Reflective Learning Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Reflective Learning - Term Paper Example They represent a learning cycle, repeated innumerable times in an individual’s life. According to Kolb, the learning can start anywhere in the cycle but is most efficient if the full circle is completed. Here is an example of the learning cycle: someone has a negotiation about his salary with his superior. His idea of negotiation is that you have to be firm, show confidence and no weakness to your negotiation partner. So he slams down an offer, but it ends badly. His superior rejects. After this experience, he observes others to see if other strategies can work better. It can be direct observations, but also movies, or memories that he hasn’t reflected over before. In the step of abstract conceptualization, he discusses with others and maybe read something on the subject. He tries new strategies in everyday situations, and evaluates them in new reflective observation. When it’s time for a new discussion about the salary, he has a lot better understanding and new methods to reach the result he wants. It is off course also possible that this person goes through a learning cycle with only three of the steps: he acts, observes, and tries a new action. Another possibility is that he never realizes the opportunity for learning, and just leaves the first experience cursing his boss. Another central concept from Kolb is that of learning styles. The theory is that every person has two dominant of the four concepts above, that make up their learning style. Since four combinations are possible, there are four major learning styles. They are accommodating, diverging, converging and assimilation. Accommodating learners are intuitive, practical and experimental. Diverging learners gather information, use various viewpoints and are imaginative and artistic. Converging learners are problem-solvers and use a technical and practical approach. Assimilation learners are analytical and use reason and logic in their approach. There are also other ways to express