Learning Styles

Introduction

This assignment is based round Kolb’s theory of learning styles. This theory is very widely used and it is very uncommon for someone to not have filled it out at some point or another. Because of this I have decided to use Kolb’s theory and then compare the strengths of it against the principal of other learning style tests. This will allow me to see the strengths of each style.

Kolb’s Theory

Kolb built his theory (with his partner Roger Fry) around the idea that everyone will learn in one of only four ways. They will either learn from actually doing the work. This is referred to as Activist. The second way of learning is by watching how something is done in detail. This is referred to as Reflector. The third style is forming abstract concepts; this is based around the idea that people will see something and then think of it in another way as to fully understand what they are learning. This is referred to as Theorist. The final way of learning is based around the idea of actually doing the work and getting stuck in, thus learning from mistakes. This is referred to as pragmatist.

Other Learning Styles

Gardner

Gardner report on learning styles outlines the ways that we may in fact have seven ways of how to learn. This would be a big finding and would allow teachers to cater to everyone, making sure they can learn in the best way they can. In the report Gardner outlines the fact that not every style of learning is catered for in education. He says that education figures tend to believe that everyone is capable of learning what is being taught in the same way. Gardner makes the notion that this various learning styles could all be catered for with lessons being taught in multimedia. This would give students a large way of learning and ensure that everyone would be able to find a way of learning

Comparison

The way that the Kolb test is structured and asks the questions I felt was better. The Gardner test seemed to be more about getting the results of the test rather than asking the right questions. However due to the fact that there are another three possible learning styles I feel that if basing this around the results only then the Gardner test would be the better of the two. I feel that this is very important because it narrows the amount of results that the student could get which means that it should generally be more accurate. However going back to my original point of the questions seeming more appropriate in the Kolb test I feel that this one is the better of the two and I would rather take this test.

Kolb’s Theory: Results

These are the results that I received when I took the test:

I found that I am a reflective learner

REFLECTOR ( Reflective Observation

focuses on understanding the meaning of situations and ideas by careful

observation and description

approaches learning in an impartial, tentative way

seeks understanding as opposed to practical application

good at seeing implications, at appreciating different points of view.

patent, impartial, thoughtful

This is the summary of the results. I feel that this is fairly accurate to how I learn while in the classroom.

Gardner’s Theory: Results

This is the result that I received after doing the Gardner test.

Bodily-Kinesthetic:

body movement control, manual dexterity, physical agility and balance; eye and body coordination

dancers, demonstrators, actors, athletes, divers, sports-people, soldiers, fire-fighters, PTI's, performance artistes; ergonomists, osteopaths, fishermen, drivers, crafts-people; gardeners, chefs, acupuncturists, healers, adventurers

juggle; demonstrate a sports technique; flip a beer-mat; create a mime to explain something; toss a pancake; fly a kite; coach workplace posture, assess work-station ergonomics

physical experience and movement, touch and feel

At first I was very surprised by these results. They were not what I expected to receive. However as I continued to read on and noticed some of the things that I do while bored where in there. Flipping a beer-mat for example is something I have done very often. This surprised me because I feel that this test has got the right physical traits for me but the learning style is more appropriate in the Kolb Theory.