An understanding of how people learn is
necessary if learning is to take place effectively in an organization
* reinforcement
* cognitive learning
* experiential learning
* social learning
(Armstrong, 2006)
Experiential learning takes place when
people learn from their experience by reflecting on it so that it can be
understood and applied. Learning is therefore a personal ‘construction’ of
meaning through experience
Figure 1 - Kolb‟s
(1984) Experiential Learning Cycle
* Concrete experience – this can be planned or accidental
* Reflective observation – this involves actively thinking about the
experience and its significance
* Abstract conceptualization (theorizing) – generalizing from
experience in order to develop various concepts and ideas which can be applied
when similar situations are encountered
* Active experimentation – testing the concepts or ideas in new
situations. This gives rise to a new concrete experience and the cycle begins
again
This process is portrayed as an idealized
learning cycle or spiral where the learner "touches all the bases" -
experiencing, reflecting, thinking, and acting - in a recursive process that is
responsive to the learning situation and what is being learned. Immediate or
concrete experiences are the basis for observations and reflections. These
reflections are assimilated and distilled into abstract concepts from which new
implications for action can be drawn. These implications can be actively tested
and serve as guides in creating new experience
Video 1 - Kolb's Cycle Explained
Source:
I work for a company in IT industry. In the
company I work, it can observed that the learning takes place over a time
period as a spiral which is highlighted in the work done by Kolb. Employees
needed repeated trainings of same type of training again and again to capture
the learning. As highlighted in the learning cycle of Kolb, employees capture
some of the learning through the transfer of knowledge as theory. However,
until the completion of the learning cycle employees do not capture the
expected learning out of the modules taught through classroom trainings. When
they come back for the same training as a refresher again, they have already
gone through the learning cycle and they capture the theory more effectively in
the second time of delivery. Similarly in the next refresher sessions.
Therefore it can be noted that the
understanding and knowledge of how learning takes place is critical for any
organization to implement its training and other learning and development
programs effectively.
Armstrong, M., 2006. A Handbook
of Human Resource Management Practice. 10 ed. London: Kogan Page Limited.
Gasper,
J., 2018. YouTube - Reflection and Kolb's Cycle. [Online]
Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6gB4564vAk
[Accessed 09 05 2021].
Kayes,
A. B., Kayes, D. C. & Kolb, D. A., 2005. Experiential learning in teams. SIMULATION
& GAMING, 36(3), pp. 330-354.
Kolb
, A. Y. & Kolb , D. A., 2017. Experiential Learning Theory as a Guide for
Experiential Educators in Higher Education. A Journal for Engaged
Educators, 1(1), pp. 7-44.
Kolb,
A. Y. & Kolb, D. A., 2005. Learning Styles and Learning Spaces: Enhancing
Experiential Learning in Higher Education. Academy of Management Learning
& Education, 4(2), pp. 193-212.
Kolb,
A. Y. & Kolb, D. A., 2013. www.researchgate.net. [Online]
Available at: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/David-Kolb-2/publication/303446688_The_Kolb_Learning_Style_Inventory_40_Guide_to_Theory_Psychometrics_Research_Applications/links/57437c4c08ae9f741b3a1a58/The-Kolb-Learning-Style-Inventory-40-Guide-to-Theory-Psychometr
[Accessed 09 05 2021].
Kolb,
D. A., 1984. Experiential learning: experience as the source of learning
and development. 1 ed. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall.
Mughal,
F. & Zafar, A., 2011. Experiential Learning from a Constructivist
Perspective: Reconceptualizing the Kolbian Cycle. International Journal of
Learning & Development, 1(2), pp. 27-37.
Peterson,
K., DeCato, L. & Kolb, D. A., 2015. Moving and Learning: Expanding Style
and Increasing Flexibility. Journal of Experiential Education, 38(3),
pp. 228-244.
Agree with your view Chamara. adding further Jamali et al (2009) mentioned that understanding the need and the way of learning styles of workforce is important to have a better process of learning so that individually and collectively capacity to generate quality output is increased.
ReplyDeleteYes Pernalla. Kolb’s ELC provides the opportunity to complete activities for each learning style, with one particular stage perhaps matching a person’s learning style preferences (McLeod, 2010).
DeleteIndeed Chamara Kolb’s learning cycle plays a vital role in organizations as a continuing learning process. Employee motivation is most important element for all organizations to attain achievement weather these are public or private (Chintallo & Mahadeo, 2013).As stated by Kolb(2014) “Truth is not manifest in experience; it must be inferred by a process of learning that questions, preconceptions of direct experience, tempers the vividness and emotion of experience with critical reflection, and extracts the correct lessons from the consequences of action".
ReplyDeleteYes Gagana. The Kolb’s experiential learning theory has a vast range of application, including helping students realise themselves, helping teachers become reflexive teachers, identifying learning styles of students, and development of key teacher’s skills (Sharlanova, 2004)
DeleteYes Chamara, further Schramm (2001) describes The combination of different modes of delivery that take into account the learner’s environment, motivation and learning styles with different theoretical approaches.
