Learning and Development: Understanding Kolb's Experimental Learning Theory and Learning Styles

This essay discusses the relevance of Kolb's experimental learning theory and learning styles for employees, line managers, and learning and development specialists. It explains the four stages of Kolb's theory and how they relate to different learning styles. The essay also highlights the importance of communication skills and practical problem-solving abilities in the workplace.

Essay Learning and
development

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION ..........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY ..................................................................................................................................3
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................3
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................1

INTRODUCTION
Learning and development is related to the systematic process which enhance skill,
competency and knowledge of employees in order to provide betters result by improving
performance at workplace (Idkhan and Idris, 2021). The present essay is based on learning
theories which is helps for understanding how learning occurs and then discuss the relevance of
Kolb's experimental learning theory. Further, understanding the importance of learning styles for
employees, line managers and learning and development specialist.
MAIN BODY
According to Kolb, experimental and learnings theory is related to the process of learning
by which individuals can result on the basis of combinations for transforming and grasping an
experience. Also, he suggested that it is requires for acquisition ins order to abstract the concept
which can be flexibly in wide range of situations. There are four stage that are includes in this
theory such as concrete experience encounter which might be new situations or experience that
are related to existing experience for example, if the individual face the interview for the first
time and in which the experience of individual can be changed after the interview given (de
Assuncao and do Nascimento, 2019). Then second stage is reflective observation of new
experience, in this individual can reflect about new experience by considering the existing
knowledge so it helps to give the ideas of how can they learn from the interview. There are some
peoples who are doing and transform for real absorption of new information also it helps to
accomplish the goal by analysing different circumstances. Also, communications plays vital role
which allow learner in order to identify and discrepancies between their experience itself. Then
anyone can share their point of view by this in order making differences between past and
current situation that help to fill the gap between understanding and experience.
The third stage of Kolb's theory is abstract conceptualization that helps to provide new
idea regarding current understanding by analysing previous stage. On the basis of this learner can
promote the new ideas which helps to work in the outside world such as in this any individual
can share their experience to other people in the concluding manner in regard to generate abstract
principle that helps in future situation that draw attention based on different experience (Fahmi,
2018. ). Also, others have the opportunity of new idea and lessons which is gathered from
experience. Tos experiment different concept an individual can learns how to associate with
innovation and experiences. On the basis of each stage there is different learning style preferred

and it also help to ensure about knowledge and skill. For the students this is the relevant models
that helps to share their experiences tos teacher and how they get the idea of learning also it
suggests other employees or collogue about the process used by individual. It gives the ability
for immediately apply knowledge in order to access real time feedback and coaching.
In addition to this the communication skill of the individual are improved by getting
proper knowledge regarding the same (Ratnaningsih, Hidayat and Santika, 2019). At workplaces
the relevance of this theory is better in order to share their experience which also helps other
employees to get the ideas of training and development. In the training and development sessions
it helps to share the reflections of all the stages and information that is faced by individual and its
is also helps to challenged unfamiliar tasks and situation that are need to navigate for learning.
This is also helps to promote engagement by controlling the own learning experience in order to
create highly engaged learner. Also, it can not differentiate the diversity by performing on the
basis of experimentation.
Kolb's learning style is related to the four stages of learning work together for creating
ans learning some prefer concept by different components. This is considers as the unique style
which helps to concrete the reflective experience in order to choose for spending less time. This
style is based on learning cycle which already discussed above section. Diverging is the first
stage that helps learner for performing better situation ins order requiring ideas generation also
for employees by showing the cultural differences this is the most preferable stage that is used by
employees and for the manager they use this stage for understanding the situation and solve the
problem regarding imagination also they can tend to excel ins humanities, liberal art and social
science (Safaeifard, Roshangar and Janani, 2019.). In this stage employees and mangers are
works in group in order to encourage them and also its helps to provide the information
regarding give the personal feedback so that individual can take the interest. In contexts to,
learning and development specialist use this stage for providing feedback to line manager on the
basis of concrete experience and reflective observation.
Further, at the second stage it is related to think and watch style after individual learning
to regard characteristics which are abstract conceptualization and reflective observation. This
logical approach are helps to considerings the concept and ideas for important people. Individual
are need clear explanation which is help to demonstrate the practical learning opportunities for
the employees this stage is necessary to understand the situations on the basis of getting the ideas

