Be Like Water: Lessons from a Diploma in Experiential Education

Last year we decided to homeschool our children, and I was delivering trainings on GenAI. We were new to homeschooling, and with GenAI, things were/are moving at a pace I could not get a complete hang of. To get some grounding while dealing with both, I decided to join the DEEP (Diploma in Experiential Education & Practice) in Bengaluru. I came to know about DEEP from Vishwas after I attended his The Practitioner’s Pod Program and showcased my Web of Interdependence Activity. After many years it happened in Bengaluru. It started in Sept ’25 and ended in March ’26. We had more than 20 participants from very diverse backgrounds, which made the overall experience super engaging and fun. 

After attending DEEP, I could finally say I have received the education I always yearned for. A bit late but lucky to have finally received it. In Vishwas (Our Facilitator), I could see a guide who is calm, always available, but who would not give the direct answers :). He would give the directions to find the answers that are relevant for us. The slides, reading, and other reference materials are treasures. I uncover something new every time I refer to them. DEEP has helped me give frameworks and words to the abstract thoughts I used to have. It’s hard to put down all the learnings I had, but the following are some that have affected me directly:

• Stop using “WE” and use “I” if I want to own the outcome; else, it is a generalized statement; just say it and forget it. For example, replace “WE/Our” with “I/My” in the following sentences to see the power of it :-
  • We take ourselves too seriously, and we should bring some playfulness. 
  • The conditioning we have leaks in our behavior. If nothing else, we should be aware of such leaks. 
• There is always a choice. 
• I may have chosen something based on the information I had at that given time. Now when I have more information, I should be ok to take a different path. No need to be stuck with the earlier path. 
• When I take a different path, I should leave the previous path/step with grace.
• When there are differences, each party thinks they can take control of the other party/parties, and nothing works out. In such cases, find commonalities to move forward. 
• What I choose to look at grows in me. 
• Instead of looking at anything in just two extreme ends, explore it as a part of a continuum.
• I have control only over my actions.
• When I respond to anything, am I responding below or above the line? 

I have delivered many trainings, but facilitation is new to me. In terms of facilitation, the following were some of my takeaways:

• Emotions are a gateway to learning. How we feel will affect our learning.
• The learner is a participant rather than a spectator in learning. 
• Having the right props and activities in hand is very critical to facilitate any situation.
• Doing activities is the easy part; facilitating reflections is more challenging. 
• Asking the right questions and building metaphors are very critical for doing debriefing/reflections.
• What is the value of giving a direct answer?

IIn between the modules, I also attended Experiential Education Conferences in Pune. Masterclasses and sessions gave me exposure to different techniques and methodologies using which learning can happen to children and adults. All such experiences give confidence in our homeschooling journey. 

One good thing about the DEEP program is that it spans over many months, and we could practice what we are learning and do a due course correction as we meet in different modules. I would highly recommend it for anyone above 15 years. 

Be like Water…