Every individual has a personal learning style – a unique and personal approach to learning activities and problem-solving. Kolb differentiates between four different phases of the learning process – from experience to observation to conceptualization to experimentation and back to experience. In order for learning to be effective, Kolb postulated, all four of these approaches must be incorporated. As individuals attempt to use all four approaches, they may tend to develop strengths in one approach and neglect another which may have implications for the overall problem-solving potential. Insights into the different stages of the learning cycle and personal preferences in this may lead to a more balanced distribution of attention and effort being devoted to the various phases.
