This is the Edward Dale's Cone of Experience

1. Cone of Experience

2. The Cone is a visual
analogy, and like all
analogies, it does not bear
an exact and detailed
relationship to the
complex elements it
represents.”
-Edgar Dale
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3. The Cone of Experience
• Developed by Edgar Dale
• Depicts progression of learning
experiences
• From concrete to abstract concepts
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4. 4
Concrete Abstract

5. Direct and
Purposeful
Experience
• Direct, First hand Experience
• Direct participation in the outcome
• Use of all our senses
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6. Contrived Experience
● Models and mockups
● “editing of reality”
● Real experience are too complicated
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7. Dramatized Experience
● Reconstructed experiences
● Used to simplify idea to its most important parts
● Divided into two categories:
1. Acting – actual participation
(more concrete)
2. Observing – watching a dramatization take place
(more abstract)
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8. Demonstration
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● Visualized explanation of an important
facts, idea, or process
● Show how certain things are done

9. Field Trips
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● Watch people do things in real situations
● Observe an event that is unavailable in
the classroom

10. Exhibits
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● Something seen by a spectator
● Two types:
1. Ready made
2. Home-made

11. Educational Television and Motion Pictures
• Bring immediate interaction with
events from around the world
• Edit an event to create clearer
understanding than if experienced
actual event first hand
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• Can omit unnecessary or unimportant material
• Used to slow down a fast
process
• Viewing, seeing and hearing experience
• Can re-create events with simplistic drama that even
slower students can grasp
Television
Motion
Pictures

12. Recordings, Radio and Still Pictures
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•Can often be understood by those who cannot read
•Helpful to students who cannot deal with the
motion or pace of a real event or television

13. Visual Symbols
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● No longer involves reproducing real
situations
● Chalkboard and overhead projector -the
most widely used media
● Help students see an idea, event, or
process

14. Verbal Symbols
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Two types:
● Written words –more abstract
● Spoken words – less abstract

15. Benefits of Dale's Cone
• Foster critical thinking skills
• Establishes a multi-sensory approach
• Engages learners’ interests, varying styles
• Embeds real-world applications into education.
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16. When teaching, don't get stuck in
the concrete. Strive to bring our
students to the symbolic or
abstract level to develop their
higher order thinking skills.
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17. Thank you!
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