College of

Teacher Education

PED05 Facilitating Learner-Centered Teaching

Final Term, 1st sem. A.Y. 2021 - 2022

LESSON 16 – LEARNING STYLES

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Overview:
Ignacio Estrada's statement that, "If learners cannot learn the way we teach them, maybe we old teach
them the way they learn,” is a clear reminder for teachers to always consider in their daily teaching the
unique style of learners. Considering the different characteristics of the learners as visual, auditory, and
kinesthetic, teachers are challenged to provide activities and materials that will correspond so their
learning preferences, especially if the learners are eclectic (a learner whose learning preference is a
mixture of visual, auditory, and kinesthetic). In 1984, a known educational psychologist, David Kolb,
described learning styles as the process whereby knowledge is created through the transformation of
experience. Jones and Blankenship (2017) view learning styles as the preferential way in which the
students absorb, process, comprehend, and retain information. Each learner has their way of processing
information, and this situation motivates the teachers
to plan and prepare lessons that will satisfy the unique
learning styles of the learners. The importance of
knowing the concept of learning styles could influence
teachers understanding of students' individual
differences (Li et al., 2016). When teachers are
critically aware of learning styles, they are likely to be
very careful when designing a lesson plan, during their
teaching, and when assessing individual student
(Pajares, 1992).

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Objectives:
Upon successful completion of this module, students should have the opportunity to:
1. Explain the big ideas concerning learning styles.
2. Identify the differences and similarities among the different learning style preferences
3. Create a graphic organizer about the learning styles of learners.
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Discussion:

Kolb's Experiential Learning Cycle

It is typically represented through a four-stage learning cycle. Directive learning is seen when a learner
progresses through a cycle of four stages. Kolb (1974) views learning as an integrated process in which
each stage is mutually supportive and feeding into the next part of the cycle. It is further explained that
effective learning only occurs when a learner can experience all four stages of the model.

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PED05Facilitating Learner-Centered Teaching compiledby:gregana&chua-1stsem2021-2022
 LEARNING STYLES (Kolb, 1984)
These types of learners excel at accomplishing tasks by following directions,
meticulously planning, and ultimately seeking new experiences. They are
characterized as being opportunistic, action driven, and risk takers. They can
easily adapt to changing circumstances. They can solve problems in an
Accommodative intuitive trial-and-error manner rather than through careful examination of
facts, and they rely heavily on other people for information rather than on
their analytic ability. The learning modes associated with this learning style
are concrete experience and active experimentation.
These types of learners can reason inductively. They can create theoretical
models in assimilating disparate observations into an integrated
explanation. They are concerned with ideas and abstract concepts rather
Assimilative than with people and social interactions and are concerned with abstract
logical rather than practical aspects of theories. They incorporate the
learning modes of reflective observation and abstract conceptualization.
Divergent learners are best at tasks that require imaginative ability and
awareness of meaning and value. They can identify concrete examples of a
concept and generate numerous qualities of a concept from many
Divergent perspectives. They are considered as brainstormers because they prefer to
observe rather than act, are emotionally oriented and tend to be very
creative. They prefer the learning modes concrete experiences and
reflective observations.
Convergent learners’ greatest strength is the ability to efficiently solve
problems, make decisions, and apply practical 1deas to solve problems.
These learners do well on standard conventional intelligence tests because
they can organize knowledge by hypothetical-deductive reasoning and
Convergent converge to one given answer. People with this learning styles are well adept
at controlling their emotions and prefer dealing with technical tasks and
problems rather than with issues that involve interpersonal and social
interactions. Convergent learners draw from the learning modes of abstract
conceptualization and active experimentation.