ReplyDeleteYes Duminda. Effective leadership is often contingency-based and certain situations may call for specific learning styles on the
Deletepart of leaders (Manolis et.al, 2013).
Hi Chamara,
ReplyDeleteFurther to your point, as per experiential learning theory, the two dialectically connected modes of grasping experience such as concrete experience and abstract conceptualization, and two connected modes of transforming experience such as reflective observation and active experimentation shape the learning styles of the employees (Kolb, 2002). The learning styles are identified as accommodating, converging, assimilating and diverging (Kolb, 2009).
References
Kolb, A., Y. & Kolb, D., A. (2009). Experiential Learning Theory:
A Dynamic, Holistic Approach to Management Learning, Education and Development, Sage Publications, Retrieved on May 15, 2021 from https://www.researchgate.net/profile/David-Kolb-2/publication/267974468_Experiential_Learning_Theory_A_Dynamic_Holistic_Approach_to_Management_Learning_Education_and_Development/links/5559122408ae6fd2d826eb12/Experiential-Learning-Theory-A-Dynamic-Holistic-Approach-to-Management-Learning-Education-and-Development.pdf
Mainemelis, C., Boyatzis, R., E. & Kolb, D., A. (2002). Learning styles and adaptive flexibility. Sage Publications, Retrieved on May 15, 2021 from https://d1wqtxts1xzle7.cloudfront.net/45304817/Learning_Styles_and_Adaptive_Flexibility20160503-4766-v8z4b3.pdf?1462268007=&response-content-disposition=inline%3B+filename%3DLearning_Styles_and_Adaptive_Flexibility.pdf&Expires=1621072141&Signature=MaCXu-vxt9qWBWbuhqS5rvPtiD0KKlxYCr~SCJp9Gmf4naqykCPBMzCKs9pWJpJdx-6QnY7UGZfRV8-Q2VRs4-Qy2-OVmWnlFKCWn4pTnJg5DhOO-Ty4v~saqakpDsMltB2lGfR7pFqZbdZ2UZeMdUp7NetSYMsP1rRLnO89JB9beatD5jG7mnyBWtKXfXtUA9XR6ijYRWlL3kVbyXQz6LGrmBaRI3FwP04C8RwcI2b4ptlK~awBpZcwmb2ibf2dWPW9tq6oYn2w58vnSR0cdPOw8pJyhhJsFV7OPQQq02RlH1Yc~1tIeqdinxvBpwM6VteOWv7s-93JQ5Ro0nP6kw__&Key-Pair-Id=APKAJLOHF5GGSLRBV4ZA
Yes Sathaharan. The strengths of individuals with this learning style lie in their ability to systematically plan, organize, analyze and engage in inductive reasoning (Turesky & Gallagher,2011)
DeleteYes Chamara, It is perhaps easier to define EL by what it is not. Thus, learning from experience means not merely memorizing a pre-defined set of abstract facts and figures, which are subsequently
ReplyDeleteregurgitated in exams. In many ways, EL appears to be as much a movement as a theory (Reynolds, 2009).
Yes Wasantha. Individuals adhering to this style learn primarily from experiencing something new and carrying out plans that involve new experiences and challenges by which they learn (Kolb & Kolb, 2005).
DeleteAgreed Chamara.. Questionnaires are easy to manage and it can measure an organization's basic practices and direction. Still, they are also general or insufficient to measure learning. Therefore do not provide a thorough understanding of the competencies required by a learning organization.(Moilanen, 2001)
ReplyDeleteYes Harsha. An appeal of Kolb's Experiential Learning Model is its focus on the experiential learning process rather than on fixed learning traits (Turesky & Gallagher, 2011)
DeleteYes Chamara, Kolb (2015) defined learning as the process of creating knowledge by transforming experience. Kolb further argued that “the learning process works best when learners have the opportunity to connect with concepts at each stage, as immediate or concrete experience is the basis for observation and reflection” (Jenkins and Clarke, 2019).
ReplyDeleteYes Oshadee. The notion that EL is less hierarchical than more traditional forms of learning also invokes instructional designs based on peer-learning and dialogue, thereby potentially making greater use of all the resources and sources of expertise in the classroom (Reynolds, 2009).
DeleteAgreed Chamara, Kolb Experiential theory is one of the most influential researchers in the field because it provides a firm theoretical base, which is lacking in the work of many other writers (Holman et al. 1997 Cited in Healey and Jenkins, 2000).
DeleteI would like to add more in to your opinion. The Experiential Learning Model is also based on the existence of four learning modes — concrete experience (CE), reflective observation (RO), abstract conceptualization (AC), and active experimentation (AE). Although all four modes are a part of learning, Individuals are thought to develop preferences for specific modes over time (Koob & Funk, 2002).
DeleteAgreed Chamara, the experiential learning process is a never ending process where endings leads to beginnings and so on which is applicable in the individual level, the team and the organization as a whole (Kolb and Kolb, 2018).
ReplyDeleteYes Arjun. Kolb's Experiential Learning Model defines learning as “the process whereby knowledge is created through the transformation of experience” (Deryakulu, Büyüköztürk, & Özçınar, 2009)
Delete