Kolb Learning Styles Towards Professional Implications

Kolb Learning Styles Towards Professional Implications

In 1974, Kolb's learning theory sets out four distinct learning styles, which are based on a four-stage learning cycle. It includes,

1. Concrete Experience - (a new experience or situation is encountered, or a reinterpretation of existing experience).

2. Reflective Observation of the new experience. (of particular importance are any inconsistencies between experience and understanding).

3. Abstract Conceptualization (reflection gives rise to a new idea, or a modification of an existing abstract concept).

4. Active Experimentation (the learner applies them to the world around them to see what results).

Kolb (1984) explains that different people naturally prefer a certain single different learning style. Various factors influence a person's preferred style. For example, social environment, educational experiences, or the basic cognitive structure of the individual. Whatever influences the choice of style, the learning style preference itself is actually the product of two pairs of variables, or two separate 'choices' that we make, which Kolb presented as lines of an axis, each with 'conflicting' modes at either end:

According to the Kolb (1974) A typical presentation of two continuums is that the east-west axis is called the Processing Continuum (how we approach a task), and the north-south axis is called the Perception Continuum (our emotional response, or how we think or feel about it).

(Author developed based on Desimone et al, 2001)

Learning styles were created by Peter Honey and Alan Mumford, based on work of Kolb, and recognized four distinct styles of learning or preferences: activist, theorist; Pragmatic and reflector. There are four styles suggested for the honey and Mumford.

Both Kolb's (1984) learning stages and cycle could be used by teachers to critically evaluate the learning provision typically available to students, and to develop more appropriate learning opportunities.

Employees should ensure that activities are designed and carried out in ways that offer each learner the chance to engage in the manner that suits them best. Also, individuals can be helped to learn more effectively by the identification of their lesser preferred learning styles and the strengthening of these through the application of the experiential learning cycle. Ideally, activities and material should be developed in ways that draw on abilities from each stage of the experiential learning cycle and take the students through the whole process in sequence.

References

Desimone, L., Birman, B., and Yoon, K. (2001) What Makes Professional Development Effective. American Educational Research Journal, 38 (4) 915-945.

Kolb, D. A. (1984) Experiential learning: Experience as the source of learning and development. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.

Kolb, D. A., & Fry, R. E. (1974) Toward an applied theory of experiential learning. MIT: Alfred Sloan School of Management.

Comments

  1. How can we use KOLB learning style for the development of an organization?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Monali ,,, 😊

      This tool is useful at the beginning of an intervention process, when engaging people in M4SDI, to think about their preferred learning styles and how to make the best use of them.☺

      Delete
  2. Kolb's experiential learning theory works on two levels: a four-stage cycle of learning and four separate learning styles. Much of Kolb’s theory is concerned with the learner’s internal cognitive processes.

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  3. Kolb states that learning involves the acquisition of abstract concepts that can be applied flexibly in a range of situations. In Kolb’s theory, the impetus for the development of new concepts is provided by new experiences.

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  4. Kolb's experiential learning style theory is typically represented by a four-stage learning cycle in which the learner 'touches all the bases':
    Concrete Experience
    Reflective Observation of the New Experience
    Abstract Conceptualization
    Active Experimentation

    ReplyDelete
  5. Effective learning is seen when a person progresses through a cycle of four stages: of (1) having a concrete experience followed by (2) observation of and reflection on that experience which leads to (3) the formation of abstract concepts (analysis) and generalizations (conclusions) which are then (4) used to test hypothesis in future situations, resulting in new experiences.

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  6. Kolb (1974) views learning as an integrated process with each stage being mutually supportive of and feeding into the next. It is possible to enter the cycle at any stage and follow it through its logical sequence. However, effective learning only occurs when a learner can execute all four stages of the model. Therefore, no one stage of the cycle is effective as a learning procedure on its own.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes.. but some times we can get some benefits from these stages. 🌟

      Delete
  7. Kolb's learning theory (1974) sets out four distinct learning styles, which are based on a four-stage learning cycle (see above). Kolb explains that different people naturally prefer a certain single different learning style. Various factors influence a person's preferred style. For example, social environment, educational experiences, or the basic cognitive structure of the individual.

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  8. According to David Kolb's Learning Theory (1974), each person prefers a single learning style. Various factors are involved in this. For example, social environment, educational experience, etc

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    Replies
    1. According to ,, Kolb (1974) it' s true... we can't neglect that matter. 😊

      Delete
  9. Kolb's Learning Cycle is a well-known approach that demonstrates we learn from our experiences of life, even on an everyday basis. It also treats representation as an integral part of before-mentioned learning

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  10. Government is going to offer tabs to school students.Will it be effective as a qualitative apply to above cycle

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    Replies
    1. It has both side Pivithuru.... Student in local areas , they only need their basic needs. But students in Popular schools i think it s a good opportunity. ☺

      Delete
  11. I think although the model is presented as a series of stages, in reality it is possible to enter the cylce at any stage.

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  12. As Kolb explains "different people naturally prefer a certain single different learning style." But in Sri lanka our education system doesn't focus on that and I think that is one of the major problems we face as students.

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  13. The model is especially useful for skill training because most of its techniques are active and are designed to involve the participants in skill practice.

    ReplyDelete

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