Learning styles of first-year medical students attending Erciyes University in Kayseri, Turkey

2007 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 158-160 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zeynep Baykan ◽  
Melis Naçar

Educational researchers postulate that every individual has a different learning style. The aim of this descriptive study was to determine the learning styles of first-year medical students using the Turkish version of the visual, auditory, read-write, kinesthetic (VARK) questionnaire. This study was performed at the Department of Medical Education of Erciyes University in February 2006. The Turkish version of the VARK questionnaire was administered to first-year medical students to determine their preferred mode of learning. According to the VARK questionnaire, students were divided into five groups (visual learners, read-write learners, auditory learners, kinesthetic learners, and multimodal learners). The unimodality preference was 36.1% and multimodality was 63.9%. Among the students who participated in the study (155 students), 23.3% were kinesthetic, 7.7% were auditory, 3.2% were visual, and 1.9% were read-write learners. Some students preferred multiple modes: bimodal (30.3%), trimodal (20.7%), and quadmodal (12.9%). The learning styles did not differ between male and female students, and no statistically significant difference was determined between the first-semester grade average points and learning styles. Knowing that our students have different preferred learning modes will help the medical instructors in our faculty develop appropriate learning approaches and explore opportunities so that they will be able to make the educational experience more productive.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lida Shams ◽  
Shahram Yazdani ◽  
Taha Nasiri ◽  
Jamil Sadeghifar ◽  
Sara Shahbazi

Abstract Background Extensive factors affect students' learning such as their learning style, the identification of which is considered as important in solving the problems and shortcomings of educational system in the current situation. The present study aimed to determine the learning style of first-year medical students in the Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences in 2018.Methods In the present descriptive and analytical study, 111 first-year medical students at the university were included through census method. The data were collected by using VARK learning style standard questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS16 software based on the questionnaire guide.Results Most students had a multi-modal learning style (52%) although no significant difference was observed between preferring single- and multi-model styles. Among the multi-modal learning styles, bi-modal style was more applied by subjects (21.62%). In addition, aural and visual learning styles were determined as the most (20, 37.74%) and least (8, 15.09%) frequent styles preferred by students, respectively.Conclusion Due to the preference of most students to use multimodal styles, medical instructors should highlight the diversity of learners' learning styles and select appropriate methods for students' learning.


2018 ◽  
Vol 59 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle Cortés Barré ◽  
Javier Francisco Gullén Olaya

<strong>Introduction: </strong>According to the experiential learning theory, each person develops a learning style that characterizes his/her preferred way to acquire and transform experiences to create knowledge. The objective of this study was to identify the learning styles of undergraduate medical students. <strong>Methods: </strong>The Kolb Learning Style Inventory was applied to first-year medical students at the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana (Bogotá, Colombia) during the second period of 2009. <strong>Results: </strong>204 students completed the questionnaire (the average age was 18.5 years; 55% were women). Students preferred the abstract styles of learning, including assimilating (47%) and converging (27%) styles. <strong>Conclusions: </strong>Having information about medical students learning style preferences can help educators to design teaching strategies that promote a more effective learning. Teachers should provide a variety of learning contexts to stimulate the strengthening of their abilities.


2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arab World English Journal ◽  
Fatchul Mu’in ◽  
Rosyi Amrina ◽  
Rizky Amelia

In EFL context, considering appropriate technique in teaching pronunciation is a pivotal issue since it could help students to learn how to pronounce English sounds easy. This study aimed to investigate the effect of tongue twister technique on pronunciation ability of students across different learning styles. This study involved 34 first-year English major students taking Intensive English course at Universitas Lambung Mangkurat, one of leading universities in Indonesia. The students in the experimental group were taught by using tongue twister, while those in the control group were taught by using repetition technique. The students were also grouped based on two types of learning styles, namely active and reflective learning styles referring to Felder and Silverman’s (1988) learning style model. The findings of the study showed that there was no significant difference in pronunciation ability between the groups. No significant difference was either found in pronunciation ability between students with active learning style and those with reflective learning style. In spite of the insignificant results, tongue twister is considered beneficial by the students as they perceived that practicing tongue twisters cultivated joyful learning and it helped them to improve their pronunciation, fluency, and motivation in learning English pronunciation. Tongue twister practice could complement the use of repetition technique to enhance students’ learning experience and learning outcome.


