Importance Of Experiential Learning

Although both Knowles and Kolb have different theories on how an individual learns or may be taught, I am sure you will agree neither of their theories are of an incorrect nature, after you have read this paper.

[3] Infed - (2010) David A. Kolb on experiential learning [Online] Available from: http://infed.org/mobi/david-a-kolb-on-experiential-learning/ [12/01/15]

Another of my teaching methods delivered is by way of ‘on the job’ training which allows me to assess their progress, explore their knowledge and skill by observing and questioning their processes. This method of teaching falls in with Kolbs (1984) four stage experiential learning cycle.

ii. Another important factor I must consider when identifying the needs of my learners is their learning process. A commonly used theory of learning process is that of Kolb (1984) who describes four different stages of the learning process as; Concrete experience, observation and reflection, abstract conceptualisation, and active experimentation. This theory particularly gained insight into the fact that greater understanding is achieved by learners when different and appropriate means are deployed to teach the same concept.

Kolb’s theory (1984) is based on a four-stage learning cycle in which the learner contacts all the stages. These stages include first, concrete experience (how an individual encounters a situation), second, reflective observation (what an individual thinks about the situation), third, abstract conceptualization (how the individual analyzes the situation), and fourth, active experimentation (how the individual’s use of the conclusions in a situation change or prepare for another situation) (p. 21). Kolb also understood that individuals have different learning styles. Some individuals learn by observing while others learn by hands-on experience. Therefore, Kolb created side cycles to explain where in the learning cycles an individual’s learning style would fall. Although Kolb’s theory is a

Kolb states that learning is best conceived as a process, not in terms of outcomes but rather all learning is actually re-learning requiring the resolution of conflicts along with a holistic process of adaptation to the world. Learning results from synergetic transactions between the person and the environment, this is the process of creating knowledge (Kozak

In relation to transforming society in twenty – first century education, Steiner’s theory of education focuses on teachers developing the innate potential that every child has. This can be achieved if the Curriculum allows students’ creativity, individual expression and exploration (Sellars, 2014). The NC (DfE, 2014, pg. 6) which ‘helps engender an appreciation of human creativity and achievement’ is a framework document which supports teachers to plan lessons using statutory and non – statutory guidelines. By engendering an appreciation of human creativity and achievement, teachers can work towards ensuring children make progression across all subjects. The concepts suggest that pupils are capable

My experience from the case study influenced my own belief system in line with Kolb’s (1978) experiential learning, where a learner is able to reflect on past experience to change practice or theories.

Gibbs’ model expands upon Kolb’s (1984) Experiential Learning Cycle, and provides methodical steps to follow,

The work of Kolb (1984) has been influential for the majority of educators as he approaches reflection in a cyclical way as one that is ongoing and constantly striving for improvement (see Diagram below).

Thus I gained confidence in my knowledge and professionalism as an educator and can apply it into my current work. For example, the Social Learning Theory explains how children grow and develop through their everyday learning and what the significant factors are in child development. Importantly, children learn and grow while they play. Thus, as an educator, it is essential to understand the influence of their everyday experiences. Children's curiosities enrich their lives. Therefore, children need to be offered places and time to explore and expand their world. Nowadays, children start to work hard for their academic success from young ages yet need to receive time to use their senses to satisfy their curiosities. Ultimately, I would like to offer children the learning experiences that satisfy their curiosities and

McLeod (2013) states that Kolb learning styles were first introduced in 1984 who published a book on Experiential Learning, his works were based on the work of several people, Lewin, Piagent, Dewey, Freire and James. Kolb suggests that to help us fully understand what we are trying to learn, we need to, have first-hand experience of an idea or notion on something; to be able to visualize and determine the process; to form an opinion and understand the principal of how it works and then actively attempt it several times before we can fully understand it.

Although Roger’s experiential learning theory has provided many examples of advantages, there are some limitations that follow in his outlined theory. When discussing the implications of experiential learning, we often wonder what the full meaning represents. “The main problem about experience, a problem which precedes questions about how we can learn best from experience, lies in a double unsaid: a silence about the implication of experience in language and a silence about the implication of experiential learning in discourse” (Boud, Cohen & Walker, 1993, p. 169). This author explains that through the very subconscious thoughts, we often approach events believing that they have to acquire a particular meaning. Sometimes

Kolb’s experiential learning cycle is a theory that argues that we learn from our experiences of life on a daily basis. Cognitive ability is the way people learn and Kolb believed from an early age we begin to develop a sort of instinctive preference as to the way we process information and use it. Kolb (1984) believes that the process of learning follows a pattern or cycle. Kolb’s cycle is made up of 4 stages; the first stage is concrete experience and Kolb believes that life is full of loads of different experiences that everyone can learn from and whether you are at home, work, school or even out shopping that there was experiences everywhere within those sectors and that it was a way for us to start the learning cycle. The concrete experience is the doing stage, the stage where you have the experience. We then have stage two which is reflective observation, this stage involved looking back at our experiences and reflecting on them. Stage three is the abstract conceptualisation which is

In the reading Experiential Learning: Experience as the Source of Learning and Development by David Kolb (1984), he proposed that learning is a cycle process in which individuals learn through their own experiences in life. This notion of the learning cycle in which he was influenced by the ideas of three other theorists (Piaget, Dewey, and Lewinian) called it Experiential Learning Theory. Kolb’s theory was based on how people learned by imputing information and processing the information. Within this two abilities, there are four steps in which Kolb’s believe the learning process occurs. The first one he calls “concrete experience”, in which one actually does the learning right then and now. The second one is “reflective observation” when the learner thinks about what they did as a reflection of the experience. The next step is the “abstract conceptualization”, where the learner makes a generalization of the experience. The last step is “active experimentation”, where the learner puts to practice his/her understanding and adapts to it. The learner does this by taking all the first three steps of the learning cycle and seeing the results (pg. 30). Learning is a process in which individuals learn through trial and error. This process can then be reused with our prior experience to strengthen the outcome of our first experience. It is shaped as a cycle in the way we process information cognitively. This is how I understood of the reading on Kolb’s Experiential Learning Theory.