Literature Review Kolb Experimental learning

Experimental learning: Experience as the source of learning and development (1984)

Kolb explains that each individual naturally prefers a different learning style and that this can be effected by various factors which influence a person's preferred style.  For example, social environment, educational experiences, or the basic cognitive structure of the individual.

Kolb identified four main learning styles;

Diverging (feeling and watching )

These people are able to look at things from different perspectives. They tend to be imaginative and emotional, and tend to be strong in the arts. People with the diverging style prefer to work in groups, to listen with an open mind and to receive personal feedback.

Assimilating (watching and thinking)

The Assimilating learning preference is a logical approach. These people require good clear explanation rather than practical opportunity, preferring reading, lectures, exploring analytical models, and having time to think things through.

Converging (doing and thinking )

People with a converging learning style can solve problems and will use their learning to find solutions to practical issues. They prefer technical tasks, they can solve problems and make decisions by finding solutions to questions and problems. People with a converging style like to experiment with new ideas, to simulate, and to work with practical applications.

Accommodating (doing and feeling)

The Accommodating learning style is 'hands-on', and relies on intuition rather than logic. These people use other people's analysis, and prefer to take a practical, experiential approach. They are attracted to new challenges and experiences, and to carrying out plans. They commonly act on 'gut' instinct rather than logical analysis.

Kolb argued that reflective practice is important to the development of teaching and learning. His experiential learning theory works on two levels: four separate learning styles and a four stage cycle of learning.

The Experiential Learning Cycle comprises four different stages of learning from experience and can be entered at any point, but all stages must be followed in sequence for successful learning to take place. The learner must make the link between the theory and action by planning, acting out, reflecting and relating it back to the theory. Kolb includes this 'cycle of learning' as a central principle in his experiential learning theory.

The Four stage learning cycle;

1. Concrete Experience (doing / having an experience)

2. Reflective Observation (reviewing / reflecting on the experience)

3. Abstract Conceptualisation (concluding / learning from the experience)

4. Active Experimentation (planning / trying out what you have learned)

Kolb (1975) views learning as an integrated process with each stage being mutually supportive of and feeding into the next.

“Learning is the process whereby knowledge is created through the transformation of experience” (David A. Kolb, 1984).

I will strive to ensure that my teaching is inclusive for students of all learning styles. However many of my Performing Arts students are more likely to prefer Diverging learning styles of watching and feeling, so will learn better from working in groups, observing, listening and receiving personal feedback.

I will therefore use a variety of teaching tools throughout the workshop, to include pair/group work, discussion, visual aids (DVD clip/peer observation/video feedback) written self-evaluations etc).

"Knowing a person's (and your own) learning style enables learning to be orientated according to the preferred method. That said, everyone responds to and needs the stimulus of all types of learning styles to one extent or another - it's a matter of using emphasis that fits best with the given situation and a person's learning style preferences."

(Kolb - Learning Styles. Saul McLeod 2010)