The impact of training learners in efficiently adopting dominant learning styles to reinforce knowledge acquisition Deepak G. Kulkarni School of Business Management Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University Hyderabad India

INTRODUCTION The education system is governed by university curriculum and examination system. We do not find enough instructional guide of how the teaching and training can be made effective as a pedagogical tool, and more so as a part of the university system

This research works focuses on the preferred modality of a student in collecting information either by auditory, visual or kinesthetic modes. The student should be trained to understand the dominant learning style and adopt the same for self study supported by either books or by e-learning methods.

Learning styles

Cultural variation in student learning styles can create difficulties when a lecturers teaching style does not match the learning preferences of the student body This research works focuses on the preferred modality of a student in collecting information either by auditory, visual or kinesthetic modes. The student should be trained to understand the dominant learning style and adopt the same for self study supported by either books or by e-learning methods.

Composition of a classroom Heterogeneous composition of learners in terms of: Language, Culture, Different perceptions Behavior patterns, and Learning styles.

How would you rate this teacher?

A teacher like this….?

Students have their own learning styles….. Students with visual or spatial intelligence will prefer to learn with diagrams, charts, and use color extensively Students with logical / mathematical intelligence love numbers, play with number games, justify philosophy, and elucidate natural phenomena. They can easily solve or create puzzles or mathematical problems, equations, experiments (Al-Balushi, 2006: 6, Fathi, 2008: 181)

Students who are bodily / kinesthetically intelligent prefer exploring models, undertake physical task, role play, and dramatizing. They have well sequenced movements of limbs, and can dance (Fadlon, 2008 : 129).

A baby also has kinesthetic instincts…….

Objectives of the research The objective of the study was to find out whether there is a performance change in the students when they follow a conventional learning style influenced by peers or friend or the teacher, or whether they perform better when they are trained to understand their learning styles and then extensively adopt it for classroom learning or self learning.

EXPERIMENT 58 MBA students took the Multiple Intelligence Test(MIT)( Howard Gardners MIT). The students were segregated into lower scores of mathematical intelligence and lower score of linguistic intelligence. All the students then took the Learning Style Test and found their preferred learning style. ( online test)

Pre test for 20 marks Students were trained to adopt their Preferred Learning Style Teachers were trained to tune their style to adopt Auditory, Visual and Kinesthetic methods in proper proportions as a teaching style. An eight hour class was conducted. A post test was taken for 20 marks.

The pre test scores and post test scores were compared by statistically using the Z-Test. It was observed that the students who were trained to adopt their learning style ( which they were not aware of till the Learning Style Test was conducted) did good in the performance score.

Conclusion All learners ( Classroom and e-learners) should be first asked to take the learning style test – understand the preferred style and adopt it for learning. All learners should take the Howard Gardners multiple intelligence Test, make a note of their lower intelligence and overcome difficulty in learning by adopting the preferred Learning style.

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