Planning and Facilitating Debriefs of Experiential Learning Activities in Skills-Based Health Education

Purpose: This paper highlights the importance of conducting structured, student-centered discussions, known as debriefs, following experiential learning activities in health education. Drawing upon Kolb's experiential learning theory and literature from scholars in simulation-based training, the authors outline key considerations for planning and facilitating debriefs. Methods: The debrief is initiated immediately following the learning experience. Students are prompted to describe and analyze their experiences, identify lessons learned, and discuss their application. Conclusions: Conducting debriefs with experiential learning activities helps students find meaning in their experiences and connect what they have learned to lesson objectives, the real word, and their own lives.