Kolb’s Learning Cycle

Kolb’s Learning Cycle illustrates how experience makes it possible to translate into concepts and convert those concepts as a guidance of new experiences (Armstrong,2006). Kolb maintains that “Learning is the process whereby knowledge is created through the transformation of experience” (Kolb, 1984, p. 38). In the sense he published a four-stage cycle of a learning style which is considered as a learner’s internal cognitive process (McLeod,2017).  As per the Cunningham’s view, Kolb’s Learning Cycle is one of the most popular illustrations of management training and it describes the key theoretical model of experience learning nature and can be applied according to the situation of an organization with its acquisition of abstractable concept (Cunningham, 1994).

Figure 1 - Kolb’s Learning Cycle

Source: McLeod, 2017

Table 1: four stages of Kolb’s learning Cycle

Stage of the Learning cycle	Details of the stage
Concrete experience	doing the activity and having experience
Reflective observation	reflecting on performing on that activity (success/failure)
Abstract conceptualization	apply theory to doing and get experience
Planning activity experimentation	consider theory and planning to subsequent experiences

Though Kolb introduced four step cycle of learning, some external factors influenced to debate the learning method specifically, social factors, educational background, experience, and cognitive structure of a person (McLeaod, 2017). It directly shows how people can acquire and embed new knowledge as a result of experience, reflection, conceptualization and experimentation (Clarley, 2015).

Video 1: Kolb’s Cycle  Experiential Learning

source: YouTube

Accruing to Kolb in 2007, Kolb’s bi-polar dimension provides a proper illustration of measuring individuals’ performance of learning. The dimensions are AC-CE (Abstract Conceptualization over Concrete) and AE-RO (Active Experimentation over Reflective Observation) (Kolb, 2007).

Figure 2 - Kolb’s bi-polar dimension

Source: learning-kolb, 2017)

While practically experiencing the Kolb’s learning cycle, some can argue that is the process cycle which is suitable for college learning, since the students do not have much social exposure than organizational employees (Akinyode and Khan, 2016). There are some practical issues and limitation raises under Kolb’s learning cycle because the people’s experience is not equally distributed or not unique, this learning cycle acts as a political one rather people converting their experience to voice equally. (Martin, 1994). The areas to be developed in the learning cycle are, metaprocesses relating to each stage that must be included, particularly defined mechanisms for unconscious processes, experience mirroring processes should be obtained for here and now other than past (Vince, 1998).

The Department of Urban and Regional Planning in Ladoke Akintola University, Nigeria in 2016, done a survey among 266 Planning students to evaluate learning style perforation of them, so they divide them into four groups sensing learners, visual learners, active learners, and sequential learners. Surveyors identified that it is essential to understand students learning style and lecturers teaching styles and D. A. Kolb’s experimental learning theory offers better solution about acquisition of process knowledge as well as posits individual learning style typology (Akinyode & Khan, 2016).

A survey of “investigating the Kolb learning style inventory’s ipsative scores using semantic differential and Likert scaling” which had been done by Grace Eleanor Jamieson, Northam Michigan University in 2010, observed the result of evidence for new learning styles. 47% of the Kolb’s learning style matched for alternative measurement, but it enclosed with more recommendation of additional research as well (Jamieson, 2010).

The section of the organization I have worked for is the training and development of the organization and it provides both employee development training as well as higher educational programs for college students. It is experienced that employee learning is most suitable for aligning with Kolb’s leaning cycle since people learn from experience and self-learning makes them confident and a skillful employee to the organization. But, teaching of critical activities like air crafting is not possible of real time learning so simulators make sense. Learning of college students is some thing argued due to less experience and directly applying of Kolb’s model is not effective, but combination of learning styles according to the situation is selected to the organization.   

While concluding with all these positives and negatives, the Kolb’s learning cycle is better to use in organizational learnings to some extend and must be matched with the environment of the organization.

 

References

1. Adonaiori creations(2020) Kolb's cycle experiential learning [Online], Available at <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0K_tQWPS9o&t=79s> [Accessed on 3rd August 2021]

2. Akinyode B. F. and Khan T. H.(2016), Students’ Learning Style among Planning Students in Nigeria using Kolb’s Learning Style Inventory, Indian Journal of Science and Technology, 9(47), pp. 2-11. 

3. Armstrong, M. (2006) A Handbook of Human Resource Management Practice. 11th ed. London, Kogan Page, Ltd.

4. Carley S.(2015), Educational theories you must know. Kolb’s learning cycle. St.Emlyn’s, [blog entry]. Available at < https://www.stemlynsblog.org/better-learning/educational-theories-you-must-know-st-emlyns/educational-theories-you-must-know-kolbs-learning-cycle-st-emlyns/>, [Accessed on 3rd August 2021].

5. Cunningham I. (1994), The wisdom of strategic learning, London, McGraw-Hill.

6. Jamieson G. E. (2010), Investigating the Kolb learning style inventory’s ipsative scores using semantic differential and Likert scaling, MSc, Northern Michigan University.

7. Kolb, D. A. (2007). Kolb learning style suite: Facilitator’s Guide. Boston: HayGroup. Martin L. (1994). Power continuity and change Women’s experience in local government in M. 

8. Martin, L. (1994). Power, continuity and change: Women manager's experience in local government. In M. Tanton (Ed.), Women in management: A developing presence (pp. 110-140). 

9. McLeod, S. A. (2017). Kolb - learning styles and Experiential Learning Style, Simply Phychology, pp.1-8[online].Available at  https://www.simplypsychology.org>, [Accessed on 26th July 2021].

10. Vince R. (1998). Behind and beyond Kolb’s learning cycle. Journal of Management Education, 22(3), pp. 2-7.