What Is Kolb's Experiential Learning Theory?

It's common knowledge that you learn best by actually doing something. The concept is even more prominent in fields like healthcare and construction that require hands-on skills. Kolb's Experiential Learning Theory is a psychological model that explains how people learn and process information through their experiences.

It posts that learning is tied to hands-on experiences rather than just reading or learning about something. The theory explains a cycle of four stages, which we will discuss later. Our guide also explains how to use Kolb's Experiential Learning Theory to create online courses for any niche or target audience.

What Is Kolb's Experiential Learning Theory?

David A. Kolb's Experiential Learning Theory (ELT) emphasizes that learning is a process where knowledge is created through the transformation of experience. Kolb's model is grounded in the works of prominent scholars like John Dewey, Kurt Lewin, and Jean Piaget.

Kolb gave this theory in the early 1980s. Today, it is a critical concept in the fields of education and organizational development.

According to this theory, individuals have different learning styles, and their preferred style affects how they learn from their experiences. Kolb defines four distinct learning styles:

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

Kolb also identifies four learning styles that correspond to combinations of the learning cycle stages. These include diverging, assimilating, converging, and accommodating styles.

The Four Stages of the Experiential Learning Cycle

We've briefly mentioned the four stages in the previous section, but let's look at them in detail. Each of these stages is important in the learning process and builds upon the previous one.

Concrete Experience

The learner engages in an activity or experiences something that challenges their existing knowledge and beliefs. They're encountering a concrete experience. For example, they could have been exposed to a new situation or completed a new hands-on project.

Example: A learner takes an online cooking class and follows along with a video demonstration. They try a new recipe they've never made before, and the experience challenges their existing cooking knowledge.

Reflective Observation

After this experience, the learner reflects on their experience based on their current knowledge. They might think about how it aligns or conflicts with their beliefs and values. The stage involves inward thinking and processing of thoughts.

Example: After the cooking class, the learner reflects on their experience and thinks about how it differed from their usual cooking methods.

Abstract Conceptualization

Reflection results in a new idea. The learner may modify their existing beliefs or create new ones based on their experience. They also try to connect the information to existing theories and concepts in an attempt to make sense of their experience.

Example: The learner realizes that they prefer the new recipe over their usual method.

Active Experimentation

Once the learner gets a new or modified idea, they further experiment with it. They apply new ideas or theories in a practical manner to see if it works.

Example: The learner tries the new recipe again, this time adding their own twist to it based on the new information they learned in the cooking class.

Learning Styles of Kolb's Experiential Learning Theory

Kolb also explained four learning styles based on the cycle we've explained earlier. According to him, different people prefer different stages of the cycle, and that is reflected in their learning styles.

People's preference for learning styles depends on several factors. For example, their social environment and basic cognitive structure could impact their preferred learning style. However, generally, everyone has a dominant learning style that they unconsciously prefer.

Regardless of the learning style someone prefers, their preference is a result of two variable pairs or choices. Kolb represents these choices as lines of an axis. The conflicting modes create a polarizing effect.

In a typical presentation, these axes are as such:

• Processing Continuum: It's the east-west axis, which deals with how we process information. It ranges from abstract conceptualization (thinking) to concrete experience (feeling).
• Perception Continuum: The north-south axis deals with the emotional response or how we feel about something.

Kolb believed that we cannot engage in two opposing cognitive processes at the same time, such as thinking and feeling. Instead, our learning style develops based on the choices we make between these approaches.

However, it's important to remember that everyone responds to all learning styles to some extent. The emphasis or dominance of one style over the other determines a person's learning preference.

Let's discuss these learning styles.

Diverging

People with this learning style can look at things from various perspectives. They prefer watching rather than doing and getting their information from different sources instead of sticking to one.

The learning style is called "diverging" because people who use them do better in situations requiring idea-generating. Brainstorming is a good example. These people are also open to working in groups and take feedback from others seriously, as it helps them in their ideation process.

Assimilating

The assimilating learning style comprises watching and thinking, which leads learners toward a logical approach. People who prefer this learning style need clear explanations for learning.

These people do not find abstract concepts or ideas appealing and instead are attracted to practical and logical theories. The assimilating learning style is extremely important for people with science and mathematics degrees.

Converging

People who prefer this learning style do and think to solve problems using their knowledge. They are more interested in technical tasks than interpersonal aspects of learning.

The style is called "converging" because the learning style has a general focus on solving problems. Such a learner can excel in fields such as engineering and technology, where practical application and problem-solving skills are highly valued.

Accommodating

Learners who use hands-on experience the most prefer an "accommodating" learning style. Such learners like to learn from doing and experimenting rather than studying or watching. They like to take on new experiences and challenges in their learning experiences.

Unlike assimilating, accommodating learners are more open to new abstract ideas. They depend on other people for information rather than analyzing or thinking about it themselves.

How to Use Kolb's Experiential Learning Theory in Creating Online Courses?

Kolb's teachings can help you create engaging online courses that result in desired learning outcomes. Here's how to incorporate it into eLearning curriculums.

Start with Real-World Experiences (Concrete Experience)

Online courses should begin with immersive and relatable experiences. Instead of introducing concepts through lengthy text, provide learners with:

• Case studies that depict real-world scenarios
• Interactive simulations where learners can experience challenges firsthand
• Videos and role-playing exercises that bring theoretical concepts to life

Let's say you're creating an online business course. You could present a simulated business crisis to let learners step into the shoes of a decision-maker. They have a tangible starting point for deeper learning this way.

Encourage Reflection (Reflective Observation)

After learners engage with a real-world scenario, they need time to process and analyze their experience. You can support this reflection through discussion forums and guided questions. Journaling exercises can also help learners document their thoughts for future reference.

In the above example, learners can complete the simulation and then get together in a discussion forum to reflect on their decisions. It's important that you use intuitive course builders that support such interactive features.

Coursebox is one such platform, supporting discussion forums, quizzes, assignments, and a range of other interactive elements. Since it's an AI-powered builder, you can use AI to brainstorm course ideas or convert existing content (file or website) into a course.

Plus, the platform's AI assessment generator can create quizzes while the AI grader checks them. You can also add videos and other visual elements to make your course more engaging.

Connect Theory to Practice (Abstract Conceptualization)

Once learners have reflected on their experiences, they need a structured way to connect those experiences to key concepts. In this stage, online courses can provide expert explanations through video lectures or readings and visual summaries to simplify complex ideas.

For example, in the business courses, after learners complete the simulation and reflect on their decisions, they can access a video lecture or reading that connects their experience to key business theories on decision-making and problem-solving.

Apply Learning in Practical Scenarios (Active Experimentation)

The final stage of Kolb's cycle is all about applying what has been learned. Online courses can reinforce knowledge through quizzes, real-world projects, simulations, problem-solving exercises, and assignments.

Business students can then be tasked with analyzing case studies or participating in group simulations to apply their theoretical knowledge and reflect on the outcome.

Conclusion

As you can see from the process we've explained above, Kolb's Experiential Learning Theory provides a comprehensive approach that caters to students with different learning styles. As an educator, you can use this theory to design online courses that promote active learning and engage learners at every stage of the learning process. With a course builder like Coursebox, this becomes a breeze.