Kolb's Experiential Learning Cycle

Kolb's Experiential Learning Cycle is focused on adult education and acquisition of knowledge. He theorized that there are four stages of learning, which occur in a cycle:

• Concrete experience, involving an active involvement in the process

• Reflective observation, taking time from the "doing" to have discussions with peers and reflect 

• Abstract conceptualization, making comparisons between what has been done, what has been discussed, and what they already know, either learned in class or from previous knowledge

• Active experimentation, trying out new learning through first planning, then implementing

After this, the learner returns to concrete experience, and the cycle of learning continues from there.