What’s the best way to learn? How can we better retain and embrace the knowledge?
To solve this question, David Kolb, an American educational theorist, developed in the 1970s and 1980s the Experiential Learning Model, based on the analysis of the learner’s internal cognitive processes.
The process of learning involves the acquisition of abstract or generic concepts that afterwards can be applied in a concrete way in multiple situations. If one wants to be able to put into practice the theory, there must be a strong connection between it and the reality. In other case, it is very likely that the person won’t succeed in facing the problems that has roots in the abstract concepts.
What happens when I just listen? I forget
What about when I see? I remember
And if I do? Then I understand it
Having said that, Kolb states that most efficient and lasting way to learn is neither listening nor memoraring, but living a personal experience first hand. “Learning is the process whereby knowledge is created through the transformation of experience”. This experience is not a learning in itself, but the channel to reflect on that and extract conclusions for a future similar case.
Thus, experiential learning is the process of learning through experience, which is called “learning by doing” or, more accurately, “learning through reflection on doing”.
The experiential Learning Model materialises on the Experiential Learning Cycle (ELC):
- Experience: it is a dynamic, event, activity, story, video, game or case that the person lives himself. It cannot be told, the person must experience it.
E.g. I had an email argument with a supplier because of a misunderstanding about the price and conditions
- Reflection: it is the moment to speak and talk about feelings and sensations. Good vibes? Contradictory feelings?
E.g. I felt angry at the beginning and relieved at the end
- Process: in this stage, the experience is analyzed in terms of facts, roles and results. What has happened? Why? What was the outcome?
E.g. There was an email chain with a discussion, which ended when I called the manager and we clarified the price and conditions
- Generalization: it is the process to connect the lived experience and the real life through personal examples, comparing the similarities and differences and making analogies. Is it comparable to this other field?
E.g. There can be foot misunderstandings by wrong interpretations of emails, so, in order to avoid them and solve the problems, it’s better to chat.
- Application: it is the learning itself. It tells oneself how to think/act next time you have to face a similar experience or situation. It’s time to apply what you have learned. If the following situation happens, I will act in this way to solve it.
E.g. Next time I’m going to call or organize an in-person meeting when an argument comes up through email.
The different phases are not independent, but complementary, supportive and successive. They are connected and set up an integrated process which only make sense when each and every step.
It is possible to enter the cycle at any stage and follow it through its logical sequence. The effective learning only happens when a learner passes through the 5 stages of the model. Therefore, no stage of the cycle is an effective on its own, but part of a comprehensive and successive learning proceeding.