2011 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 307-311 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erol Gurpinar ◽  
Hilal Bati ◽  
Cihat Tetik

The aim of the present study was to investigate if any changes exist in the learning styles of medical students over time and in relation to different curriculum models with these learning styles. This prospective cohort study was conducted in three different medical faculties, which implement problem-based learning (PBL), hybrid, and integrated curriculum models. The study instruments were Kolb's Learning Style Inventory (LSI) and a questionnaire describing the students' demographic characteristics. Sample selection was not done, and all first-year students ( n = 547) were targeted. This study was designed in two phases. In the first year, the study instruments were delivered to the target group. The next year, the same instruments were delivered again to those who had fully completed the first questionnaire ( n = 525). Of these, 455 students had completed the instruments truly and constituted the study group. The majority of the students were assimilators and convergers in both the first and second years. A change in learning style was observed between 2 yr in 46.9% of the students in the integrated curriculum, in 49.3% of the students in the hybrid curriculum, and 56.4% of the students in the PBL curriculum. The least and most changes observed between the learning style groups were in assimilators and divergers, respectively. Curriculum models and other independent variables had no significant effect on the change between learning styles. The learning styles of medical students may change over time. Further followup studies in larger groups are needed to clarify this relation.


2021 ◽  
Vol 33 (4) ◽  
pp. 405-409
Author(s):  
Su Jin Chae

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the differences in the medical students’ satisfaction on online flipped learning by the learning style.Methods: A total of 42 second-year medical students were participated in this study. As study tools, Felder and Soloman’s Index of Learning Styles and the Korean Educational Development Institute’s National Assessment of Student Engagement in Learning were utilized. Data analysis was conducted with the Kruskal-Wallis test, a nonparametric statistical method.Results: Results showed that there were statistically significant differences within active–reflective types and sensing–intuitive types. The active–reflective type has been shown to have statistically significant differences for the three effects of learning, such as problem solving and understanding, active participation, and self-directed learning attitudes. For sensing–intuitive type, active participation showed a significant difference from other effects of learning.Conclusion: The learning style is an important concept in understanding the diverse ways in which students process and absorb new information. Hence research is needed to conduct successful small group activities through online. In the future, it is necessary to find the factors that can lead to successful online classes in medical schools.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 65-68
Author(s):  
Chandra Kiran ◽  
Nimisha Madhu ◽  
Rajendra Prasad ◽  
Suman Kumari ◽  
Ramanuj Singh ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 8-11
Author(s):  
Jitendra Sorout ◽  
Satyanath Reddy Kodidala ◽  
Harsha Soni ◽  
Priyanka Singh ◽  
Nirmal Sharma

Background: Newly admitted medical students experience a different curriculum, which can be a stressor and may be the reason of stress during student life. Stress may affect physiological, psychological and cognitive functions of the students. Aims and Objective: Aim of the study was to assess the effect of academic stress on physical activity level and cognitive functions in first year medical students. Materials and Methods: This observational study was conducted on 30 healthy newly admitted medical students (18 -25 years). The data was collected thrice, baseline, after two months and after four months. Stress was assessed by using DASS and Cohen perceived stress scale (PSS). GPAQ was used to estimate the physical activity level. And cognitive functions were assessed by using subjective method (MMSE questionnaire) and objective method (P300). Results: No significant difference of mean values of age, height, weight, BMI, physical activity level, DASS score, PSS and P300 latency were observed over the time to which recording was taken. The mean score of PAL represents the high physical activity. But the score of DASS and PSS represent severe and moderate stress level respectively. The significant difference was seen in the mean values of MMSE score and P300 amplitude over the time to which recording taken. Conclusion: The present study results we can conclude that students have stress during their academic period. And this stress might be helpful in potentiating the cognitive functions with the optimum physical activity.


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