Edgar Dale developed the Cone of Experience theory in 1946 to illustrate how human learning becomes more effective as experiences incorporate more senses and move from abstract to concrete. At the top of the cone is symbolic experience, which involves learning through abstract representations like words. Iconic experience involves learning through visual representations like pictures and occurs below symbolic in the cone. The most concrete and effective form of learning is enactive experience at the bottom of the cone, which involves direct interaction and doing, like learning how to tie a knot by actually tying one. The cone shows that incorporating more senses and concrete experiences results in deeper and more meaningful learning.

1. Presented by
Mr. Reyaz Ahmad Wani
Assistant Professor
School of Education
Central University of Kashmir

2. 1.What is Cone of Experience (CoE)?
2.Visual representation of CoE
3. Enactive Experience (Learning by
Doing)
4. Iconic Experience (Learning
through Observation)
5. Symbolic Experience (Learning
through Abstractions)

3.  In 1946, Edgar Dale developed his theory on Cones of Experience. It
is a visual representation of the types of experiences human beings
encounter as they prepare to synthesize the knowledge and convert it
to understanding. Dale mentioned that humans can encounter
different types of experiences. Each level of experience results in a
different level of effectiveness as it relies on the process of
knowledge. He has divided his model into three major categories;
most abstract to the least abstract, as it travels down from the top to
bottom. According to Dale, the arrangement in the cone is based on
abstraction and on the quantity of senses involved. The experiences
in each stage can be mixed and are interrelated that brings up more
meaningful learning.

5.  Enactive or direct experience involves
practicing with objects (the student actually
ties a knot to learn knot-tying). This kind of
experience involves concrete, immediate
action and use of the senses and body.

9.  Iconic experience involves interpreting images and
drawings (the student looks at drawings, pictures or
films to learn to tie knots). Such experiences are
once removed from the physical realm and limited
to two or three senses.

11. Symbolic experience involves reading or
hearing symbols (the student reads or hears
the word “tie” and forms an image in the
mind). Usually, in such experiences, the action
is indifferent and the experience is limited to
thoughts and ideas.

13. THANK
YOU!