Kolb's learning cycle...
At which point in Kolb's cycle do you feel you enter learning?
Personal I feel this is a difficult question to answer as the response will differ depending on the person being asked.
Everyone's mind works in completely different ways; no two people with have the same thinking method or pattern therefore the way we break down and evaluate a situation will alter.
Some people might click onto the fact that they could learn/ grow from the experience as the experience is happening (DONALD SCHÖN - Reflection-in-action). Others might let the experience go by with out thinking anything of it until a question/ event happens and stimulates them to review or reflect on the experience in question (Reflective Observation or as SCHÖN would say Reflection-on-action). I feel by stage three everyone who would use this method will have started learning as to complete this stage your mind frame needs to be in the position of - 'I've had an experience that can help me grow/ develop/ take action as a person, I've reviewed the situation now I need to decided what I want to gain from that experience' this being the conclusion. What am I going to take away from this experience and what actions can I take to for-fill the conclusion. This leads on smoothly to part four - taking action. Putting what you have learnt into action and using it in everyday life or in similar situations to create new experiences.
Kolb's method is a heightened, slightly more in depth method that people will use naturally with out even knowing they are doing it. When people have an experience they naturally reflect on it - if it's a bad experience they will bitch to their friends, if it's a good experience they will inform their friends/ family's as it will properly be a highlight in their day. This might be where they will naturally stop, they will get it off their chest and think nothing of it but if people would just break it down and come to a conclusion they could learn/ gain something from the experience and help developments in their lives or careers. Which is what the Kolb's method is all about learning - putting the learning outcome into use.
When using this method in my journal I found I tend to use the Active Experimentation approach. I find I naturally take an experience and reflect on it straight away and then I come up with different ways I could use that experience to further my career. It's all about trial and error I prefer to give myself serval options to get the outcome I want, if none of these work then it's back to the drawing board. I have an addictive personality and won't stop until I get the results I want so I find this method of trial and error gives me more of a chance to reach my goal.
Every experience is a learning curve whether we embrace it or let it pass us by subconsciously and effect us without even knowing it has. Obviously if you embrace it you can learn alot more from it.
