Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-ndw9j Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-13T11:05:06.557Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Learning together: Kolb's experiential theory and its application

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 February 2015

Devi Akella*
Affiliation:
College of Business, Albany State University, Albany GA, USA

Abstract

This paper aims to make a limited contribution to Kolb's Experiential Learning Theory. An evaluation has been made of an empirically based personal narrative of the author's experiences, reflections and problems as an instructor of a management elective course at the undergraduate level. The paper examines the process of reflection, correction and learning from the perspective of the instructor and how the issue of race and origin of the student learners' can stimulate or hinder assimilation of knowledge within a classroom. The study reveals that it is essential for an educator to be critically reflective of his/her culture and that of his/her students to be able to assess their learning styles and adopt suitable and appropriate teaching pedagogies within the classroom. This paper draws attention towards types of teaching pedagogies, non traditional methods and aids and their effectiveness in educating students of diverse backgrounds. It provides insights about diversity within classrooms and its impact on teaching, pedagogies and learning styles of both educators and students, by portraying the journey of an educator and her process of self improvement.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press and Australian and New Zealand Academy of Management 2010

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Anderson, JA (1988) Cognitive styles and multicultural populations, Journal of Teacher Education, 39, 29.Google Scholar
Barnes, CA (1992) Developing teachers: when the student is ready…The developmental waves of teachers as learners, International Faculty Development Conference, 06, Colorado.Google Scholar
Bonwell, C and Eison, J (1991) Active learning: Creating excitement in the classroom, ASHE-ERIC Higher Education Reports, Report, George Washington University, Washington DC.Google Scholar
Boreham, NC (1987) Learning from experience in diagnostic problem solving. In Richardson, JTE & Eysenck, MW & Piper, DW (eds.), Student learning: Research in education and cognitive psychology (pp. 8997), Society for Research into Higher Education and Open University Press, Milton Keynes.Google Scholar
Boud, D, Keogh, R and Walker, D (eds.) (1985) Reflection: Turning experience into learning, Kogan Page, London.Google Scholar
Brock, KL and Carveron, BJ (1999) Enlivening political science courses with Kolb's Learning preference model, Political Science and Politics, 32(2), 251–56.Google Scholar
Carlesson, B, Keane, P and Martin, JB (1976) R&D Organizations as learning systems, Sloan Management Review, Spring, 2131.Google Scholar
Claxton, CS and Murrell, PH (1987) Learning styles: Implications for improving educational practices, Association for the Study of Higher Education, College Station Texas.Google Scholar
Dewey, J (1938) Experience and education, McMillan, New York.Google Scholar
Dixon, N (1994) The organizational learning cycle: How can we learn collectivity, McGraw-Hill, New York.Google Scholar
Fielding, M (1994) Valuing difference in teachers and learners: Building on Kolb's learning styles to develop a language of teaching and learning, The Curriculum Journal 5(3), 393417.Google Scholar
Fuhrmann, B and Grasha, A (1983) Designing classroom experiences based on student styles and teaching styles: A practical handbook for college teaching, LittleBrown, Boston.Google Scholar
Hale-Benson, J (1986) Black Children: Their roots, culture and learning styles, John Hopkins University Press, Baltimore MD.Google Scholar
Hecht, ML, Collier, MJ and Ribeau, SA (1993) African American communication: Ethnic identity and cultural interpretation, Sage, Newbury Park CA.Google Scholar
Holman, D, Pavlica, K and Thorpe, R (1997) Rethinking Kolb's theory of experiential learning: The contribution of social constructivism and activity theory, Management Learning, 28, 135–48.Google Scholar
Honey, P and Mumford, A (1992) The manual of learning styles, Peter Honey, Maidenhead.Google Scholar
Hopkins, R (1993) David Kolb's learning machine, Journal of Phenomenological Psychology, 24, 4662.Google Scholar
Hunt, DE (1987) Beginning with ourselves: In practice, theory and human affairs, Brookline Books, Cambridge MA. http://www.evergreen.edu/washcenter.Google Scholar
