What is the Experiential Learning Cycle?

David A Kolb | The Institute for Experiential Learning

What Is Experiential Learning?

Kolb Experiential Learning Theory, developed by David A. Kolb, is widely recognized and influential framework that describes how people learn through experience.

Since learning is the primary process used to navigate life, people can use this process for all forms of learning, development, and change.

Learning occurs in any setting and continues throughout life. The experiential learning process supports performance improvement, learning and development.

David Kolb described the ideal process of learning in a four-step Experiential Learning Cycle:

Experiencing – Reflecting – Thinking – Acting

Experiencing (Concrete Experience)
Learning begins when a learner uses senses and perceptions to engage in what is happening now.

Reflecting (Reflective Observation)
After the experience, a learner reflects on what happened and connects feelings with ideas about the experience.

Thinking (Abstract Conceptualization)
The learner engages in thinking to reach conclusions and form theories, concepts, or general principles that can be tested

Acting (Active Experimentation)
The learner tests the theory and applies what was learned to get feedback and create the next experience.This cycle is natural and organic way that people engage in life situations, often without being aware that they are learning.

The Experiential Learning Cycle

Because the cycle is composed of two pairs of opposite ways of grasping information (Experiencing and Thinking) and transforming it into knowledge (Reflecting and Acting), most people have preferences for the way they use this learning cycle, focusing on some modes more than others.

When one engages deliberately with all four modes of the Experiential Learning Cycle, deep learning occurs. Watch our Learning Explainer video on what experiential learning is all about.