Principles of Learning

Principles of learning

Based on my perception of reading the article, there are basically two key points described by two renowned educational theorist i.e. Kolb and Knowles. They both emphasizes on the methodology used for the experimental learning. Kolb on one hand states that educator’s or adults experience, knowledge, skills and personal experience can help students comprehend things vividly. Sharing their experiences with students will help to refine the ideas and can give quite productive outcome. On the other hand Knowles argues that every individual has their own life experience, self-concept, expectations, desires and the belief to comprehend the facts and to create innovative ideas without exterior motivation or help. Another theorist Dewey supports the ideas of Kolb and feels that instructor should be the guide of the students and they can strongly influence the learning and reflection process.

In the concerned article, Kolb has explicitly stated the fact that an adult’s experience and guidance can help student in learning process and reformulating the ideas. He has defined the process of experimental learning as “The process whereby knowledge is created through the transformation of experience” (Kolb, 1984: 38). He also states that “If the education process begins by bringing out the learner’s beliefs and theories, examining and testing them, and then integrating the new, more refined ideas into the person’s belief systems, the learning process will be facilitated” (Kolb, 1984: 28). Developmental action inquiry, proposed by Torbert (1999) also supports the claims of Kolb by stating that development process is based on enquiry.

While Knowles argues that an individual is solely responsible for the self-direction, motivation, desires and interests required for the learning process. According to him, a person himself can gain from his own experiences and doesn’t require help