
use it outside the learning environment

14. THE CONCEPT
• Methods
• 1. Clearly defined Goals: What do I want to happen?
• 2. What is my mission? (Why do I want this to happen? Motivating
and realistic)
• 3. What would be my role ? (must be one who uses the
necessary skills and knowledge; must be motivating)
• 4. What is my plan of action? (closely related to the mission and
the goals; must have decision points with consequences that
become evident; should not require more than what the goals call
for)
• 5. Resources: must provide the information the students need to
succeed in the mission
• 6. Feedback – must be just in time.

15. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU
START
• You expect and hope to achieve the goal;
• You don’t achieve the goal right away (this is what it means to
have an experience);
• You need to understand why you were wrong (this is called
thinking);
• You adapt an old explanation or someone provides you with a
new one (you already know);
• Now you are ready to try again.

16. WHAT ELSE SHOULD WE
CHANGE?
• The curriculum should become experience-centred;
• Curricula should be determined by actual needs;
• Curricula should be designed not only by academics but by
expert practitioners, as well.
• Any curriculum should be able to be delivered worldwide to
anyone in any language who is capable of doing the work;

17. WE CAN DO THIS IN ALL
AREAS OF EDUCATION
• Masters degree programs
• College programs
• High school programs
• New kinds of non-stressful fun programs for smaller kids
• Corporate training

18. TEACHING HOW TO LEARN BY
DOING MEANS:
• Experience – enabling failure –
discussion – acquiring a case base –
progressing to more complex cases and
discussions

19. GOOD PRACTICES AT ASSEN
ZLATAROV UNIVERSITY
• Project “Students’ Practices”
• Initiated and launched for the academic year 2014-2015, by the Ministry
of Education. Bulgaria.
• Financed within the framework of Operational Program “Management
of Human Capacities”.
• Aim: to enhance the quality of education by creating opportunities for
university students to acquire practical skills according to the market
needs.
• Participants and actions
• Organizations register to the Project and offer positions to students
• Students register and apply for positions
• Experts from organizations act as trainers and mentors
• Professors from universities act as academic tutors
Students, mentors and tutors all get fixed payment

20. • Activities
• Students have 240 paid hours of practice at a chosen by them
organization; They get help from experts and academic tutors
• They get experience (they do things)
• They discuss their experience at class (analyze, interpret)
• They derive conclusions (they learn)
• They are ready for a new experience
934 students from Assen Zatarov University had 240 hours of practice in
more than 300 registered small and medium business and educational
organizations in the course of one year.
All of them now know what “learning by doing” means.
The results were positive. The Project will continue.
GOOD PRACTICES AT ASSEN
ZLATAROV UNIVERSITY

21. THANK YOU!