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Unit 7: Learning in Training

8. The most complex form of learning takes place when training is concerned with the Notes
attitudes and .................................. of people.
9. At a ...................................... level, learning involves adapting existing knowledge or skill
to a new task or environment.

7.4 The Learning Cycle

Kolb (1976) has proposed the cycle of experiential learning in adults. The cycle has four parts
(Figure below) - experiencing (a learner has some concrete experience or is helped to have
experience during a training programme), followed by processing (reflecting on and analysing
the experience individually or in a group), followed by generalizing (abstract conceptualization
based on the experience and formation of a tentative theory, or the way to explain the data),
followed by applying (active experimentation, i.e., trying out the new behaviour or using it in
day-to-day work). This is followed by a new experience, and the cycle continues.

Figure 7.1: Kolb’s Learning Cycle

Experiencing

Applying Processing

Generalizing

Based on this cycle of experiential learning, Kolb (1976) also proposed four learning styles.
(i) Concrete experiencers are excited by the new activity or experience and share it with others;
they generally combine the experiencing and generalizing parts of the cycle. (ii) Reflective
observers learn from objective observation, reflect on it, discuss it, and then generalize; they
benefit from the processing and generalizing parts of the cycle. (iii) Abstract conceptualizers
rely mainly on logic and rational analysis; they tend to generalize from their exposure to logical
material. (iv) Active experimenters are pragmatic and rely on trying things out in familiar
situations; the applying part of the learning cycle is more appealing to them.

7.4.1 Principles of Learning Process

Einstein said that “we cannot teach anyone anything, we can only help them to learn”.
In essence, this is the core of the trainer’s work. In order to provide this climate in which
learning can take place, the trainer must understand some very basic principles of the learning
process. Incoming stimuli are transmitted to the brain by means of the senses. This incoming
information is often referred to as the receptor process and the receptive senses can be listed as
follows:

Sight

This is the most important sense from a learning point of view. It is estimated that sight provides
between 70-85% of the important stimuli used in the learning process.

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