Adult Learning Cycle: An In-depth Overview

Do you want to create learning experiences that actually improve human lives? The adult learning cycle approach can be your best bet. This learning model enables people to be observant and develop innovative ideas to elevate their skills and knowledge. 

This learning model's primary aim is to help individuals understand that adults usually learn and reflect best through active experiences. 

Want to learn more? Read now and see how it can be a part of your life. 

Understanding the Adult Learning Cycle 

Let's start from the basics. The adult learning cycle is designed to help people grow and learn continually. In Experiential Learning: Experience as the Source of Learning and Development (1984), Kolb explained this learning cycle as “the process whereby knowledge is created through the transformation of experience.” 

It is a reflective and repetitive process that follows four stages. 

These phases are: 

• Concrete Experiences
• Reflective Observation
• Abstract Conceptualization 
• Active Experimentation

The steps move in a cycle that begins with having a concrete experience and ends with experimenting with all the knowledge you may have gained.

The Four Stages of the Adult Learning Cycle

Here are the four primary stages of the adult learning cycle: 

Source: Structural-Learning

Step 1: Concrete Experience

This is the starting point and involves you as a learner in engaging in new experiences. So, you can either choose to be involved in a new activity or have a direct encounter with a thing. 

At this stage, all you are expected to do is to experience. No reflection or analysis is required.

Step 2: Reflective Observation

Now, once you have experienced something, it is about time for you to sit back and reflect. 

Suppose you just had an unusual encounter with an animal. At the reflective observation stage, you must think about the whole experience, analyze the encounter, and wonder about the outcome. 

This phase is ideal to ask yourself as many questions as you want. For instance, you can ponder about what good or bad could have happened. You can also ask yourself about the best way to make this encounter better the next time you see the animal. 

Step 3: Abstract Conceptualization

After you are done with your reflections, you enter the third stage. So, what happens here? Abstract conceptualization involves you forming new theories or ideas on your reflections. 

You can develop better solutions to encounter the animal safely. Your ideas should help you acknowledge your understanding in an efficient way. 

To put it simply, at this stage, you are expected to think critically about your reflections and then develop ideas that you can easily apply to similar situations in the future. 

Step 4: Active Experimentation

This is where the entire learning process is put into practice. The active experimentation stage involves applying your new concepts to real-world situations to evaluate their effectiveness. 

The stage allows you to perform further problem-solving solutions and experiments to see how the skills you have just gained are accepted in the practice world.

All of this leads to forming new experiences, and the cycle of adult learning continues. 

The cycle is considered a continuous process, with every stage leading to the next one to promote better learning and skills. 

Benefits of the Adult Learning Cycle

Source: IHDR

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As an adult learner, you can reap several benefits by following this learning cycle. Since it is a well-structured process, your learning stays relevant and polished throughout your journey. 

Here are some things you can gain from an adult learning cycle. 

Active Participation

The cycle puts a lot of emphasis on active participation. It ensures that you take learning as passive and participate in tasks and activities without thinking twice. 

When you are directly involved in situations, you understand the material well and retain information easily. 

Additionally, if you have too much to handle at a time, active participation may make your work easy, giving you a clear sense of achievement. 

Supports Critical Reflections 

Another benefit of being a part of this cycle is that you learn the art of being critical of situations and making analyses for further understanding. 

It is what most of us lack. When you see a thing critically, you not only find various perspectives around it but also gain new insights. 

You can also use this skill to compare new experiences with previous knowledge. All of this and more helps you learn deeper and make better decisions for your future. 

Enhances Problem-solving Skills

This theory helps you develop new ideas after your reflections. The knowledge that you gain through your analysis can be used to develop different contexts. 

The entire learning process helps you become a better problem-solver. As a result, you generate innovative solutions, practice creative thinking, and find the skills to easily adapt to new strategies to help you combat bigger challenges in life. 

Increases Knowledge Retention

There is no doubt that you retain more knowledge when you take part in experiential learning. When you engage in practical activities, your understanding of new concepts elevates manifolds. As a result, you absorb concepts faster than you do through books. 

Facilitates Learning

Since the process runs in a circle, using this for your lifelong learning makes sense. The procedure is continuous and ongoing, and as a learner, you should take new experiences, reflect on them, and develop your understanding further. 

You Can Use the Cycle to Increase Your Competence 

Following this adult learning cycle can increase your expertise and competency in your professional space. Through an ongoing process of experimentation and reflection, you can refine your skills and knowledge with time. 

This cycle can be a wonderful tool in training programs to help you easily meet the new industry demands and challenges. 

Applying the Adult Learning Cycle to Your Life 

Are you ready to elevate your learning? This cycle can transform your personal and professional growth. When you act actively, you learn from new opportunities and experiences, giving your life a new meaning. 

Here is how you can apply this cycle and follow it. 

Take Part in New Experiences

Instead of staying stagnant in your life, try new experiences. Take up new hobbies. For instance, you can try a new sport or learn a musical instrument. 

When you are in a professional setup, you can take on new responsibilities at work to experience new skills and environments. Maybe you can join a different team or take up a task you may have never tried. 

You must try new things to get accustomed to unfamiliar circumstances and enjoy advanced exposure. 

Integrate Learning Tools in this Process 

Learning tools such as Coursebox can help you elevate your understanding of the process even further. 

For instance, Coursebox has interactive eLearning features. Plus, the platform can help you engage in social learning. All of these features and more help you get immersed in hands-on and realistic experiences to improve your performance. 

Similarly, you can incorporate learning templates and group discussions to gain advanced insights. 

To apply your knowledge after reflecting and conceptualizing, you can use action plans and involve yourself in role management to apply your knowledge with amazing strategies. 

Use the Cycle for Personal Development 

This concept doesn't only help you grow professionally. It can also elevate your personal growth. 

You can use it to critically analyze your fitness health and then take measures to improve it. 

For instance, if you want to run a 5km marathon, ensure you experience it to the fullest. Then, once you finish it, reflect on the overall performance, including your speed and running pattern. 

You can reflect on questions like, "Did I feel strong while racing?" and "What changes do I wish to make to my training plan?" 

Once you have the solution to these answers, run a longer race to see how your learning and input have affected your overall performance. 

Adult Learning Cycle for Students 

Finally, this cycle proves quite beneficial for students as well. It can help you understand the concepts more clearly, ensuring you conduct further research with your advanced knowledge and skills. 

In addition, by applying the cycle in your life, you may learn more concepts in less time. This may help you succeed among your peers. 

Final Takeaway 

The adult learning cycle is a procedure. But more importantly, it is a way of life that helps you enjoy the process of continuous learning. It not only helps you develop new skills but also enhances your critical thinking, allowing you to analyze situations in a better way. 

If you plan to incorporate this cycle in your life, use learning tools like Coursebox to make the process fun, interactive, and efficient. Coursebox has some incredible features, all powered by AI, to make learning seamless.