Professor, Organizational Behavior

Ph.D., Harvard University, 1967
M.A., Harvard University, 1964
A.B., Knox College, 1961

David Kolb received his BA in psychology, philosophy and religion at Knox College and his Ph.D. in Social Psychology from Harvard University. He is best known for his research on experiential learning and learning styles described in Experiential Learning: Experience as the Source of Learning and Development. Other books include, Conversational Learning: An Experiential Approach to Knowledge Creation, Innovation in Professional Education: Steps on a Journey from Teaching to Learning, and Organizational Behavior: An Experiential Approach. In addition he has authored many journal articles and book chapters on experiential learning. He has received four honorary degrees recognizing his contributions to experiential learning in higher education.

David’s current research activities include studies of team learning that examine the influence of team members’ learning styles on the team’s learning and performance, research on learning flexibility, research on the cultural determinants of learning style and research on experiential learning in conversation. He is involved in a number of learning focused institutional development projects in education. This work emphasizes approaching an educational institution’s development by integrating development of curriculum, faculty, students and resources around a vision and mission that is focused on learning.

Interests

Teaching

Experiential learning

Research

Experiential learning, Learning style and learning flexibility, Team learning

Selected Publications

• Kolb, A. Y., Kolb, D. A. (2011). Kolb Learning Style Inventory 4.0 Boston MA: Hay Group.
• Borredon, L., Deffayet, S., Baker, A. C., Kolb, D. A. (2011). ENHANCING DEEP LEARNING: LESSONS FROM THE INTRODUCTION OF LEARNING TEAMS IN MANAGEMENT EDUCATION IN FRANCE (3 ed., vol. 35, pp. 324-350). Journal of Management Education.
• Passarelli, A., Kolb, D. A. (2011). In Manuel London (Ed.), The Learning Way—Learning from Experience as the Path to Lifelong Learning and Development London: Oxford University Press.
• Kolb, A. Y., Kolb, D. A. (2010). In Norbert Seel (Ed.), Entries for: “Experiential learning theory”, “Kolb’s learning styles”, “Meta-cognitive experiential learning”, “Learning identity”, “Experiential learning space”, “Experiential learning spiral” & “learning style”. London: Springer.
• Sharma, G., Kolb, D. A. (2010). In Stephen Rayner & Eva Cools (Ed.), The learning flexibility index: Assessing contextual flexibility in learning style London: Routledge.
• Kolb, A. Y., Kolb, D. A. (2010). Learning to play, playing to learn : A case study of a ludic learning space (1 ed., vol. 23, pp. 26-50). Journal of Organizational Change Management.
• Kolb, A. Y., Kolb, D. A. (2009). In Bamford-Rees et. al. (Ed.), On becoming a learner: The concept of learning identity (pp. 5-13). Chicago IL: CAEL Forum and News.
• Yeganeh, B., Kolb, D. A. (2009). Mindfulness and Experiential Learning (3 ed., vol. 41, pp. 8-14). OD Practitioner.
• Kolb, A. Y., Kolb, D. A. (2009). In Armstrong, S. J. & Fukami, C. (Ed.), Experiential learning theory: A dynamic, holistic approach to management learning, education and development (pp. 50). London: Sage Publications Handbook of Management Learning, Education and Development..
• Kolb, A. Y., Kolb, D. A. (2009). The learning way: Meta-cognitive aspects of experiential learning (3 ed., vol. 40, pp. 297-327). Simulation and Gaming: An Interdisciplinary Journal.
• Joy, S., Kolb, D. A. (2009). Are There Cultural Differences in Learning Style? (1 ed., vol. 33, pp. 69-85). International Journal of Intercultural Relations.
• Kolb, A. Y., Kolb, D. A. (2006). In R. Sims and S. Sims (Ed.), Learning styles and learning spaces: A review of the multidisciplinary application of experientiall learning in higher education (pp. Chapter 3 (p45-91)). Hauppauge, NY: Learning styles and learning: A key to meeting the accountability demands in education. Nova Publishers.
• Kolb, K. Y., Kolb, D. A. (2005). Learning styles and learning spaces: Enhancing experiential learning in higher education (3 ed., vol. 42, pp. 193-212). Academy of Management Learning and Education.

Academic and Professional Activities

• Council for Adult and Experiential Learning. 1973 - Present

Awards

• Distinguished Paper Award, Decision Sciences Institute. (2011).
• 2010 Organization Development Practitioner Journal Outstanding Article Award, (2010).
• Educational Pioneers of the year 2008 (with Alice Kolb), National Society of Experiential Education. (2008).