Adult Learning Styles

There are four different learning styles.  Although each of us learn through all four of these styles, we usually come to prefer, and rely upon one style above the others.  These four styles are:

1. Concrete Experience: being involved in a new experience
2. Reflective Observation: watching others or developing observations about own experience
3. Abstract Conceptualization: creating theories to explain observations
4. Active Experimentation: using theories to solve problems, make decisions

OK, that’s great.  But I’m a hockey player, not a psychologist.  What does this have to do with me?  Good question.  But the answer is really simple.  The fact is that because people learn differently, and each of us learns through a combination of these styles.  As teachers of hockey, we must teach you through these different styles.  The following table gives examples of how we help you improve your skill and understanding of the game using the four different styles.