This paper will identify which of the Kolb learning styles best suits me and why I think so. It will also give some examples from my past and present to support these findings. After determining, the learning styles that best fit me and completing an inventory exercise, I have concluded that I learn best using audio and visual techniques in the learning process. I agree with everything this exercise has brought to light. I never knew that these styles were the meaning by which I learned. I have also included examples as to how I see the use and benefits of these learning styles in my career.
My Learning Style
After reviewing, the Kolb learning styles I have decided that the style that best suits me is a cross between Accommodating and Diverging. The online Kolb learning inventory, which I participated in, scored me at about equal in both areas. This was amazing how accurate these styles described the way I learn. The description associated with these styles was exactly how I perceived myself.
Accommodating individuals have are individuals whose strengths lie in carrying out plans and experiments and involving themselves in new experiences. They are risk-takers and excel in those situations requiring quick decisions and adaptations. In situations where a theory or plan does not fit the facts, they tend to discard it and try something else. They often solve problems in an instinctive trial and error manner, relying a great deal on other people for information. They are easy going with people but sometimes perceived as impatient. Their educational background is often in practical fields such as business. They have a preference for jobs such as teaching, marketing, or sales. (casa colorado teaching seminar Kolb Le...
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...wing the correct way to complete a task.
In conclusion, my learning styles can become strengths in my targeted career in much the same ways they have already benefited me. By allowing me to deal with all kinds of people in different situations, and coming up with creative ways to problems and complaints. I suspect that now that I know what my learning styles are, that my organizational, people and interpersonal skills will improve. Now that my learning styles have been defined, I will be able to apply then to difficult task I have had and will have in my career. This exercise has been one of the most informative and beneficial I have had to date and I cannot thank you enough.
Works Cited
casa colorado teaching seminar Kolb Learning Style Inventory Info pdf website. (2008). http://casa.colorado.edu/~dduncan/teachingseminar/KolbLearningStyleInventoryInfo.pdf
This tool states that learning is made up of four basic phases, which includes diverging, assimilating, converging, and accommodating, that gives one a better understanding of how they learn. The booklet claims that learning can be cyclical and four basic phases. These learning phases are described as a concrete experience, reflective observation, abstract conceptualization, and active experimentation. The assessment asserts that knowing about your learning style can help you better understand how to maximize your learning, solve problems, work in teams, manage conflict, making career choices and how to improve
Lamarche-Bisson, Diane. “Learning Styles - What Are They? How Can They Help?” World and I Sept. 2002: 268. Academic OneFile. Web. 20 July 2011.
A big component of my learning style is hands-on experience; learning while doing. This usually involved someone with more experience instructing me as I performed the task. Through the hands-on approach, I picked-up the knowledge and gained proficiency as I went along. My learning style also involved standard classroom instruction, which usually meant listening to lectures and taking notes. My note taking was not the best so in order to make up for what I lacked in note taking, I would read the textbooks repeatedly until I understood what I was reading. I learned that in order for me to get a complete understanding from my readings and notes, there had to be a lot great deal of repetition ...
Chapman A., Kolb learning styles, David Kolbs learning styles model and experiential learning theory(ELT), 2009
My preferred learning style is a part of my personality. It gives me confidence and makes me comfortable. From now on, I will not hesitate to use it nor be embarrassed by it.
The term learning styles is based on the assumption that individuals differ in regards to what mode of instruction is most effective for them. Educational practitioners have long stressed that optimal instruction requires diagnosing these individual styles and designing instruction accordingly. It is based on two fundamental flaws that I give the following rebuttal: 1) there appears to be no credible scientific evidence establishing learning styles exist (Riener & Willingham, 2010), and 2) assuming [1], it must be therefore true that people can learn in a variety of ways outside of one particular learning style. However, before abandoning the learning style paradigm completely, I will still contend that the research in this area has not
Researchers agree on the fact that while there is no credible evidence that learning styles exist, neither is there evidence to the contrary (Reiner & Willingham, 2010). Different people have different preferences for learning, a fact that all researchers agree on. These preferences can be affected by an individual’s interests, abilities, and background knowledge (Reiner & Willingham, 2010). Studies show that while students have a preferred style of learning, if material is presented in another method, the learning is equivalent.
Honey, P. & Mumford, A. (2006). The Learning Style Questionnaire 80-item Version. London: Pearson Assessment.
The basis of their theory was that learners are likely to be a combination of all four learning styles. Through their research, they found that the more mature the learner, the more likely they could adopt any of the four learning styles when appropriate. I believe, there are very strong similarities and little tangible difference between Kolb’s and Honey & Mumford’s learning styles. An ‘Activist’ as defined by Honey & Mumford could correspond and be described as ‘Accommodating’ within Kolb’s model. Similarly, a Reflector style could correspond to Diverging, Theorist to Assimilating and Pragmatist to Converging.
While reading Kolb 's Learning Styles Model and Experiential Learning Theory, I have identified myself as an accommodating learner. At first I was somewhat surprised, but the more I read about the learning styles, particularly after I completed Kolb’s Learning Style Inventory it made more sense. I have a very hands-on style, which matches perfectly with my enjoyment of performing tests to find the root cause of behavior that I’m investigating. However, sometimes I rush to make decisions on the impulse of having the task at hand finished, failing to analyze all the options that are available. Another element of the accommodate learning style that identifies me is the fact that I enjoy a good challenge. I found very interesting to solve difficult
What are "learning styles"? The topic of learning styles has been discussed throughout the academic world for several years, but do we really understand how it affects the way students learn? From public school to higher education, different learning styles can be found everywhere. The three main types of learning styles are visual, auditory, and tactile/kinesthetic (hands on) . Each style reflects the main ability of how the individual learns best. Visual learners need to see the speaker and watch facial expressions in order to comprehend the material. They learn best from visual displays and often prefer to take detailed notes during lectures. According to researchers , visual learning improves student performance in critical thinking, retention, comprehension, and organization.
Learning style is cognitive, emotional and the physiological factors can clearly define how a learner manages within a structured learning environment. Additionally, the different learning styles can provide a basic understanding for trainers on how learners prefer to learn. Nonetheless, learning styles should not be used to divide people into learning sub groups. Individuals can learn in any learning style, however may prefer one style over another.
To determine the best way I learn, I carried out two different learning styles questionnaires online. One may find that they are not always categorised in a specific type rather they may have more than one learning preference. Firstly, the most commonly used Neil Fleming’s VARK model. Fleming believes that there are four different types of learner: Visual, Auditory, Reading/writing and Kinesthetic learners. The second model I tried out was Soloman-Felder Learning Styles and Strategies.
In this essay I will be describing various types of learning styles and stating the advantages and disadvantages of these learning styles. I will also inform you of the most commonly used method of finding out your own learning style, and I will inform you of the man who made this method. Finally, I will write about my own preferred learning styles and the strengths and weaknesses of the different learning styles.
Each person has his or her own style of learning. Learning styles include visual, auditory, and kinesthetic. In the questionnaire, I learned that I am very much a visual learner. This reflection will show what I have learned about my unique learning style and how understanding learning styles of the children I teach will be helpful as I become a teacher.