David Kolb’s Learning Styles

 

David Kolb’s Learning Styles

 

Learning Styles

-       Are tools utilized by learners to cope and adjust to the learning environment

 

Learning Styles	Educational Implications
Convergent -       Rely on abstract conceptualizing and experimenting -       They like to find specific, concrete answers and move quickly to solution -       Unemotional, since they prefer to deal with things rather than with people.	-       Teachers should provide learning tasks that have specific answers like numbers and figures/units.
Assimilation -       Rely most n abstract conceptualizing and reflective observation -       Interested in theoretical concerns than in applications.	-       Teaching should provide learning tasks that call for integration of materials that are situational activities.
Divergent -       Rely on concrete experience and active participation -       Generate ideas and enjoy working with people.	-       Teacher should provide group activities since learners enjoy working in groups.
Accommodation -       Rely on concrete experience and active experimentation -       Risk-taking -       Action oriented -       Adoptable in new situations	-       Teacher should provide learning tasks that call for hands-on approach.

 

Types of Learners

Types of Learners/Perceptual Channel	Educational Implications/Learning Preferences
Auditory Learners Prefer to learn by listening/auditory perceptual channel	-       Lecturing is the teaching approach that works best for them. -       Songs/poems are useful and effective learning tools.
Visual Learners Prefer print materials/visual perceptual channel	-       Reading/responding to visual cues, such as the chalkboard or transparencies. -       Textbooks and pictures are useful and effective learning tools.
Tactile Learners Like to manipulate objects/tactile perceptual channel	-       Hands-on or laboratory methods of learning are most appropriate for learners. -       Tracing diagrams or using texture examples.
Kinesthetic Learners Like to learn through experiential activities/kinesthetic perceptual channel.	-       Simulations, exploratory activities and problem-solving approach of teaching. Pacing or dancing while learning new material.