Analyzing Kolb's Four Stages Of Learning

In this following piece of work I will be (1).Critically evaluating at least two theoretical accounts of ‘learning styles’ that I have studied this year, and (2). From the basis of my evaluation, I will outline in detail how I might design and teach a topic to a group of students that caters for their individual learning styles.

Firstly, what is a ‘Learning Style’? There are many different learning styles in today’s world, everyone learns in different ways as we all take in and process information in our own ways. Some people find it extremely easy to process certain material and information such as English or Math, while others find it easier to learn things actively or interactively and some may rather processing information visually. How

Four separate learning styles and

2. A four stage cycle of learning

Experiential learning involves a, ‘direct encounter with the phenomena being studied rather than merely thinking about the encounter, or only considering the possibility of doing something about it.’ (Borzak 1981: 9 quoted in Brookfield 1983).

Personally I feel that Kolb’s learning style is the most popular one in today’s world, especially as it is the learning style that I would learn best with. In my opinion I believe that Kolb’s four stage cycle of learning is the easiest to learn with as you yourself are experiencing the information in which you are processing. You are watching, thinking, feeling and doing which in my eyes are all very important factors needed in your daily life for learning.

The second type of experiential learning is ‘education that occurs as a direct participation in the events of life’ (Houle 1980: 221).

Kolb and Fry argued that effective learning entails the possession of four different abilities (seen on their model): concrete experience abilities, reflective observation abilities, abstract conceptualization abilities and active experimentation abilities. From this Kolb and Fry proceeded to identify four basic learning

Accommodator (doing and feeling) - The Accommodating learning style is 'hands-on', and relies on intuition rather than logic. These people use other people's analysis, and prefer to take a practical, experiential approach. They are attracted to new challenges and experiences, and to carrying out plans. They commonly act on 'gut' instinct rather than logical analysis.

Both Kolb’s learning stages and cycle tend to be used quite a lot by teachers to develop more appropriate learning opportunities for students today.

Personally, I feel that all teachers should have to apply this learning style to students during school hours as it is the most common, appropriate and easiest way for people to learn.

Howard Gardner – Multiple Intelligence

The second learning style that I have studied is that of Gardner’s ‘Multiple Intelligence’. Howard Gardner viewed intelligence as ‘the capacity to solve problems or to fashion products that are valued in one or more cultural setting’ (Gardner & Hatch; 1989). He reviewed the literature using eight signs of an intelligence. Candidates for the title ‘an intelligence’ had to satisfy a range of these criteria and must include the ability to resolve ‘genuine problems or difficulties’ (ibid.: 60) within certain cultural settings.

Gardner initially formulated a list of seven different