EXPERİENTİAL LEARNİNG AND LEARNİNG STYLES: A TOOL FOR SELECTİNG STUDENTS FOR GROUP WORK

Gözde DENİZ

TABLE OF CONTENT

Learning Theories Behaviorism Cognitivism Constructivism

Experiential Learning

Learning Styles

My Study

LEARNİNG THEORİES

attempt to define learning and describe how people and animals learn

help us understand the complex processes of learning

Three main categories: Behaviorism Cognitivism Constructivism

Experientia

l

Learning

Learning Theories

BEHAVİORİSMWhat is Behaviorism?

An attempt to explain all learning in terms of conditioningImitation and practice Feedback on successHabit formationLearning as a change in behaviourPassive learners

In Language Learning

Imitate the sounds and patternsReceive positive reinforcementContinue to imitateForm habits

BEHAVİORİSM & COGNİTİVİSM

INPUTS OUTCOMES

INPUTS OUTCOMESLearning

So what’s happening inside the box?

COGNİTİVİSM A response to Behaviorism

The study of mental processes

The operation of the mind

Behaviour as the result of mental processes

Focus on how information is received, organized, stored and retrieved by the mind

Learners as information processors

No importance to the role of social interaction

CONSTRUCTİVİSM

As learners we construct our own understanding of the world around us

Based on experience as we live and grow

Selecting information from past and current knowledge and experience

Transforming it into new personal knowledge and understanding

CONSTRUCTİVİSMEducation best put into practice by presenting:

CONSTRUCTİVİSM

Constructivism widely accepted all around the world

New trend in education

Curriculums based on this approach

The best learning theory to explain learning

Led to emergence of learning models

WHY DO WE NEED TO KNOW ALL THESE THEORİES?

Understanding the process of learning helps you with your teaching

Your learners are trying to figure out a complex system. Be patient

Window of opportunity – Acquisition / EFL

Strategies to make learning meaningful

Vary your teaching techniques

EXPERİENTİAL LEARNİNG BY DAVİD KOLB

One of the learning models

emerged within Constructivism

An alternative to traditional didactic and behavioral classroom approaches

A holistic perspective that combines experience, perception, cognition, and behaviour

EXPERİENTİAL LEARNİNG

Learning is a process, not an outcome

All learning is relearning

Learning requires the resolution of conflicts

Learning is a holistic process of adaptation to the world

Learning results from transactions between the person and the environment

EXPERİENTİAL LEARNİNG

An example of experiential learning:

Going to the zoo and learning through observation and interaction with the zoo environment

As opposed to reading about animals from a book

Making discoveries and experiments with knowledge firsthand, instead of hearing or reading about others' experiences

THE CYCLE OF LEARNİNG

-Learning from specific experience-Relating to people

-Being sensitive to feelings

-Observing non-judgmentally

-Viewing diverse perspectives-Looking for

meaning

-Risk taking, testing

-Getting things done

-Influence through action- The creation of new experience

-Logically analyzing-Systematic Planning

Acting on Intellectual understanding

Kolb & Fry The learning cycle can begin at any one of the four points.

Kolb’s Experiential Learning Theory

Internally deciding whether wish to do or watch (grasping experience) and at the same time deciding whether to think or feel (transforming experience)

Concrete Experience - CE (feeling) OR Abstract Conceptualization - AC (thinking)

Active Experimentation - AE (doing) OR Reflective Observation - RO (watching)

The preferred learning style

KOLB’S LEARNİNG STYLES Diverging learners:

Have CE and RO as dominant learning abilities Combine watching with feeling Idea generators and risk-takers Like to gather information Prefer to work in groups Tend to be emotional

Assimilating learners: Have AC and RO as dominant learning abilities Combine thinking with watching Put information into logical form Interested in ideas and abstract concepts Prefer readings, lectures, information gathering

KOLB’S LEARNİNG STYLES Converging learners:

Have AC and AE as dominant learning abilities Combine thinking with doing Find practical application of ideas Technical tasks and problems Problem-solving and decision-making

Accommodating learners: Have CE and AE as dominant learning abilities Combine feeling with doing Carry out plans and involve themselves in new

experiences Learn from hands-on experience Work with others and test out different theories

RESEARCH QUESTİONS

Is it possible to use a LSQ as a means of selecting students for group work in writing lessons?

Is there any significant difference between groups that are randomly selected and groups that are selected according to their learning styles?

METHODOLOGY

Participants: A2 level students

Data Collection Tool: Felder’s and Soloman’s Learning Styles Questionnaire

Procedure: Questionnaire and a semi-structured interview

THANKS…