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PED05Facilitating Learner-Centered Teaching compiledby:gregana&chua-1stsem2021-2022
 LEARNING MODES (Kolb, 1984)
This learning mode is the characteristic of learners who desire plenty of
opportunities for direct human interpersonal interactions. They prefer to
feel and experience rather than think. They are intuitive decision makers
Concrete who value circumstances involving people in real-world situations. This
Experience learning mode is concerned with the uniqueness and complexity of present
reality as opposed to theories and generalizations. Learners who prefer this
learning mode take an artistic, intuitive approach to problem solving rather
than a scientific approach.
This mode focuses on the ability to understand the meaning of ideas.
Reflective Learners under this mode value objective judgment, impartiality, and
Observation patience. They prefer abstract understanding over practical applications and
prefer to reflect and observe rather than act on a situation.
Learners who belong to this mode typically attend to tasks that involve
logical investigation of ideas and concepts. They are characterized by a
preference to depend on cognitive rather than emotional skills. They involve
Abstract themselves with and tackle academic problems that require the ability to
Conceptualization build general theories to come up with a solution. They value rigorous idea
analysis and well-defined conceptual systems. This mode involves the use of
systematic planning, manipulation of abstract symbols, and quantitative
analysis.
This mode focuses on actively influencing people and changing situations.
Individuals prefer to be involved in peer interactions that allow them to play
an integral role in the decisions made in these interactions. This mode
Active emphasizes practical applications or solutions rather than a reflective
Experimentation understanding of a problem. Learners who belong to this mode are
pragmatists and focus on doing rather than observing, they enjoy and are
especially efficient at getting the job done, and truly value the ability to
manipulate their environment to produce productive results.

Four learning environments support the various learning styles and their associated learning modes.
Teachers must be sensitive enough to incorporate learning environment with the learning styles and
learning modes.

LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS (Kolb, 1984)

This learning environment emphasizes concrete experiences so that
Affective learners experience the real thing. Affective learning tasks include activities
such as practical exercise, simulations, or field experiences Information is
Learning usually peer-oriented and delivered informally. Activities are non-
Environment competitive, and feedback should not be comparative but personalized to
the individual learner's goals and needs.
Learners are involved in trying to solve problems for which there is usually a
right answer or the best solution. Information is abstract and usually
Symbolic presented in readings, data, pictures, and lecture formats. Characteristic
Learning activities may include lecture, homework, and theory readings. The teacher
Environment is acknowledged as the expert, enforcer of rules, regulator of time, and
taskmaster. The instruction format is typically with a top-down, hierarchical
class structure.
Perceptual The main goal is to identify and understand relationships among concepts.
Perceptual environment emphasizes the process of problem solving rather
Learning than coming up with the best solution. Learners are required to collect
Environment relevant information for researching questions and are expected to attack a

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PED05Facilitating Learner-Centered Teaching compiledby:gregana&chua-1stsem2021-2022
 problem situation through different perspectives (own opinion, expert
opinion, and literature) by listening, observing, writing, discussing, and
personal pondering. The teacher's role is to act as a facilitator of the learning
process, be non-evaluative, and act as a mirror by reflecting student
observations and comments. Learning processes may include reflective
exercises such as keeping journals, writing reflective essays, or engaging in
dialogue with other students.
This learning environment emphasizes active application of knowledge or
skills to a practical problem. Activities should not be structured so that
Behavioral learners gain intrinsic rewards and values. The teacher acts as a coach or
guide but only when the student initiates or solicits help. Small group work,
Learning interactive projects that apply theory to real-world settings, and peer
Environment feedback are prime examples of student activities in this environment.
Measurement is in the form of how well something worked, feasibility,
salability, client acceptance, cost, testing results, and aesthetic quality.

It is important to note that for each learning style, there are two corresponding learning modes, and for
each learning mode, there is a corresponding learning environment. As Kolb and Fry (1975) suggested,
each of the four learning environments is supportive of a particular learning mode with its accompanying
learning styles. The Symbolic Learning Environment best supports the Abstract Conceptualization learning
mode, which is part of both the Convergent and Assimilative learning styles. The Perceptual Learning
Environment is the most effective environment for the Reflective Observation learning mode that is part
of the Divergent and Assimilative learning styles. The Behavioral Learning Environment best supports the
Active Experimentation learning mode, which is part of the Convergent and Accommodative learning
styles. Finally, the Affective Learning Environment is the most effective learning environment for the
Concrete Experiences learning mode, which is part of the Divergent and Accommodative learning styles.

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PED05Facilitating Learner-Centered Teaching compiledby:gregana&chua-1stsem2021-2022