Effectively Meeting the Learning Needs of an Online Learner
It is well documented that there are many factors for faculty to consider when developing a course of study. A few issues are, socio-economical background, varying ages of students, cultural variances, educational experience, student preparedness, and preferred learning strategies (Prithishkumar & Michael, 2014). The learning process results from instructional activity a student receives within an educational setting and, there are also many influences that play a role in the progression of learning (Li, Yu, Liu, Shieh, & Yang, 2014). Some of these dynamics include, the student’s interest in the topic, motivation, individual principles, participation, affective domain of the student, and preferred learning style (Prithishkumar & Michael, 2014).
According to Li et al., 2014, “learners have their preferred ways of perceiving, organizing and retaining information that are distinct and consistent. Consequently, individuals favor particular methods of interacting with, taking in, and processing stimuli and information when they learn” (p.230). There are a number of methods to determine an individual’s preferred learning style. Some of the tools available are, The Productivity Environmental Preference Survey (PEPS), the Visual, Aural, Read/write, and Kinesthetic inventory (VARK) model, the Index of Learning Styles (ILS), and the Learning Style Inventory are among the many other online assessments an individual could
Learning style quizzes provide information based on an individual’s method of learning. They may be used as a tool to significantly increase the efficiency of studying. Having a greater understanding of learning styles allows individuals to most effectively learn new concepts and increase their ability to retain information. Using this quiz, I have been able to achieve a greater understanding of the learning styles which are most effective to me.
According to the site educationplanner.org there is three major categories for learning styles, which is auditory, visual and tactile. I had to undergo a 20 question test to see which one of the three is my primary learning style.
Learning styles refer to the different ways that people process and retain information and they serve as an indicator of the learning method that each student prefers. The learning styles theories/models that we will discuss about in this report are the Neil Fleming’s Visual-Auditory-Read/Write-Kinesthetic model and David Kolb’s Experiential Learning model.
There is a model that use to classify some of the most common ways of individuals learning styles. The name of this model is VARK. New Zealand teacher Neil D. Fleming was inventor of VARK which stands for Visual, Auditory, Reading/Writing, and, Kinesthetic learning styles.
“Just as students have different personalities, they also have different ways of learing (Slavin, 107).” Learning styles are another important factor to incorporate when implementing the best learning environment. Learning styles are defined as an individual's mode of gaining knowledge. The most common learning styles addressed are auditory, visual, and kinesthetic. Auditory leaners understand information through hearing. Visual learners need more visual aids in the learning process, such as diagrams, webs, or pictures. Kinesthetic learners learn better by using manipulatives or by being physically involved in the learning process. Learning styles is a piece of the “backbone” of differentiated learning. Both are used to individualize instruction to help students achieve the most success.
According to the Vark questionnaire, there are four types of dominant learning styles; Visual, Aural, Read/Write and Kinesthetic. Additionally, Vark introduces a sub category of learning called multimodal. (Fleming, 2011)
Learning styles of individual students vary and as a consequence, learning needs also change from each student to the next (Liew, Sidhu, & Barua, 2015). The “styles” for learning that are widely adopted include the Visual, Auditory, Read/Write, Kinesthetic (VARK) model, developed by Fleming and Mills (1992) include Visual (V), Auditory (A), Read/Write (R) and Kinaesthetic (K) types of learning approaches. The Visual (V) learner learns best by the use of information by visual means (using of charts, mindmaps, and other visual aids). The Auditory (A) learner understands best by
Based on my personal inventory evaluation check list I have a combination of learning styles. I am a visual and kinesthetic learner. I definitely learn best when I am taught new information with some type of picture or visual. Also, having the hands on experience I feel helps me to retain information better. I tend to watch a lot of educational videos online because I feel it helps me to process the information and prepare for exams better. During exams I try visualize the
The learning style I identified with is read/write. I basically learn things better by reading and writing things down. As you read and write things down it makes it easier for me to remember things better. If I continuously re-read things, I would remember them for a long time. And if I re-write things I’d be ably to remember it for a long time as well. Because I remember better if I read I always keep a highlighter near by because if I highlight something I know it’ll be important and it will make it easier for studying for test. Not only that, because I use different colored highlighters it makes me remember things more also. Yes, I did know that this was my preferred learning style before completing this assessment because,
Following a review of the Vark Questionnaire and Analysis, it has been determined that preferred learning style is multimodal.
Though there is growth nationally in higher education and online programs, one of the biggest challenges an academic institution faces is that student retention in online programs is lower than in traditional, campus-based programs (Nichols, 2010). Online education has grown to be very popular because it reaches rural and international areas and students can often flex their family and professional time with academic time. Online education is convenient for both the student and faculty, but the faculty must be prepared to face the challenges of online learning such as learning styles, motivation/coaching, and constraints of online learners (Stavredes, 2012). Another responsibility of online faculty is helping with student retention. Many academic
There are several methods used to determine learning styles. “A learning style is, rather, a description of a process, or of preferences. Any inventory that encourages a learner to think about the way that he or she learns is a useful step towards understanding, and hence improving, learning” (Fleming, N., & Baume, D., 2006, p.4). . One of the most commonly used learning styles is the Fleming VARK model. VARK stands for visual, auditory, reading and writing and kinesthetic learners. This model focuses on the best way for a student to learn and retain new information based on sensory modality. “The only perceptual modes, or senses, it does not
A common misconception in the eyes of the educational world is that online courses are easily passed with minimal effort. In reality, online courses are held to the same standards as in-person courses and require unwavering self-motivation. Professor Rick Rivera expects these higher-learning criterion to be met by the students taking his online English 1C course. In the “Getting Started” module of Rivera’s online course, he provides information regarding his standards by requiring his students to remember that an online course is still a college course, that being actively involved in the course everyday is important, to recognize the qualities of a good online student, and to stay in contact if problems arise.
Learning styles and barriers to learning can be by the VARK to give a profile of learning preferences of how a person takes in and gives out information or Tidwell and Rodgers Practical learning styles Questionnaire. The VARK learning styles determines if the person learns by being a theorist, reflector, activist and/or pragmatist. The practical learning styles questionnaire looks at how people learn by their orientation, whether they are a realistic or creative, by their interaction, are they a doer or a thinker, by how they represent things, either by words or pictures, and how they process information, whether they are a surface or deep processor. There are many other
I would read the required text earlier in the week, taking notes of key points, I would also review the lecture at that time as well. I then at a later date, at least 2 days before its due, write the essay. I would review it the following day with fresh eyes to see if any changes needed to be made before submitting it.