David Kolb

Experiential Learning Theory

Four Processes of Learning
Four Stages of Learning
Four Learning Styles
Theory Use as an Educator
Experiential Learning Theory
• “learning is the process whereby knowledge is
created through the transformation of
experience” (Kolb, 1984, p. 38)
• Integrating new information into existing
knowledge
• Involving the whole person
• Transacting between the person and the
environment
Theoretical Backgrounds
• Dewey
▫ Learning grounded in experience
• Lewin
▫ Being active in learning
• Piaget
▫ Resulting from interaction of the person and the
environment
Four Processes of Learning
• Watching
▫ Senses -perceiving information
• Thinking
▫ Mind – reflecting how it impacts life
• Feeling
▫ Emotions – fitting into learners experiences
• Doing
▫ Muscle – performing new ways to act
Four Learning Stages
Concrete
Experience

Active Reflective
Experimentation Observation

Abstract
Conceptualization
Concrete Experience
• Doing or having an experience
Reflective Observation
• Reviewing or reflecting on the experience
Abstract Conceptualization
• Concluding or learning from the experience
Active Experimentation
• Planning or trying out what you have learned
Four Learning Styles

Accommodating Diverging

Converging Assimilating
Accommodating (Doing and feelings)
• Learns through concrete experience
• Transforms learning into abstract
experimentation
• Leaders, risk takers, needs mentor, strength in
doing, likes examples
Diverging (Feeling and watching)

• Learns through concrete experience

• Transforms learning by reflective observation
• Likes to brainstorm, solve problems,
imaginative, emotional, people person
Converger (Doing and thingking)

• Learns through abstract conceptualization

• Transforms information through active
experimentation – by doing
• Prefers objects, dislikes group activities, likes
questioning, problem-solver, unemotional
Assimilator (Watching and thingking)

• Learn through abstract conceptualization

• Transform learning through reflective
observation
• Likes reading, research, organizing, working
alone, likes class calendar
Kolb’s Experiential Learning Cycle
• Concrete • Reflective
Experience Observation

Accommodator Diverger

Converger Assimilator

• Active • Abstract
Experimentation Conceptualization
THANK YOU !