My Cycle of Trying to Learn

Diving in the deep end this week began with researching and reading up on social theories for reflection and reflexivity. Additionally, how this relates to me and my practice. Reading the module handbook introduced me to the idea of 'experiential learning' and 'learning cycles'. Kolb (2015), thinks of experiential learning as an educational technique; likening it to service learning, problem-based learning, action learning or team based learning - stating that 'the emphasis is often on direct sense experience and in-context action as the primary source of learning'. As such, using this thinking I would consider my training as a dancer as the very definition of experiential learning. In this case, dance classes represent the 'in-context action' and therefore the experience I would draw my learning from.

Kolb also expresses the importance of 'spirals of learning' and 'the nature of experience and the process of learning from it'. So much so that Kolb, alongside Roger Fry, developed their own learning cycle. Suggesting that the point in which you enter the cycle is considered your learning style.

But is this the 'correct view' or the 'only view' I can take in reflecting on my learning style?

I find that for dance I start to learn by applying a troubleshooting approach which would suggest that I enter at the 'active experimentation' stage. On the other hand, I learn new singing repertoire best when I look at other artists' body of work and reflect upon it. This would suggest that I enter at the 'reflective observation' stage.

Does this mean that I am two types of learner?

Generally, students tend to favor one learning style more than another, but most people are a mix of two or maybe even three different styles. Roell (2019)

 

Howard Gardner provides another viewpoint of learning. He observed that people are intelligent in several different ways (multiple intelligences).

 

Out of personal interest, I decided to participate in an online assessment using Howard Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences, responding to statements with my level of agreement and disagreement. (https://www.literacynet.org/mi/assessment/findyourstrengths.html)

Disclaimer: I am not suggesting that the results are in anyway accurate or a diagnosis of any strength or weaknesses I have in any of these 'intelligences'. I am aware the bias trend when completing these questionnaires alone. With that said, I tried to be as completely honest with my responses as I could be in order to obtain an accurate result.

The results:

Musical (4.29): You like the rhythm and sound of language. You like poems, songs, and jingles. You enjoy humming or singing along with music. You probably remember things well when they are associated with music or rhythm. Try to incorporate sounds into your lessons, such as using a familiar tune, song, or rap beat to teach spelling rules, or to remember words in a series for a test.

Body Movement (3.43): You like to move, dance, wiggle, walk, and swim. You are likely good at sports, and you have good fine motor skills. You may enjoy taking things apart and putting them back together. Incorporating body movement into your learning will help you process and retain information better.

Spatial: (2.86): You remember things visually, including exact sizes and shapes of objects. You like posters, charts, and graphics. You like any kind of visual clues. You enjoy drawing. Effective techniques of enhancing your learning using your spatial intelligence include creating and/or using pictures, maps, diagrams, and graphs as you learn things.

According to this assessment, with 5.0 being the highest level, Musical, Body Movement and Spatial were identified as my strongest intelligences. This was not a shock to me, as it was evident before interest or training as a dancer even began. As a young child, I was competent at playing clarinet and piano, nor did I ever stop painting or drawing and even in high school my best results academically were in subjects where the focus was on the practical aspect - art, textiles, ICT - versus the theoretical.

Reflecting on my learning style has taught me a lot about myself and how in part this influences my artistry and practice. This also led me to wonder:

do environmental or social factors have an influence on ones' learning style when developing as a child, or is it genetics?

Bibliography

Kolb, D. A., 2015. Experiential Learning: Experience as the Source of Learning and Development. 2nd ed. New Jersey: Pearson Education LTD.

Roell, K., 2019. ThoughtCo.. [Online]
Available at: https://www.thoughtco.com/three-different-learning-styles-3212040#:~:text=Generally%2C%20students%20tend%20to%20favor,successful%20student%20you%20can%20be.
[Accessed 30 09 2020].