DALE’S CONE OF

EXPERIENCE
EdTech 201
 Edgar Dale
• Edgar Dale (1900-1985) served on The Ohio State
University faculty from 1929 until 1970.

• Cited as the father of modern media in education

• He was an internationally renowned pioneer in the

utilization of audio-visual materials in instruction.

• He also made major research contributions in the

teaching of vocabulary and testing readability of texts.

• Professor Dale's most famous concept was called the

"cone of experience," a graphic depiction of the
relationship between how information is presented in
instruction and the outcomes for learners.
Key Principles 
 Create
Createaavisual
visualwith
withwhich
whichtoto
categorize
categorizethe
theprogression
progressionofofAV
AV
material
material usage, from the concretetoto
usage, from the concrete
abstract
abstractexperience.
experience.

 “Direct
“Directpurposeful
purposefulexperiences,"
experiences,"
represents
representsreality
realityororthe
theclosest
closest
things to real, everyday life.
things to real, everyday life.

 The
Theopportunity
opportunityforforaalearner
learnertotouse
use
aavariety
varietyororseveral
severalsenses
senses(sight,
(sight,
smell, hearing, touching, movement)
smell, hearing, touching, movement)
isisconsidered
consideredininthe
thecone.
cone.

 Direct
Directexperience
experienceallows
allowsus
ustotouse
use
all
allsenses.
senses.

 As
Asyou
youmove
moveupupthe
thecone,
cone,fewer
fewer
senses
senses are involved at eachlevel
are involved at each level

 As
Asone
onemoves
movesup upthe
theCone
Conethere
thereisis
not
notnecessarily
necessarilyan anincrease
increaseinin
difficulty
difficultybut
butrather
ratheran
anincrease
increaseinin
abstract
abstractthought
thought
 Ve
rb
al

Sy
Pictures/
m
Visualbo
Symbols
Enactive – direct experiences ls
Direct, Purposeful Audio/Recordings/P
Contrived hotos
Dramatized
Iconic – pictorial experiences Motion Pictures
Demonstrations
Study trips Exhibits
Exhibits
Educational television
Field Trips
Motion pictures
Recordings, radio, still pictures
Symbolic – highly abstract
Demonstrations
experiences
Visual symbols Dramatized Experiences
Verbal symbols
Contrived Experiences

Direct-Purposeful Experiences
Implications to the Utilization of Media

 The Cone of Experience is a visual device to aid

teachers in the selection of instructional media.

 The purpose of selecting resources beyond a

textbook is to help students learn more or learn
something better and to enable them to apply basic
knowledge to life and work.