Define your learning style to learn faster and easier

Flask Learning Cycle

David Kolb's Learning Theory is a four-step cycle in which the student touches all the basics.

1. Specific experience - gaining new experience or another interpretation of existing experience.

You are learning to ride a bike and you turned to someone who knows how to do it, asked him to talk about the nuances.

2. Reflexive observation - observation, understanding of experience.

You watch others ride a bike and think about how you will ride.

3. Abstract conceptualization - theoretical presentation, analysis and conclusions.

You have understood the theory and you know the principle of cycling.

4. Active experimentation - application in practice.

You get on your bike and ride.

Learning is effective when a person goes through all four stages of the cycle: gains new experience, reflects on it, analyzes and draws conclusions, which he applies in practice to test a hypothesis, which again leads to a new experience.

Kolb believed that learning is a complex process in which all stages are interrelated. At the same time, you can start the cycle from any moment, but it is important to maintain its logical sequence. But individually, none of them will be effective.

Learning styles

Kolb's four learning styles are based on the above cycle. Why are there several? It's simple: different people learn new things in different ways, and the effectiveness of the process largely depends on this.

The vertical axis is the perception of information (our emotional response, what we think, feel), the horizontal axis is its processing (how we approach solving problems). According to Kolb, a person cannot simultaneously perform both actions of one axis: think and feel, for example. It turns out such a matrix:

	Active experimentation (execution)	Reflexive observation (comprehension)
Concrete experience (sensation)	Accommodation style - practitioner	Divergent Style - Thinker
Abstract conceptualization (meditation)	Convergent Style - Pragmatist	Assimilating style - theorist

Accommodation style

A person checks everything in a practical, experimental way, based on his own experience. Instead of immersing himself in theory, he will immediately try to solve the problem. The practitioner uses an intuitive approach rather than a logical one.

Divergent style

The student thinks a lot, approaches the issue from different points of view, studies the information, delves into it, but is in no hurry to put it into practice. Such people are good at generating ideas, have a wide range of cultural interests, and love to gather information.

Thinkers are often imaginative, strong in the arts, emotional, and interested in other people. They prefer to work in groups, are open to new knowledge and love to receive personalized feedback.

Convergent style

The pragmatist values theoretical knowledge. It is especially important for him that they can be applied in practice. He prefers technical tasks and is less concerned with interpersonal relationships. It will not be difficult for him to find a practical application of the idea or theory he has generated.

Assimilating style

For theorists, logical theories are more important than their practical application. People who work in the information or scientific field are usually inclined to the assimilating style. They are very good at theory and dig deep, read and analyze a lot. But the practical approach does not interest them.

If you understand what style you are inclined to, you can significantly increase the effectiveness of training. Remember to go through the entire cycle, but you can start at any stage. The style of cognition largely determines which stage will be the first: start with what is closer to you.

Customize the learning process to suit your style. It will do a lot more good than continuing to try to learn from a faceless template.