The graph above indicates how much you rely on each of the four different learning modes: Concrete Experience, Reflective Observation, Abstract Conceptualization, and Active Experimentation. These learning modes make up a four-phase cycle of learning. Different learners start at different places in this cycle. Effective learning eventually involves all four phases. You can see by the placement of your kite which of the four learning phases you tend to prefer in a learning situation. The closer the points of your kite are to the 100% ring on the circle, the more you tend to use that way of learning.

Another way to understand the four points of your kite (your scores) is to compare them with the scores of others. The percentage labels on the concentric circles above represent the norms on the four basic scales ( CE, RO, AC, AE) for 1,446 adults ranging in age from 18 to 60. This sample group contains slightly more women than men, with an average of two years beyond high school in formal education. A wide range of occupations and educational backgrounds is represented. On the vertical line in the diagram above, find your score for Concrete Experience. For example, if your point is at the 60% ring, that means you scored higher on CE than 60% of the people in this sample group. You can compare your scores for each of the other learning modes with the sample group.

To view a summary report of your LSI results click here.

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August 26, 2005

The graph above indicates how much you rely on each of the four different learning modes: Concrete Experience, Reflective Observation, Abstract Conceptualization, and Active Experimentation. These learning modes make up a four-phase cycle of learning. Different learners start at different places in this cycle. Effective learning eventually involves all four phases. You can see by the placement of your kite which of the four learning phases you tend to prefer in a learning situation. The closer the points of your kite are to the 100% ring on the circle, the more you tend to use that way of learning.

The closer your data point is to the center of the grid, the more balanced your learning style.  If the data point falls near any of the far corners of the grid, you tend to rely heavily on a particular learning style. If your data point falls near a corner of the grid in the un-shaded area, you tend to rely heavily on that particular learning style. If your data point falls in a shaded area then your style is characterized by a combination of the two adjoining learning style types. For example, if your data point falls in the shaded area between the Accommodating and Diverging quadrents your learning style is characterized by a strong orientation to Concrete Experience (CE) balanced by an equal emphasis on Active Experimentation (AE) and Reflective Observation (RO), with little emphasis on Abstract Conceptualization (AC). If your data point falls in the middle shaded box, you balance CE & AC and AE & RO.

Accommodating
Combines learning steps of
Active Experimentation and Concrete Experience

Accommodating

You have the ability to learn primarily from "hands-on" experience. You probably enjoy carrying out plans and involving yourself in new and challenging experiences. Your tendency may be to act on "gut" feelings rather than on logical analysis. In solving problems, you may rely more heavily on people for information than on your own technical analysis. This learning style is important for effectiveness in action-oriented careers such as marketing or sales. In formal learning situations, you may prefer to work with others to get assignments done, to set goals, to do field work, and to test out different approaches to completing a project.

Understanding Your Movement Through the Cycle

Concrete Experience (CE) Learning by experiencing Learning from specific experiences Relating to people Being sensitive to feelings and people Active Experimentation (AE) Learning by doing Showing ability to get things done Taking risks Influencing people and events through action Abstract Conceptualization (AC) Learning by thinking Logically analyzing ideas Planning systematically Acting on an intellectual understanding of the situation Reflective Observation (RO) Learning by reflecting Carefully observing before making judgements Viewing issues from different perspectives Looking for the meaning of thing

The model above describes the four phases of the learning cycle. There are two ways you can take in experience - by Concrete Experience or Abstract Conceptualization. There are also two ways you deal with experience - by Reflective Observation or Active Experimentation. When you use both the concrete and abstract modes to take in your experience, and when you both reflect and act on that experience, you expand your potential to completely engage in a learning process. You may begin a learning process in any of the four phases of the learning cycle. Ideally, using a well-rounded learning process, you would cycle through all four phases. However, you may find that you sometimes skip a phase in the cycle or focus primarily on just one. Think about the phases you tend to skip and those you tend to concentrate on.