Journal of Business & Economic Policy

Learning by Actually Doing: MBA Students Work with Organizations to Increase Learning
A. Gregory Stone

Abstract
Learning by doing (LBD) is a philosophy of education that emphasizes the value of practical, firsthand experience as a means of learning. The more a student applies what they learn in the classroom to a realistic situation, the more effective the learning. LBD not only yields increased learning, but also increases the student retention rates. Also known as experiential learning, the premise is that the best way to learn is to actively engage in the process of doing and practicing rather than just passively receiving information through lectures, reading, or other forms of instruction. This article explores the effect of classroom/workplace collaborations on student learning. The article examines how combining an instructional assignment with a real organization can serve as a catalyst for more effective learning in a graduate MBA program and explores the principles, benefits, and limitations of LBD.

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