Education

Experiential Learning - David A. Kolb

In 1984, David A. Kolb, published a ground breaking book entitled Experiential Learning. This book essentially exposed the principle that a person would learn through discovery and experience. In addition, Kolb demonstrated that there was more than one style of learning. According to Kolb, learning styles may be seen through two continuums going from concrete to abstract and active and reflective. Table 1 provides definition for each learning style. Processing information and perceiving information represent the two continuums identified by Kolb. According to Kolb, a learner will evolve on these continuums because of his or her apprehension and also of preferences in processing or perceiving information. Moreover Kolb considered that it was preferable for a student to learn through this cycle, allowing him or her to experiment with four learning styles in order to have a better understanding of a subject. (Figure 1).

Figure 1 Learning Style Cycle

Kolb's model may also be applied to learning environments such as a web course site. It appears that certain technologies or educational activities would be more appropriate to a specific learning style.

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