scholarly journals Learning styles of ethnic minority students: a matched case-control study in a dental school in Latin America

2021 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-34
Author(s):  
Carlos Martín Ardila Medina ◽  
Angela María Gómez Restrepo

Introduction and objective: Little is known about the learning styles of ethnic minorities in Latin American universities. The objective of this research was to identify the learning styles of the ethnic minorities attending a dental school. Moreover, their grade point averages were explored. Materials and methods: A total of 30 ethnic minority students were matched with 30 non-minority students. All the students took a systematized questionnaire to categorize their learning styles. Results: A strong association between ethnic minority students and low reflector style was observed in the multivariate model after adjusting for age, sex, and the current semester (OR=11; 95% CI=1.2-99; p=0.03). In addition, a relevant association between minority ethnic group and low theorist style was observed in the multivariate model after controlling for the same variables (OR= 4; 95% CI=1.2-11; p=0.02). Finally, a statistically significant difference was observed in the grade point averages of non-minority and minority groups, with the minority group having the loweraverages (p=0.014). Conclusions: Ethnic minority students presented lower means for all learning styles compared to the control group. Similarly, theirgrade point averages were significantly inferior. These findings represent relevant precedents for creating educational strategies to improve the learning of ethnic minority groups in higher education in Latin America. 

Author(s):  
Ulviye Isik ◽  
Anouk Wouters ◽  
Petra Verdonk ◽  
Gerda Croiset ◽  
Rashmi A. Kusurkar

Abstract Introduction Adequate representation of ethnic minority groups in the medical workforce is crucial for ensuring equitable healthcare to diverse patient groups. This requires recruiting ethnic minority medical students and taking measures that enable them to complete their medical studies successfully. Grounded in self-determination theory and intersectionality, this paper explores the experiences of ethnic minority medical students across intersections with gender and other categories of difference and how these relate to students’ motivation. Methods An explorative, qualitative study was designed. Six focus groups were conducted with 26 ethnic minority students between December 2016 and May 2017. Thematic analysis was performed to identify, analyse and report themes within the data. Results The findings were categorized into three main themes: the role of autonomy in the formation of motivation, including students’ own study choice and the role of their family; interactions/‘othering’ in the learning environment, including feelings of not belonging; and intersection of ethnic minority background and gender with being ‘the other’, based on ethnicity. Discussion Ethnic minority students generally do not have a prior medical network and need role models to whom they can relate. Ensuring or even appointing more ethnic minority role models throughout the medical educational continuum—for example, specialists from ethnic minorities in teaching and/or mentoring roles in the education—and making them more visible to students is recommended. Moreover, a culture needs to be created in the educational environment in which students and staff can discuss their ethnicity-related differences.


Author(s):  
Tran Thi Thanh Ha

The funds of knowledge approach has been increasingly studied and applied to teaching practices in many developed countries. Learning about students’ funds of knowledge and incorporation into their learning enables teachers to increase relevant learning experiences, empowering a socio-constructivist approach to teaching and learning. It is acknowledged to help students learn meaningfully by connecting lessons to students’ funds of knowledge, especially to ethnic minority students, color, immigrant students, or disadvantaged students. However, there is a lack of studies and papers on the funds of knowledge approach in education in Vietnam. This article aims to introduce this educational approach and contribute to solving the challenges that ethnic minority education in Vietnam is facing. The article also suggests further studies to promote the application of the Funds of knowledge approach in Vietnam, thereby improving the quality of ethnic minority education in Vietnam and value the cultural resources, languages, and local knowledge of ethnic minority groups in Vietnam.           


Author(s):  
Richard Harris ◽  
Ron Johnston

The Casey Review cites a study by the think-tank Demos that shows the majority of ethnic minority students attend schools where ‘minority’ groups are in the majority. That statistic is correct but too easily misinterpreted. Only White British students typically are in a school where their own ethnic group forms a majority; for most ethnic minority pupils the largest group they will encounter at school is also the White British. The exceptions to this are the Bangladeshi and Pakistani groups, and more so in primary than in secondary schools. Nevertheless, the overwhelming trend is that schools are becoming more ethnically diverse with an increased potential for pupils to be educated alongside pupils of other ethnic groups.


2007 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giuseppe Costantino ◽  
Francesca Fantini ◽  
Erminia Costantino ◽  
Carolina Meucci

2004 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu-Wen Ying ◽  
Peter Allen Lee ◽  
Jeanne L. Tsai

2010 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Arie Gelderblom ◽  
Jaap de Koning ◽  
Lyda den Hartog

Ethnic minorities and the choice for technical directions in education: an unutilised potential Ethnic minorities and the choice for technical directions in education: an unutilised potential There are a lot of studies which focus on the choice of technical directions within vocational education. But in these studies, little attention is given to the specific position of ethnic minorities. To what extent is their choice behaviour different? Statistical data show that ethnic minorities are underrepresented in technical directions in vocational education. A specific survey on backgrounds for this phenomenon shows that there is a relatively large group of ethnic minority students who do not choose for a technical direction, in spite of the fact that they have a talent in this direction and are interested in technology. This result holds in a multivariate analysis in which also several other factors are taken into account. We also investigate to what extent those with a technical direction in vocational education want to work in a technical profession and/or the manufacturing industry afterwards. Finally, a number of recommendations are given how to reach higher shares of ethnic minority students choosing technical directions.


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