David KolbThe Experiential Learning Theory

The Theorist: David KolbAn American educational

theorist born in 1939Kolb earned his BA from Knox

College in 1961 and his MA and Ph.D. from Harvard University in 1964 and 1967 respectively, in social psychology

He is mainly credited for his experiential learning model (ELM) and his learning style inventory (LSI)

Experiential Learning ModelFour stages

1) Concrete Experience2) Reflective Observation3) Abstract Conceptualization4) Active Experimentation

Learning Style InventoryUses the ELT “stages” as “styles”Combines one’s top two styles to create 4

unique styles:1) Diverging (CE/RO)2) Assimilating (AC/RO)3) Converging (AC/AE)4) Accommodating (CE/AE)

Let’s Try it!Although one can start with any of the 4

stages, the experiential learning cycle usually starts with an experience

On the next slide we will start an experiment that will serve as the Concrete Experience

After the experiment is over we will apply it to the other 3 stages of Kolb’s ELT

The Rising Water ExperimentPurpose: To observe what happens when

one lights a candle that is sitting in about one centimeter of water and extinguishes it with a test tube

Materials: Petri dish, candle, matches, colored water, test tube

The Rising Water Experiment, cont.Directions

Light the candle and drip a few drops of wax in the center of the Petri dish

Quickly stand the candle up on the hot wax and release

Pour about one centimeter of water into the dishExtinguish the candle with the test tube (be sure

to quickly lower the tube over the candle and set it on the base of the dish all in one motion)

Write down as many observations as you can

The Rising Water Experiment VideoThe video will illustrate how technology

can be used to increase our powers of observation

During the video, take careful note to see if you observe anything different from when you performed the experiment yourself…

ELT and the Rising Water ExperimentNow, let’s apply Kolb’s ELT to our

experiment:1) Concrete Experience2) Reflective Observation3) Abstract Conceptualization4) Active Experimentation

How was your experience?Questions?Comments?