Hadi Peyman1, Jamil Sadeghifar2, Javaher Khajavikhan3, Masood Yasemi4, Mohammad Rasool5, Yasemi Monireh Yaghoubi4, Monireh Mohammad Hassan Nahal6, Hemati Karim3. 1. Student, Research Center for Prevention of Psychosocial Injuries and Student Research Committee, Ilam University of Medical Sciences , Ilam-Iran . 2. Phd Fellow in Microbiology, School of Management and Medical Information, Tehran University of Medical Sciences , Tehran, Iran . 3. Assistant Professor, Department of Anaesthesiology, Ilam University of Medical Sciences , Ilam, Iran . 4. General Practitioner (Phsycian), Medical Educational Development Center, Ilam University of Medical Sciences , Ilam, Iran . 5. Medical Student, Medical Educational Development Center, Ilam University of Medical Sciences , Ilam, Iran . 6. Student, Medical Educational Development Center, Ilam University of Medical Sciences , Ilam, Iran .
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Preferred learning styles of learners are different, which depend on tastes, mentality preparedness, as well as physical condition, in terms of sensory modalities. Identifying and employing appropriate learning styles could play an important role in selecting teaching styles, which can improve education ultimately. AIM: The present study aimed to assess the diversity of learning styles amongst medical students of a medical sciences university which was located west of Iran, in 2010. METHODS: A cross-sectional study which employed VARK learning style's questionnaire was done on 141 first year medical sciences students at Ilam University of Medical Sciences in 2010. Data was collected with use of VARK questionnaire. The validity of the questionnaire was assessed on basis of experts' views and its reliability was calculated by using Cronbach's alpha coefficients (α=0.86). Data were analysed by using SPSS software and Chi-square test. RESULTS: Overall, 41.6% of the samples preferred to use a single learning style (Uni-modal). Of these, 17.7% preferred the Aural style, 17% preferred Reading and Writing, 6.4% preferred Kinesthetic style and 0.7% preferred Visual styles. Among the rest of the 82 students who preferred more than one style (multimodal), 17% chose two modes (bimodal), 13.5% chose three modes (tri-modal), and 27.6% chose four modes (quad-modal). There was a significant difference between educational levels and majors on one hand and choice of quad modal of VARK styles on the other hand (p=0.008). A significant association was also found between participants' genders and selection of visual and reading/writing styles (p=0.03). CONCLUSION: The preferred learning styles of medical students in the present study were aural and reading/writing. It is suggested that all medical students must be tested to determine their desired learning styles by using VARK questionnaire, also to choose appropriate teaching methods and to improve educational goals.
BACKGROUND: Preferred learning styles of learners are different, which depend on tastes, mentality preparedness, as well as physical condition, in terms of sensory modalities. Identifying and employing appropriate learning styles could play an important role in selecting teaching styles, which can improve education ultimately. AIM: The present study aimed to assess the diversity of learning styles amongst medical students of a medical sciences university which was located west of Iran, in 2010. METHODS: A cross-sectional study which employed VARK learning style's questionnaire was done on 141 first year medical sciences students at Ilam University of Medical Sciences in 2010. Data was collected with use of VARK questionnaire. The validity of the questionnaire was assessed on basis of experts' views and its reliability was calculated by using Cronbach's alpha coefficients (α=0.86). Data were analysed by using SPSS software and Chi-square test. RESULTS: Overall, 41.6% of the samples preferred to use a single learning style (Uni-modal). Of these, 17.7% preferred the Aural style, 17% preferred Reading and Writing, 6.4% preferred Kinesthetic style and 0.7% preferred Visual styles. Among the rest of the 82 students who preferred more than one style (multimodal), 17% chose two modes (bimodal), 13.5% chose three modes (tri-modal), and 27.6% chose four modes (quad-modal). There was a significant difference between educational levels and majors on one hand and choice of quad modal of VARK styles on the other hand (p=0.008). A significant association was also found between participants' genders and selection of visual and reading/writing styles (p=0.03). CONCLUSION: The preferred learning styles of medical students in the present study were aural and reading/writing. It is suggested that all medical students must be tested to determine their desired learning styles by using VARK questionnaire, also to choose appropriate teaching methods and to improve educational goals.
Authors: Israa M Alkhasawneh; Majd T Mrayyan; Charles Docherty; Safaa Alashram; Hamzeh Y Yousef Journal: Nurse Educ Today Date: 2007-11-05 Impact factor: 3.442
Authors: Bourne Lewis Auguste; Michael Girsberger; Claire Kennedy; Thatsaphan Srithongkul; Margaret McGrath-Chong; Joanne Bargman; Christopher T Chan Journal: BMJ Open Date: 2020-01-20 Impact factor: 2.692