Jenkins, A (1998) Curriculum design in geography, Cheltenham and Gloucester College of Higher Education, Cheltenham.Google Scholar
Kayes, DC (2002) Experiential learning and its critics: Preserving the role of experience in management learning and education, Academy of Management Learning and Education, 1(2), 137149.Google Scholar
Keirsey, D & Bates, M (1984) Please understand me: Character and temperament type. 5th edn, Prometheus Nemesis, California.Google Scholar
Kolb, DA (1984) Experiential learning: Experience as the source of learning and development, Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs NJ.Google Scholar
Kolb, DA and Kolb, AY (2005) Learning styles and learning spaces: Enhancing experiential learning in higher education, Academy of Management Learning and Education, 4(2), 193212.Google Scholar
Kochman, T (1981) Black and white in conflicts, University of Chicago Press, Chicago IL.Google Scholar
Krista, JR (2001) Going around the circle again: Exploring Kolb's theory of growth and development, National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, 2-24Google Scholar
Lengnick-Hall, CA and Saunders, MM (1997) Designing effective learning systems for management education: Student roles, requisite variety and practicing what we teach, Academy of Management Journal, 40, 13341368.Google Scholar
Lewin, K (1952) Field theory in social sciences: Selected theoretical papers. Tavistock, London.Google Scholar
Loo, R (1999) Confirmatory factor analysis of Kolb's learning style inventory (LSI-1985), British Journal of Educational Psychology 69, 213219.Google Scholar
Marquardt, MJ (2002) Building the learning organization, Davies-Black, Palo Alto CA.Google Scholar
Melear, CT and Richardson, S (1994) Learning Styles of African American Children which correspond to the MBTI, 03 5-8, Gainesville FL.Google Scholar
Quay, J (2003) Experience and participation: Relating theories of learning, The Journal of Experiential Education, 26(2), 105113.Google Scholar
Race, P (1993) Never mind the teaching feel the learning. Staff and Educational Development Association, SEDA Paper 80, Birmingham UK.Google Scholar
Reese, J (1998) Enhancing law student performance: Learning styles interventions, Unpublished report, National Center of Adult Learning, Empire State College, Saratoga Springs NY.Google Scholar
Reinert, H (1976) One Picture is worth 1000 Words? Not necessarily! Modern Language Journal 60 (04): 160168.Google Scholar
Reynolds, M (1999) Critical reflection and management education: Rehabilitating less hierarchical approaches, Journal of Management Education, 23, 537553.Google Scholar
Robotham, D (1999) The application of learning style theory in higher education teaching. Unpublished article, Wolverhampton Business School, Wolverhampton UK.Google Scholar
Rosenthal, CS (1999) One Experience is worth a thousand words: Engaging undergraduates in field research on gender, PS Online, 6368.Google Scholar
Senge, PM (1990) The Fifth Discipline: The art and practice of the learning organization, Currency Doubleday, New York.Google Scholar
Senge, PM (1994) The Fifth Discipline Fieldbook, Currency Doubleday, New York.Google Scholar
Sims, RR (1983) Kolb's experiential learning theory: A framework for assessing person-job interaction, Academy of Management Review 8, 501508.Google Scholar
Shade, B (1982) Afro-American cognitive style: A variable in school success, Review of Educational Research, 52 (2), 219244.Google Scholar
Stice, JE (1987) Using Kolb's learning cycle to improve student learning, Engineering Education 77: 291296.Google Scholar
Svinicki, MD and Dixon, NM (1987) The Kolb model modified for classroom activities, College Teaching 35: 141146.Google Scholar
Van der Hiejden, K (1996) Scenarios: The art of strategic conversation, John Wiley, New York.Google Scholar
Vince, R (1988) Behind and beyond Kolb's learning cycle, Journal of Management Education, 22, 304319.Google Scholar
Wilson, AL and Lee, B (1989) What makes learning meaningful? Annual Meeting of the American Association for Adult and Continuing Education, 10, Atlantic City NJ.Google Scholar
White, J (1970) Guidelines for black psychologists, The Black Scholar, 1, 5257.Google Scholar
Woolfolk, A (1988) Educational psychology, Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs NJ.Google Scholar
Tennant, M. (1997) Psychology and adult learning, Routledge, London.Google Scholar
Torrance, CT (1990) Blacks and the American ethos: A reevaluation of existing theories, Journal of Black Studies, 21, 7286.Google Scholar
Zuber-Skerritt, O (1992) Professional development in higher education: A theoretical framework for action research, Kogan Page, London.Google Scholar