of concept learnings it is necessary to understand wide range of problem that can be used for
logical format. For the line manager this stage is important in order to guide the team on the
basis of providing different ideas for the information. Then it also helps tos guides team ons the
basis of accurate reasons that tend to attracts more people (Galperin and Punnett, 2021). Also, if
the team is weak at communications in which line manager provides the trainings regarding
improving communications so that its helps to build skill in the employees. This is most
preferable stage which helps to develop knowledges on the basis of learnings outcome. In
contexts to learning and development specialist it has been analysed that it is necessary to use the
strategy of by providing clears explanation for demonstrating the practical learning which is
important to team. On the basis of these employees get the ideas of learning new technique
which helps to develop knowledge. Further, this will helps to know the strengths of on the basis
learning and development session also it is defining for make the interests of being focused in
orders emphasizing on reasoning. This is the set of preference which is great for data reviewing
and prefer for lectures, reading, exploring new and analytical tools (Mpwanya and Dockrat,
2020.).
The third style is related to converging in which learner can think and do about this style
and individual can learn the style regarding good problem solving which helps to provide
solution according to the individual by getting new experience. For the employees it has been
analysed that employees are more focused on solving the problem by this own basis not afraid of
the situation. Also, its help the knowledge which can be necessary for interpersonal activities the
for the line manager it helps tos find the practical solutions which is necessary to complete the
work. It is related to task based learning and corporate the team making them more independent.
In context to learning and development specialist it helps tos identify the issues which is related
tos make practical applications on the basis of excels the tasks for the team. Then interactive
activities are involved for clearings the doubts of people. The last style is related to
accommodating which is based on concrete experiences or active experimentation. In these
employees get the answer bys individual on the basis of different experience which are helps to
prefer the answer for themselves (Kamran, Naeim and Masoumi, 2022). For example, if the
individual has any circumstance in works they can their experience regarding their knowledge.
The biggest strength is related to not afraid of the challenges that helps to accommodating new
learnings style, and then they can seek opportunities for particular situation. For the line manager

it has been analysed that they motivate their teams tos find rights solution and face the challenges
by using experience. Also, they often change the paths which are based on solving the issue
regarding marketing, business or sales. In context to learning and development specialists are
helps to accommodate the preferable instruction which allow for actively engagement with each
other and then promote independent discovery and thinking.
CONCLUSION
It has been concluded that learning and development is played important role in order to
make the performance better also it will help to identify various strength, weakness and
preference of an individual. The report discussed on the basis of learning theory which is
involving different activities and relevance of theory so that people can use this. Further,
learnings style are also explained by contributing different situations for employees, line
manager and learning and development specialist ins orders to identify the role of people by
facings different challenges.

REFERENCES
Books and journals
de Assuncao, T.V. and do Nascimento, R.R., 2019. DAVID KOLB LEARNING STYLE
INVENTORY AND SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS TEACHERS: DIALOGUE
ABOUT TEACHING METHOD/O INVENTARIO DE ESTILOS DE APRENDIZAGEM
DE DAVID KOLB E OS PROFESSORES DE CIENCIAS E MATEMATICA:
DIALOGO SOBRE O METODO DE ENSINO/EL INVENTARIO DE ESTILOS DE
APRENDIZAJE DE DAVID KOLB Y LOS PROFESORES DE CIENCIAS Y
MATEMATICAS: DIALOGO SOBRE EL METODO DE ENSENANZA. Góndola,
enseñanza y aprendizaje de las ciencias, 14(1).
Fahmi, A.A., 2018. Learning Style Theory David Kolb dalam Pembelajaran Sejarah SMA
(Penelitian Fenomenologi di Kelas XI IIS 2 SMA Negeri 2 Tasikmalaya). BIHARI: Jurnal
Pendidikan Sejarah Dan Ilmu Sejarah, 1(1).
Galperin, B.L. and Punnett, B.J., 2021. Designing Culturally Appropriate Training and
Development Programs: A Learning Styles Approach. In Intercultural Management in
Practice. Emerald Publishing Limited.
Idkhan, A.M. and Idris, M.M., 2021. Dimensions of students learning styles at the university
with the kolb learning model. International Journal of Environment, Engineering and
Education, 3(2). pp.75-82.
Kamran, A., Naeim, M. and Masoumi, N., 2022. Prediction of academic performance based on
learning style and critical thinking among medical students. Journal of Pedagogical
Research, 6(1).pp.57-66.
Mpwanya, M.F. and Dockrat, S., 2020. Assessing learning styles of undergraduate logistics
students using Kolb's learning style inventory: a cross-sectional survey. South African
Journal of Higher Education, 34(3). pp.210-228.
Ratnaningsih, N., Hidayat, E. and Santika, S., 2019. Mathematical problem-solving skills of
students based on the Kolb learning style through creative problem-solving learning. Int. J.
Innov. Creat. Chang., 9, pp.177-86.
Safaeifard, N., Roshangar, F. and Janani, R., 2019. Preferred learning styles of nurses in in-
service training courses in Tabriz University of Medical Sciences. Acta facultatis medicae
Naissensis, 36(1). pp.69-78.