Kolb Learning Style Inventory Created by Olga Maleyev 2012 Text and images are based on the Hay’Group Learning Style Inventory LSI Workbook 3.1 Kolb Learning Style Inventory

How we learn We all learn in different ways The Kolb Learning Style Inventory (LSI) is designed to help us to understand how we learn best in educational settings or everyday life Learning can be described as a cycle made up of four basic phases The LSI takes us through those four phases to give us a better understanding of how we learn

Knowing Your Learning Style Helps To Understand: How to maximize your learning from educational programs How you solve problems How you work in teams How to manage disagreement and conflict How you make career choices How to improve personal professional relationship

Understanding The Learning Styles Once you marked the point on the axes on the Sheet#2 you can see that the connected dots have formed a kite shape. Each person’s learning style is unique and therefore everyone’s kite shape will be different The shape of your kite will tell you about your own particular learning style and how much you rely on that style. Before we start interpreting everyone’s kite we need to learn few more terms. When you look at this diagram you see that each sector/quadrant defines a Learning Style . Combination of Concrete Experience and Reflective Observation phases creates a Diverging style While The Abstract Conceptualization and Reflective Observation creates an Assimilating style On the same token the Abstract Conceptualization and Active Experimentation gives us a Converging style and Accommodation style is a combination of Active Experimentation and Concrete Experience.

What Is Your Style? Accommodating Diverging Converging Assimilating Here are the possible example of the kites that are specific to each style Let’s take a look at your kite. And try to match the shape of your kite to the examples above.

Diverging Style (concrete, reflective) Best viewing situation from many different points of view Prefer to observer rather than take action Enjoy brainstorming sessions Have broad cultural interest and like to gather ideas In formal learning situation may prefer working in groups to gather information, listening with an open mind and receiving personalized feedback Arts and entertainment, communications, social service

Assimilating Style (abstract, reflective) Best understanding wide range of information and putting it into concise , logical form. Less focused on people and more interested in abstract ideas and concepts Find it’s more important that a theory has a logical soundness than practical value In formal learning situation may prefer lectures, readings, exploring analytical models and having time to think things through on their own. Sciences and mathematics, legal profession, research and higher education

Converging Style (abstract, active) Best in finding a practical uses for ideas and theories Have an ability to solve problems and make decisions based on finding solutions to questions or problems Would rather deal with technical tasks and problem than with social and interpersonal issues In formal learning may prefer experimenting with new ideas, simulations, laboratory assignments and practical applications. Computer science and engineering, finance and economics, medicine, applied science

Accommodating Style (concrete, active) Learn primarily from “hand-on” experience Enjoy carrying out plans and involving yourself in new and challenging experiences Have tendency to act on intuition rather than on logical analysis In solving problem rely more heavily on people for information than own technical analysis In formal learning situation may prefer to work with others to get assignment done and to test out different approaches Management, HR, teaching, sales, nursing

Learning to ride a bicycle: Divergent Thinking about riding and watching another person ride a bike. Assimilative Understanding the theory and having a clear grasp of the biking concept. Accommodative Receiving practical tips and techniques from a biking expert. Convergent Leaping on the bike and have a go at it.

Basic Strengths Of Each Learning Style

Strengthening and Developing Each Learning Style Tips for strengthening a use of the Diverging Style Tune in to people feelings Be sensitive to values Listen with an open mind Gather information Imagine the implications of the ambiguous situation

Strengthening and Developing Each Learning Style Tips for strengthening a use of the Assimilating Style Organize information Test the theories and ideas of others Build conceptual models Design experiments Analyze data

Strengthening and Developing Each Learning Style Tips for strengthening a use of the Converging Style Create new ways of thinking and doing Experiment with new ideas Choose the best solution Set goals Make decisions

Strengthening and Developing Each Learning Style Tips for strengthening a use of the Accommodating Style Commit yourself to objectives Seek new opportunities Influence and lead others Become personally involved Deal with people

Solving Problem Process Identifying the problem Selecting the problem to solve Seeing different solutions Evaluating possible results Implementing the solution Understanding your learning process makes you an effective problem solver Nearly every problem that you encounter on the job or in your life involves the following processes ( see screen) As you can see these processes mirror those in the learning cycle. The 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 Learning Cycle suggests that it is not sufficient to have an experience in order to learn. It is necessary to reflect on the experience to make generalisations and formulate concepts which can then be applied to new situations. This learning must then be tested out in new situations. The learner must make the link between the theory and action by planning, acting out, reflecting and relating it back to the theory. The diagram identifies your potential strengths of as a problem solver. You can identify problem-solving process that corresponds to you and same time areas you would like to develop further. For example, as a Diverger you might be strong in identifying a problem but need develop Accommodating skill to implement a solution.

Other Areas Of Life Understanding the Learning Style helps: Working in a team Resolving a conflict Communicating at work Communicating at home Being a parent Managing money Considering a career Designing training materials for students