Identification of learning styles in 1st year undergraduate MBBS students of a private medical school in western India
Journal Title: National Journal of Physiology, Pharmacy and Pharmacology - Year 2018, Vol 8, Issue 1
Abstract
Background: The challenge of imparting large amount of knowledge within a limited time period in a way it is perceived, retained, and effectively interpreted by students is considerable. This has resulted in crucial changes in the field of medical education with a shift from didactic, “teacher centered” to use of interactive, “student centered” learning. In context to this, knowledge of learning styles can be useful as it fosters student-centered learning. Knowledge on learners’ learning styles is a vastly underutilized approach in a medical classroom. Aims and Objectives: The current study was undertaken to identify the preferred learning styles of medical students. Materials and Methods: This was a descriptive, cross-sectional study. Permission from VARK developers, to use VARK Inventory Tool version 7.1 in the study was taken. Learning preferences were determined using VARK scores in the 1st year medical undergraduates. Results: Of the 89 who participated out of 100, 39.32% were male. Mean age of participants was 17.6 years. More than 80% students studied in state board, 10.11% were from CBSE, while 9.89% students were from ICSE and International Board, respectively. There was no association of gender with learning styles (P > 0.05). The results showed that majority of students, i.e., 61.00% preferred multiple learning styles and the predominant learning style identified was kinesthetic (33%), followed by auditory (16%), then visual (14.6%), and lastly read-write (7.86%). Conclusions: There can be different types of learners in a batch. Educators’ awareness of various learning styles of students and their efforts toward designing “teaching-learning” methods according to learning styles of students may help in creating significant learning environment in classrooms.
Authors and Affiliations
Anuradha Joshi, Anusha Prabhakaran, Jaishree Ganjiwale, Devashish Palkar
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP449741
- DOI 10.5455/njppp.2018.8.0830617112017
- Views 37
- Downloads 0
A randomized open-label study to compare the effects of amlodipine and cilnidipine on heart rate and proteinuria in subjects with hypertension with proteinuria
Background: Calcium channel blockers (CCBs) are a commonly used class of drugs for the treatment of hypertension. Cilnidipine is a novel CCB with a dual L/N-type CCB property, thus favoring additional renal and cardiovas...
The study of cardiovascular sympathetic reactivity in unmasking hypertension in offsprings of hypertensive parents
Background: Hypertension is one of the major public health challenge in the world. Early detection of hypertension may enable an individual to enjoy a healthy life by lifestyle modifications. It is well established that...
Blood pressure variations in textile mill middle-aged male workers exposed to noise
Background: Continuous exposure to occupational noise may create physiological derangements of parameters pertaining to stress and anxiety of an individual’s life. Controversial outcomes over the years from different stu...
Immediate effects of mobile phone radiations on heart rate variability in college going students
Background: The use of mobile phone has increased excessively these days which can have a deleterious effect on human tissues and organs, especially cardiovascular system (CVS). The effects on CVS can be detected at an e...
Nutritional status in sputum positive and sputum negative cases of pulmonary tuberculosis
Background: In a developing country like India, tuberculosis (TB) and malnutrition, both the problems are of prime concern. There is an increase in the occurrence of sputum negative TB in regions having high human immuno...