Planned and Emergent Learning

Abstract

This paper addresses the distinction between learning styles and learning strategies. Two learning strategies are proposed-planned and emergent. A model is developed which suggests that there are four types of learner, who are named sleepers, warriors, adventurers and sages. A survey of 168 managers was analysed and it was found that the degree to which individuals adopted the two learning strategies was only slightly positively correlated, and that it was possible to draw up scales of items relating to these two strategies where the items within each scale were strongly inter-correlated. Implications of the findings of the survey are examined for individual learners, for developers and for researchers, and the findings are put into the context of changes in the practice of education, development and training.

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