Learning styles Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Learning styles - Essay Example This climate has led to an interest in the learning styles of students. There are four main styles of learner, identified by Kolb and developed his Learning Style Inventory (LSI) to establish an individuals relative emphasis on each of the four styles. Kolbs LSI is based on the work of John Dewey, Kurt Lewin, and Jean Piaget. John Dewey emphasized the need for learning to be grounded in experience. Kurt Lewin stressed the importance of active learning, and Jean Piaget articulated a theory of intelligence as the result of the interaction of a person and his or her environment (Jarvis, Holford, Griffin, 2003, 171). Kolbs learning style model separated learners on the basis of four steps of learning defined from a two-dimensional model. The first dimension is based on task, and the second dimension is based on the soul or ego. The dimension based on task ranges from performing tasks to observing tasks. The model is usually shown with the task dimension displayed horizontally and the soul dimension displayed vertically. The four resulting quadrants are labeled with four steps to learning and four personal learning styles. The four steps to learning are labeled (1) concrete experience, (2) reflective observation, (3) abstract conceptualization, and (4) active experimentation. The four personal learning styles are (1) theorists, (2) pragmatists, (3) activists, and (4) reflectors (Race, 2005, 52). The personal learning style labeled theorist represents a person who likes to learn using abstract conceptualization and reflective observation. Theorists strength lies in the ability to create theoretical models. They prefer case studies regarding Accountancy or law, theory readings, and thinking alone. This learning style is characteristic of those gravitating toward basic science and mathematics. The theorist adapts and integrates observations into complex but logically sound