Monthly Archives: October 2013

Reflection on Kolb

These reflections are getting more difficult to accomplish, but I know that they are an important part of what I do based upon referencing what I’m reading from time to time with others. Here are my reflections on Clark’s Blog on Kolb.

Quote: Heavily influenced by Dewey, and Piaget, he [Kolb] preferred an experiential model for learning, as opposed to purely cognitive models.”
Reflection: To me, it’s good to include many angles to be as thorough in investigating any topic.

Here is an image of Kolb’s famous 4 stage learning cycle that Kolb includes in his blog:
Kolb_model.jpg

Reflection: It is important that Kolb sees this as a cycle that can be entered at any time and in different places. It is more important to loop around and around. I have heard this about different topics. For instance, there are many who know how to work with databases who have not formally learned the abstract concepts behind them. While this doesn’t impair their ability to work with the database, a more formal and abstract view may help. I really think that observation and reflection is so important in the process. We too often neglect this pieces.

Quote: learning is formed through real experience, where one’s ideas are put to the test. Feedback then shapes the learning so that performance improves.
Reflection: Well stated.

Quote: Convergers like to take abstract ideas and reason then apply them to solve problems

Divergers use concrete experience and reflective observation to come up with imaginative solutions
Assimilators take abstract ideas and reason and combine it with reflective observation

Accommodators use concrete experience and active experimentation and like to get on with doing things
Reflection: As I read this, I am trying to figure out who I am. It makes me want to take a test to see.
I think that I’m more on the accommodating region. I like to get things done and often use feel over logic.

Quote: Models such as Kolb’s four stage, experiential, cycle model can be over-simplistic.
Reflection:  I thought this as I first read it. It seems more anecdotal than research based. But it provides for a good starting point.

Quote: On learning styles, it is hard to believe that people fall into these categories or that learning styles do, as many learning styles theorists claim, usually fall neatly into four categories.
Reflection: I didn’t think that anyone would necessary fit neatly into any quadrant. There are tendencies, but everything that I’m reading is saying that regardless of style it is important to use different strategies in learning.

Quote: Kolb is a refreshing alternative to the overemphasis on academic, knowledge-based learning and the idea of cyclical learning informed by experience is sound, as is the importance of formative experiences themselves in learning.
Reflection:
Agreed.