Week 6: Response to Aristotle's View on Learning & Experience.

There are three main types of learners: visual, auditory, and kinaesthetic. Visual learners learn through viewing the information. These learners make up 65% of the population (Brown,1998). Auditory learners are able to learn best by listening to the new information. These listeners make up 30% of the population (Brown,1998). Kinaesthetic learners learn best by moving, doing, or touching to learn. These learners make up 5% of the population (Brown,1998). Most adult learners retain 10% of what is seen, 30-40% of what is seen and heard, and 90% of what is seen, heard, and done.

 Logan mentioned in his blog that experience is essential to learning and I have found this to be true. I thought of my journey as a student as I read Logan's blog.  I found that the pursuit of my MBA was easier than the classes that I have taken in the Online Teaching and Design program. I realize that this is because of my experience in business and human resources. I easily related to the information in the financial classes because of past experiences. All of the information is new to me in the Teaching and Design program. I do not have the experience in the educational field and theories that would make the classes easier to understand.

Credit: LSI Analysis & Presentation

Kolb's learning theory consists of four styles: diverging, assimilating, converging, and accommodating.

• Diverging (feeling and watching - CE/RO) -  Individuals with this learning style are sensitive and prefer to look at things from various perspectives. The learners perform best in situations that require idea generation. These individuals tend to be creative and emotional. They prefer to work in groups and receive personal feedback. 
• Assimilating (watching and thinking - AC/RO) -  Individuals with this learning style have a preference for logical approaches. These individuals prefer ideas and concept to people. They are attracted to using logically sound theories more than approaches based on practical value. People with this style prefers to have time to think things through before making a decision.
• Converging (doing and thinking - AC/AE) - Individuals with this learning style can solve problems and prefers technical tasks. These individuals are best at finding practical uses for theories. People with this style like to experiment with new ideas and work with practical applications.
• Accommodating (doing and feeling - CE/AE) - Individuals with this learning style prefers a "hands-on" approach. These learners rely on intuition over logic. They often take a practical, experiential approach to problems. These individuals are attracted to challenges and carrying out action plans. People with this style prefers to set goals and attempts to find different ways to achieve the goal.

Credit: Lynn Tabi

Peter Honey and Alan Mumford developed their learning styles system as a variation of the Kolb model in the 1970s (Mobbs,2003). There are more similarities between the two models than differences.

1. 'Having an Experience' (stage 1), and Activists (style 1): 'here and now', gregarious, seek challenge and immediate experience, open-minded, bored with implementation.
2. 'Reviewing the Experience' (stage 2) and Reflectors (style 2): 'stand back', gather data, ponder and analyse, delay reaching conclusions, listen before speaking, thoughtful.
3. 'Concluding from the Experience' (stage 3) and Theorists (style 3): think things through in logical steps, assimilate disparate facts into coherent theories, rationally objective, reject subjectivity and flippancy.
4. 'Planning the next steps' (stage 4) and Pragmatists (style 4): seek and try out new ideas, practical, down-to-earth, enjoy problem solving and decision-making quickly, bored with long discussions.

Credit: Dr. Sraban Mukherjee

There is arguably a strong similarity between the Honey and Mumford styles/stages and the corresponding Kolb learning styles:

• Activist = Accommodating
• Reflector = Diverging
• Theorist = Assimilating
• Pragmatist = Converging

It is my belief that most learners have a primary learning style but also use other styles in various situations. My primary style is accommodating but I also use converging in certain situations. I am attracted to challenges but I also like to experiment with new ideas. 

References:

Brown,R.(1998).Learning Styles and Vocational Education Practice.Retrieved from http://library.educationworld.net/a1/a1-7.html

Mobbs,R.(2003).Honey and Mumford Learning Styles.Retrieved from https://www.le.ac.uk/users/rjm1/etutor/resources/learningtheories/honeymumford.html