Циклом Колба называют одну из моделей, которые used in the process of training adults (trainings, courses, schools). The name of David Kolb, a specialist in psychological aspects of education, became known precisely because of the efficiency and effectiveness of the model he developed.
Theoretical basis of the technique
D.Kolb considered that learning as a process is a cycle or a kind of spiral, and its main components called the accumulation of personal experience with further reflection and reflection and, as a result, action.
The stages that a person studying by the Kolb method goes through:
- Basic level: the person’s immediate, concrete experience in the matter that he plans to study.
- The stage of reflection or mental observations: here the student must think and analyze the knowledge that he has.
- Process of arising an abstract concept ormodels: the stage of generalization of the obtained information (experience) and building a specific model. According to Kolb’s plan, this period of study or training is designed to generate ideas, build relationships and add new information about how things are arranged (about patterns in the field under study).
- Stage of active experiments:The final element of the lesson is a test of how the model or concept created is applicable to specific situations. As a result, the student is formed a completely new experience. In the future, you can observe the closure of the cycle.
Kolb Kolb: advantages and scope of the model
The described teaching method is considered one of the mosteffective and universal. Interestingly, the Kolb model can fit almost anyone, because it is based on what the student already knows. That is why its use is so effective.
This method of systematization of professionalpractical or academic knowledge and skills are used by the largest companies around the world. The Kolb cycle, used by personal growth trainers or teachers of advanced training courses, allows employees to maximize their potential and also to activate hidden opportunities and abilities.
Features characteristic of adult learning
Unlike pedagogy, which considersthe specifics of the child's psyche in terms of learning, andragogy is the science of how teachers and trainers should work with adults. Kolb cycle involves the use of basic principles of andragogy.
The difference between an “adult learner” becomesavailability of sustainable motivation for training, learning and self-development. This is not surprising, because many working people or businessmen are well aware that the new experience will help them to more effectively find a solution to professional and personal problems.
In addition, referring to his experience, such a person benefits not only himself, but also other members of the group. Communication and information sharing enrich the experience of each of them.
Follower D. Kolb: model optimization
The widely accepted Kolb cycle was developed and improved by Swedish training specialist Klas Mellander. His cycle looks a little different and includes the following components:
- Motivation (degree of susceptibility and psychological readiness).
- Information (education of information from transformed facts and available data).
- Processing (turning information into awareness and experience).
- The generation of conclusions (processing of awareness and experience into knowledge).
- Use (practical application of knowledge, formation of skill and approach).
- Feedback factor (evaluation of results, their optimization and new reflections).
This model pays more attention to the process of transforming information received by students from a lecturer or trainer into skills that will be repeatedly applied in the future.
Kolb cycle in training: structure of employment
Модель, позволяющая эффективно обучать взрослых people, has found application in the field of personnel management. Most of the trainings aimed at raising the level of qualification or training employees with new skills are structured as follows:
- 10 % длительности учебного процесса:identifying the motivation of those present, arguing the value of this course (actualization of the course). This kind of introduction allows students to be interested, to focus their attention on the topic of training, as well as to indicate the benefits or necessity of the presented material. A properly conducted first stage largely determines the success of the training as a whole. Motivation can be formed through case studies on problematization, challenge exercises, indicating to participants that they do not have the skills and experience necessary in specific situations. This is the most important tool that the Kolb cycle offers. An example is the following: at the training on business communication and negotiation, the coach deliberately provokes a conflict situation between the participants, showing them how imperfect their communication skills and ability to analyze non-verbal signals of the interlocutor.
- 20% training:the process of consolidating and repeating what has already been learned in class. This part of the training allows those present to form a consistent logical structure of skills from non-systematic information.
- 50 % учебного процесса:submission and clarification of new information. This stage is most important, as students acquire new skills, knowledge and methods that they will need to solve the tasks posed at the beginning of the training.
- 10% of the time: evaluation of the work done.Here the trainer assesses the degree and completeness of the knowledge learned by the participants. In the assessment process, the teacher should proceed from the principles of clarity, fairness and objectivity. Only in this way will the assessment be able to stimulate the audience for further learning. Estimates do not have to be given by the coach, this can be done by each student or team.
- 10 % тренинга: выводы.This is the stage at which the coach receives information from students (feedback, comments, suggestions for improving the educational process). The last task of the teacher can be called the formation of the audience motivation to further independent study of the material.
Adaptation of the model for teaching children
To use this model, students musthave minimal skills in any field and have a desire to develop them. Since children are usually taught “from scratch”, the Kolb cycle is rarely used in the process of pedagogy. An example for a kindergarten may be as follows:
- Demonstration of beautiful crafts from plasticine.
- Appeal to what children already know how to do with this material.
- Illustration of a craft making algorithm.
- Comparison of works, their evaluation.
- Questions of the teacher about what exactly the children liked.
The main danger that lies in waitcoaches and teachers using the Kolb cycle, there is a high risk of de-motivation and the possibility of reducing the self-esteem of employees or students (if the experience gained during the class is unsuccessful). For this reason, the coach must be extremely patient and prudent. Using this method, it is necessary to know the rules of criticism and to follow the feedback.
