Learning is the act of acquiring knowledge through experience and making reference to things around you. This raises the issue of the difference ways or styles people learn. In this essay I intent to explain the different types of learning styles and also breakdown into detail the acquiring of knowledge with reference to Honey and Mumford study theory (1986) who developed the work of David Kolb (1984), which consist of the four learning cycle: Concrete experience, Application of ideas, Abstract concept & generation and Reflective observation.
It will also look at examples of learning activities that suit the different styles. It is however questionable as to which learning style suit who and what ways different people learn and come to the same conclusion, besides, it has been proven that no one has a better learning style than anyone else. The different learning styles created by honey and Mumford (1986) are as follows:
• Activist • Reflector • Theorist • Pragmatist
There are strengths and weaknesses in each of these styles. It has been argued by honey and Mumford(1986) that learning is improved when one really find out about the kind of style he or she produce, and by so doing we can identify our strengths and weaknesses, thus producing effective results and obtaining the best quality way of learning. It is understood that his theory must be applied, other than that learning will not be effective as it should, therefore all four stages must be completed. Mumford(1986) stated ’Many people are activists’’ honey in nature and acquire their skills through concrete tasks , furthermore they learn best by getting more involved in concrete tasks and exploring through business games and competitive teamwork as stated in Kolb’s theory.
ACTIVISTS(concrete Observation)- This the first stage of the learning style and it is determined that these category of people learn best by getting involved in activities or