What implementation will you study?
For the final assignment, I will write about implementing Kolb’s Experiential Learning Theory in a professional development course for new faculty. The course will teach about Kolb’s Theory within a structure that aligns with Kolb’s methodology.
Why will you study this implementation?
I originally chose Kolb’s Theory because this is a theory taught every semester during our new faculty boot camp. Each time the theory was taught I would realize that I did not know much about Kolb’s Theory, and each year I would tell myself I would research the theory and never did. The assignment within the 6220 course was the perfect opportunity to finally research Kolb.
In this case, the proposed implementation will take place within the faculty development session. These sessions are scheduled during the “off-season” when many of our faculty are in-between course loads. The proposed structure of the implementation will follow Kolb’s framework of Concrete Experience, Reflective Observation, Abstract Conceptualization, and Active Experimentation
How will you be able to collect data on this implementation?
A mixed-method study will be designed with survey response and observation components. A pre- and post-assessment survey will be developed, as well as faculty self-assessment surveys and simulated classroom observations. The pre- and post-surveys will include both quantitative response questions and qualitative open-text question responses. The data collected from the surveys will be analyzed using statistical analysis methods to identify significant changes. The qualitative data from the open-text questions will be analyzed using thematic analysis to gain deeper insights into faculty members’ experiences and perspectives.
How does this implementation relate to your implementation theory?
The implementation will be structured as a course for new faculty and will be designed using Kolb’s theory, allowing faculty members to engage in activities aligned with the four stages of the learning cycle. They will experience a simulated classroom session, reflect on their observations, connect their experiences to theoretical frameworks, and engage in active experimentation by planning and executing their own learning event. The experience is designed to be very meta, or self-referential.
What is the implementation’s purpose and are there existing measurable outcomes?
The purpose of the implementation is to teach new faculty about Kolb’s theory while allowing them to experience it in action. Existing measurable outcomes have been identified within the literature and will be further delineated within the paper assignment. Researchers within the literature have applied Kolb’s theory to specific classroom settings, and technology learning applications, but I have not yet come across a study that uses Kolb’s theory to teach Kolb’s theory to new faculty members.
