Definition – What is a learning style?
A learning style describes the way in which someone acquires knowledge and skills. The term learning style originates from approaches in learning psychology of the 1970s. It is based on the fact that most people prefer very specific personal methods of learning, i.e. using stimuli and information to acquire knowledge. This means that different people perform differently under otherwise equal learning conditions, depending on whether the preferred learning method is offered or not. More than eighty learning style models are known, one example is the Kolb model.
Which learning styles according to Kolb are there?
The Kolb learning style model was created in 1985 and is the most widespread model of learning styles in Germany. Kolb distinguishes four basic learning style types. The so-called divergers (discoverers) learn from experience and reflected observation.
The strengths of this learning style type lie in its distinct ability to imagine. A diverger is able to look at certain situations from different perspectives and to put himself in people’s shoes. According to Kolb, divergers are particularly interested in art and culture and often specialize in artistic fields.
The assimilator (thinker) in turn favors both reflected observation and abstract conceptualization. This means that the assimilator is particularly talented in understanding and creating theoretical models. The thinker tends to draw inductive conclusions, i.e. he is able to infer from observations to a more general knowledge.
This learning style is often better at dealing with things and theories than with people. The converger (decision maker) is a learning style type, which is particularly well suited for abstract conceptualization and active experimentation. The converger benefits especially from the execution of his ideas.
He tends to draw hypothetical deductive conclusions. This means, that the converger draws logical conclusions and derives new statements. Like the assimilator, the converger rather deals with things or theories than with persons.
The accommodator (doer/practitioner) prefers active experimenting and concrete experiences, from which he can learn. It is up to him to design activities. At the same time, his strength lies in solving problems and conflicts intuitively, by trying and failing and finally learning from them. The accommodationist prefers facts to theories.
- What learning strategies are there?
- Learning Problems
- Learning
