Now that we have explored the philosophical foundations behind experiential learning, let's discuss some of the benefits for incorporating activities into your teaching practice. The seemingly simple act of students spending extended time observing a work of art, describing in detail what they see, presents significant challenges regarding both the development of perception and language. Instead of simply acquiring information, students are encouraged to focus, look closely and present a thorough description of what they see. Â When we spend extended time to look and describe, we enable students to build upon and fine-tune their observational skills. This process requires no expertise or prior knowledge, which makes it accessible to any student. Through exposure to increasingly challenging images, students can begin to make more and subtler observations, and organize and express them more efficiently and with greater depth. They begin to build upon observations, forming questions and working toward developing their own hypothesis or interpretations about the work based on evidence they gathered through close looking. This type of skill is essential for all students both in school, and in life. Activities also support peer-to-peer learning. When students are given the opportunity to work and learn together, they experience concepts or ideas from a perspective outside of their own. Collaboration is a key skill that they will be required to draw upon later in life. for multiple, divergent responses and a variety of entry points, they give students the freedom to form their own opinions and interpretations. Free choice in learning also gives students the opportunity to feel empowered and in charge of their own learning. It goes without saying that on top of all of the critical skills that activities foster, there is also a huge amount of content knowledge that students can gain through this process both about artists and artworks, but also about the context and role art plays in a larger historical narrative. Â To summarize, our goal as museum educators is to provide opportunities for students to: Look or sense closely. Wonder. Be curious. Ask questions. Make interpretations and hypotheses based on sensory evidence. Make connections to things they already know or have experienced. Consider multiple perspectives and viewpoints. Delve below the surface of an artwork or object. Form their own conclusions. Most students already have these abilities, so our goal is not to teach these skills, but rather to facilitate experiences in which the student's use of these skills is valued, visible, and actively promoted for the benefit of everyone, including yourself.