Ma'am Reference of Learning Theories

• The term gestalt - means "form" or "configuration." 
• Kurt Lewin -  He said that an individual has inner and outer forces that affect his perceptions and also his learning.

  • Inner forces -  include his own motivation, attitudes, and feelings.
  •  Outer forces -  may include the attitude and behavior of the teacher and classmates.  
• Experientialism - Learning by doing. This is the basis for the experiential learning theory. Experiential learning focuses on the idea that the best ways to learn things is by actually having experiences. Those experiences then stick out in your mind and help you retain information and remember facts.
• David Kolb - is best known for his work on the experiential learning theory
• David kolb published experiential learning theory this model in 1984.
• The experiential learning theory works in four stages

  • concrete learning,
  • reflective observation, abstract
  • conceptualization, and
  • active experimentation.
• Concrete learning - is when a learner gets a new experience, or interprets a past experience in a new way. 
• Reflective observation - comes next, where the learner reflects on their experience personally. They use the lens of their experience and understanding to reflect on what this experience means. 
• Abstract conceptualization -happens as the learner forms new ideas or adjusts their thinking based on the experience and their reflection about it.
• Active experimentation - is where the learner applies the new ideas to the world around them, to see if there are any modifications to be made. This process can happen over a short period of time, or over a long span of time.
• Kolb - he argues that effective learning is seen as the learner goes through the cycle, and that they can enter into the cycle at anytime.
• Kolb's experiential learning cycle model.

  The 4 learning styles are:

  1. Diverging
  2. Assimilating
  3. Converging
  4. Accommodating
• Diverging - a learning style is full of learners who look at things with a unique perspective. They want to watch instead of do, and they also have a strong capacity to imagine.

  • These learners usually prefer to work in groups, have broad interests in cultures and people, and more 
• Assimilating - this learning style involves learners getting clear information.

  • These learners prefer  concepts and abstracts to people, and explore using analytic models. These learners focus on  abstract conceptualization and reflective observation in the experiential learning style  
• Converging -  learners solve problems. They apply what they've learned to practical  issues, and prefer technical tasks. They are also known to experiment with new ideas, and their learning focuses on abstract conceptualization and active experimentation. 
• Accommodating - these learners prefer practicality. They enjoy new challenges and use intuition to help solve problems. These learners utilize concrete learning and active experimentation when they learn. 
• Benefits of experiential learning

  • Opportunity to immediately apply knowledge
  • Promotion of teamwork
  • Improved motivation
  • Opportunity for reflection
  • Real world practice