1. “Learning is the process whereby knowledge is created through the transformation of experience”
David Kolb

2. Learning Styles: Student Engagement May 5, 2009
Susan Ludwig
Ext. 6099

3. Learning Styles: Student Engagement
Agenda
Warm-up
The Learning Process
Self as Learner
Application to Teaching
Wrap up

4. Learning Styles: Student Engagement
Outcomes
Identify and describe your own learning style
Compare Kolb’s Learning Styles
Explain how understanding different learning styles creates an effective learning environment
Give examples of Teaching and Learning strategies that can be incorporated into the classroom

5. The Experiential Learning Cycle
Concrete Experience
Participates in an experience
(Feeling /”Gut”)
Active Experimentation
Implements new action
Experiments with new ways (Doing/”Then What”)
Reflective Observation
Makes sense of the experience
(Watching /”What”)
Active Experimentation
Implements new action
Experiments with new ways
(Doing/”Then What”)Concrete Experience
Participates in an experience
(Feeling /”Gut”)Reflective Observation
Makes sense of the experience
(Watching /”What”)Abstract Conceptualization
Makes generalizations, develops theories (Thinking/”So What”)
Abstract Conceptualization
Makes generalizations, develops theories (Thinking/”So What”)
Lewin, K. 1947

6. Retention of Learning 20% AC 50% AC + RO 70% AC + RO + CE
90% AC + RO + CE + AE
Source: Hay Group

7. Learning Styles (Kolb, 1976)CE
ACCOMMODATING
DIVERGING AE RO
CONVERGING
ASSIMILATING
AC – CE – how you process
AE – RO- how you prefer to take information in AC

8. Accommodator Learn primarily by “hands-on”
Act on “gut” rather than logical analysis (intuitive)
Rely more heavily on people for information than technical analysis
Like getting involved in new experiences
Task oriented

9. Diverger View concrete solutions from many different points of view
Like brainstorming, idea generation
Observe rather than take action
Imaginative, creative

10. Assimilator Focus more on abstract ideas and concepts than people
More important that theory is sound rather than have practical value
Can take a wide range of information and put it into concise, logical form

11. Converger Practical application of ideas
Solution focused – decision maker
Prefer dealing with technical problems rather than social or interpersonal issues
Does best when there is a single right answer

12. Kolb's learning styles Accommodating Diverging Converging Assimilating
Concrete Experience
Feeling
Accommodating
(feel and do)
CE/AE
Diverging
(feel and watch)
CE/RO
Perception Continuum
how we think about things
Active Experimentation Doing
Reflective Observation Watching
Processing Continuum
how we do things
Converging
(think and do)
AC/AE
Assimilating
(think and watch)
AC/RO
Abstract Conceptualisation Thinking
© concept david kolb, adaptation and design alan chapman , based on Kolb's learning styles, 1984

13. Learning Style Discussion
What are some strategies / techniques you would suggest incorporating as teacher in order to engage your style of learning?
As a teacher - how is this preference reflected in your teaching style?
Report back: 2 key strategies and insight into your own approach to teaching/strategies

14. Additional Resources www.Hayresourcesdirect.haygroup.com
Pfeiffer,J.W., & Ballew, A.C. (1998). Using structured experiences in human resource development (UATT Series, Vol. 1). Sand Diego, CA: University Associates.
Kolb, D., Rubin, I.M., and Osland, J.M. Organizational Behaviour, an Experiential Approach
Kolb, David Learning Style Inventory. Hay Group
Mackeracher, Dorothy Making Sense of Adult Learning. Culture Concepts Inc.
www2.glos.ac.uk/gdn/discuss/Kolb1.htm