Learning Styles Honey and Mumford – based on the work of Kolb

Learning Styles

Honey and Mumford – based on the work of Kolb

Activists

• “here and now” gregarious, seek challenge and immediate experience, open minded, bored with implementation!

Activists

Learn best:

• new experiences, problem solving, challenge and change
• Work in teams, role playing, puzzles, competitions, brainstorming, chairing/leading

Learn less well:

• lectures or long explanations. Following precise instructions, absorbing data on their own

Reflectors

• “stand back”, gather data, ponder and analyse, delay reaching conclusions, listen before speaking, thoughtful

Reflectors

Learn best:

• Observe others, opportunity to review what happened, producing analysis and reports
• Paired discussions, feedback from others, coaching, observing activities

Learn less well:

• Leaders or role players, being rushed, tight deadlines, deep end learning

Theorists

• Think things through in logical steps, assimilate disparate facts into theories, rationally objective, reject subjectivity and flippancy

Theorists

Learn best:

• Structured situations with clear purpose, chance to question/probe ideas
• Models, statistics, quotes, background info, applying theories

Learn less well:

• Situations that emphasise emotions and feelings, unstructured activity, poor briefing, doing things without knowing principles/concepts

Pragmatists

• Seek and try out new ideas, practical, down to earth, enjoy problem solving and decision making, quickly bored with long discussions

Pragmatists

Learn best:

• Immediate opportunities to implement what learned, link between topic and job, model they can copy, try out with feedback
• Case studies, problem solving, discussion

Learn less well:

• No apparent pay-back to learning, “all theory” event, no practice or guidelines, insufficient reward perceived

However….

• The evidence is poor – maybe works best as a lens
• Learners should learn in all modalities
• Beware of teaching only in your own preferred style