Kolb Learning Styles

Learn Style

Kolb

 

 

Kolb's Model of  

While the learning style categories focus only on the external aspects of learning (auditory, visual, kinesthetic), Kolb's learning styles include and processing.  

According to Kolb, learners perceive and process information in a continuum from concrete experience, reflective observation, abstract conceptualization, and active experimentation.

 

kolbs quad 2

 

 

Kolb's learning theory sets out four distinct learning styles, which are based on a four-stage .  Learning styles can be viewed on a continuum across two dimensions, based on how people perceive information (concrete vs. abstract) and process information (active vs. reflective). 

Kolb believes that as we learn something we go through a learning cycle.  That cycle begins with a concrete situation which we experience.  He believes we then reflect on this experience and what it means.  After we reflect on the experience, we then begin to understand what is to be learned from the experience.  He suggests we then attempt to apply what we learned by creating an experiment.

 

 

Kolb Learning Styles or

Although Kolb thought of the as a continuum or cycle that one moves through over time, he believes people come to prefer one element or style above the others. 

 

The four learners styles or preferences are:

Concrete experience: being involved in a new experience

Reflective observation: watching others or developing observations about one's own experience

Abstract conceptualization: creating theories to explain observations

Active experimentation: using theories to solve problems and make decisions

 

The Kolb Learning Styles Inventory plots the degree to which the subject engages in concrete experience, active experimentation, abstract conceptualization and reflective observation.  The four resultant learning-style types from the Kolb instrument are diverging, assimilating, converging and accommodating.

 

Additional Learning Style Theories

 

4MAT Learning Style Model

Gregorc mind styles model

Kolb Learning Style Model

VAK Learning Preference

Honey Mumford Learning Style

Felder-Silverman Learning Style

Herrmann's Brain Dominance HBDI

Left-brain and Right-brain Preferences

Myers-Briggs Type Indicator MBTI

 

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