Learning-by-doing is a significant learning approach that allows students to interact with the environment for authentic learning, improves their engagements, and enriches their learning experience. In the summer semester of 2018/19, 20 students from different disciplines had experienced a unique experience to practice permaculture in an overseas study trip in the new GE course UGEB2296 “Experiencing and Rethinking Science and Technology in Agriculture”. The six-day experiential learning trip in Permaculture College Australia had bridged the gap between the knowledge of permaculture ethics and principles and real-life situations and practices. Concepts of permaculture were not only obtained from lectures and interactive discussion but also pursued from the diverse permaculture-related learning activities, such as fertilizing soil, gardening and tree-planting, documentary watching under the star-light, taking care of livestock, visiting neighboring farmlands and local markets. Students’ comments showed that experiential learning could boost up their learning efficacy accompanied by great satisfaction and enjoyment. Besides, the wild-camping experience in winter, such as bucket-showering in chilly nights, sharing of life-stories while stargazing, and performing in a talent show, has strengthened students’ bonding and improved the peer-learning atmosphere. This presentation shares students’ fun learning and living experiences in the trip.
