David A. Kolb’s Experiential Learning Theory is a strong foundation for any kind of learning, growth and transformation. It explains the ideal process of learning, helps you understand yourself better as a learner and allows you to control your own education and development.

The attitude you adopt when learning is how you approach life fundamentally. This same technique applies to tackling issues, coming to conclusions, and dealing with the difficulties of existence. Bear in mind that learning can take place anywhere and will follow a person over the course of their lifespan. Experiential schooling promotes growth in aptitude, education, and advancement.

EL is a method of learning through direct experience.

We all learnt how to walk and talk by practicing and refining our skills. Trainers and facilitators can use this technique when working with people from any background.

Experiential learning can be defined as:

‘Reflection and analysis of activities can help to cultivate personal understanding, knowledge and skills.”

“Activity” can mean anything from someone sharing an idea to completing a task or engaging in interactive group dynamics that involve various mental aspects and behaviours.

The idea behind experiential learning is focused on the individual’s educational journey. An example of this could be going to the zoo, allowing one to observe and interact with animals instead of just reading about them in books. This assists one in making discoveries firsthand, rather than simply hearing or reading about others’ experiences. Similarly, when one is studying business, job-shadowing and internships within that field can offer great hands-on knowledge which can significantly add to their real-world understanding.

The Experiential Learning Cycle

David Kolb’s theory of experiential learning is highly regarded. It involves a four-part cycle of experience, reflection, thinking, and action that occurs constantly in every interaction and experience.

Learning begins with a hands-on experience, which requires thought and evaluation of the situation. After understanding the experience, abstract thinking is needed to reach a conclusion and make sense of what happened. Finally, you can choose to act upon what you have learnt or test out your newly acquired knowledge.

People often use the natural cycle of learning without realising it, as it is an automatic process we engage in daily. This cycle shapes our lives in many ways and each person has a different way of using it, with some favoring certain modes more than others.

Kolb’s Theory of Experiential Education

David Kolb is renowned for his work on the Experiential Learning Theory (ELT). He published his book in 1984, taking influence from John Dewey, Kurt Lewin and Jean Piaget.

• Concrete Learning involves having a fresh, unique experience or viewing an old experience in a novel way.
• The next step is Reflective Observation. This involves the learner reflecting on their own experience and using their understanding and knowledge to draw conclusions.
• Abstract conceptualisation involves producing fresh ideas or adapting one’s thoughts from past experience and consideration.
• Through active experimentation, learners apply fresh concepts to reality and make modifications if needed. This can be done in a short or long duration of time.

Experiential Learning Styles

People have varied approaches to journeying the learning cycle that depends on their personality, educational specialisation, professional career, cultural background, and adaptive capabilities. The Kolb Experiential Learning Profile (KELP) recognises nine diverse learning styles for negotiating the learning cycle. Generally, we lead with our preferred style and depend upon it instinctively or when under stress.

Learning styles are a way of studying which involves a preference for certain methods and an underutilisation of others. Awareness of your own learning style, as well as the preferred ways of learning for those around you, can help create more successful interactions, teamwork and relationships.

• When you employ the Experiencing style, you are connected, passionate and understanding. You are great at collaborating with others and building trusting partnerships. You enjoy being open with your emotions.
• Those displaying the Imagining communication style are typically compassionate, trustworthy and imaginative. They have self-knowledge and understanding of the feelings of others. When engaging in conversations, they remain non-judgemental even when confronted with unclear circumstances. Additionally, they take pleasure in providing assistance to other, brainstorming new concepts and envisaging future possibilities.
• The Reflecting style involves patience, caution, and reserve. You give others an opportunity to talk, listening to them with a nonjudgmental attitude. You collect data from different sources and look at the situation from multiple angles to detect the core dilemmas.
• The Analysing style requires structure, precision and planning. You examine details and data carefully, integrate information to gain a complete view and use critical thinking to comprehend situations.
• With the Thinking style, you’re analytical and logical. You collect data to solve problems and use logic when forming arguments. Furthermore, you can communicate your ideas clearly and are able to make independent decisions.
• With the Deciding style, you take a realistic and direct approach. You offer practical solutions and have clear goals, while also staying committed to one course of action.
• When using the Acting style, you will show up on time, be goal-orientated and courageous. You will strive to reach your objectives and find solutions with limited resources within a set time frame.
• The Initiating style involves taking risks, being outgoing and not giving up in the face of difficulty. It means looking for opportunities and participating wholeheartedly.
• Using the Balancing style involves recognising and addressing any blind spots in an issue as well as reconciling conflicting parties. This approach is characterized by its flexibility and resourcefulness in dealing with changing priorities.