Skip to content
2000
  1. Home
  2. A-Z Publications
  3. New Emirates Medical Journal
  4. Volume 5, Issue 1
  5. Article
Volume 5, Issue 1
  • ISSN: 0250-6882
  • E-ISSN: 0250-6882
file format pdf download PDF
side by side viewer icon HTML

Abstract

Background

Identifying the preferred learning modalities of students is crucial for a comprehensive understanding of the content of the study, and this can be achieved by employing the VARK inventory developed by Neil D. Fleming. The preferred learning modality of students significantly influences their learning outcomes.

Aim

This study aimed to identify the preferred learning modalities among health professional students.

Methods

Using a cross-sectional survey study design, we surveyed a consecutive sample of 351 students from three health professional programs: Nursing, Medical, and Pharmacy. After obtaining institutional board approval, a standardized self-administered VARK inventory (Visual, Aural, Read/write, Kinaesthetic), version 7.8, was employed. VARK scores were computed for each respondent and sent to the publisher for interpretation and categorization of learning preferences. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 28.0 and 29.0.

Results

The findings revealed that 35.9% of participants were between 18-20 years old and identified as unimodal learners, with 19.09% preferring kinaesthetic learning. In the bimodal and trimodal categories, 5.98% exhibited preferences for AK (Aural, Kinaesthetic) and VAK (Visual, Aural, and Kinaesthetic). Only seventy students (19.9%) preferred multimodal learning patterns. Notably, all the college students were identified as unimodal learners.

Conclusion

Understanding these diverse learning preferences empowers students to employ appropriate learning methods, enhancing their overall learning experience. Faculty members can leverage this data to tailor teaching styles, thereby optimizing the learning environment. Further research across different universities can contribute to broader knowledge and informed strategies that promote effective learning processes.

© 2024 The Author(s). Published by Bentham Science Publisher.
This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Public License (CC-BY 4.0), a copy of which is available at: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode. This license permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Loading

Article metrics loading...

/content/journals/nemj/10.2174/0102506882298077240603111704
2024-06-26
2025-01-19

  • From This Site

    /content/journals/nemj/10.2174/0102506882298077240603111704
    dcterms_title,dcterms_subject,pub_keyword
    -contentType:Contributor -contentType:Concept -contentType:Institution
    10
    5
Loading full text...

Full text loading...

/deliver/fulltext/nemj/5/1/NEMJ-5-E02506882298077.html?itemId=/content/journals/nemj/10.2174/0102506882298077240603111704&mimeType=html&fmt=ahah

References

  1. FahimA. RehmanS. FayyazF. JavedM. AlamM.A. RanaS. JafariF.H. AlamM.K. Identification of preferred learning style of medical and dental students using VARK questionnaire.BioMed Res. Int.202120211710.1155/2021/435515834708122
     [Google Scholar]
  2. RezigallaA.A. AhmedO.Y. Learning style preferences among medical students in the college of medicine, university of bisha, Saudi Arabia (2018).Adv. Med. Educ. Pract.20191079580110.2147/AMEP.S21917631565016
     [Google Scholar]
  3. AkhlaghiN. MirkazemiH. JafarzadeM. AkhlaghiN. Does learning style preferences influence academic performance among dental students in Isfahan, Iran?J. Educ. Eval. Health Prof.2018158810.3352/jeehp.2018.15.829575848
     [Google Scholar]
  4. Childs-KeanL. EdwardsM. SmithM.D. Use of learning style frameworks in health science education.Am. J. Pharm. Educ.2020847ajpe788510.5688/ajpe788532773837
     [Google Scholar]
  5. ALQahtaniD.A. Al-GahtaniS.M. Assessing learning styles of Saudi dental students using kolb’s learning style inventory.J. Dent. Educ.201478692793310.1002/j.0022‑0337.2014.78.6.tb05747.x24882779
     [Google Scholar]
  6. McLeod Kolb's learning styles and experiential learning cycle.2024Available from: https://www.simplypsychology.org/learning-kolb.html
  7. StanleyE.R. HaffordA. NasemanR. LiJ. WorleyM. MehtaB.H. Assessment of pharmacy technician learning preferences and implications for training.Am. J. Health Syst. Pharm.202178Suppl. 1S16S2510.1093/ajhp/zxaa36233064128
     [Google Scholar]
  8. ChaghariM. SaffariM. EbadiA. AmeryounA. Empowering education: A new model for in-service training of nursing staff.J. Adv. Med. Educ. Prof.201751263228180130
     [Google Scholar]
  9. AmaniyanS. PouyeshV. BashiriY. SnelgroveS. VaismoradiM. Comparison of the conceptual map and traditional lecture methods on students’ learning based on the VARK Learning Style model: A randomized controlled trial.SAGE Open Nurs.2020610.1177/237796082094055033415293
     [Google Scholar]
  10. SaranR. KumarS. PentapatiK. C. Assessment of learning preferences among dental students using Visual, Aural, Read-Write, Kinesthetic questionnaire: An institutional experience.J. Dent. Res. Rev.2015211012
     [Google Scholar]
  11. BhattacharyyaE. ShariffA.B.M.S. Learning style and its impact in higher education and human capital needs.Procedia Soc. Behav. Sci.201412348549410.1016/j.sbspro.2014.01.1448
     [Google Scholar]
  12. HsiehS.W. JangY.R. HwangG.J. ChenN.S. Effects of teaching and learning styles on students’ reflection levels for ubiquitous learning.Comput. Educ.20115711194120110.1016/j.compedu.2011.01.004
     [Google Scholar]
  13. BakhshA.R.A. Learning styles and teaching/learning preferences of pre-clinical medical students in Ajman, U.A.E.Gulf Med. J.20143S1106113
     [Google Scholar]
  14. AldosariM.A. AljabaaA.H. Al-SehaibanyF.S. AlbarakatiS. Learning style preferences of dental students at a single institution in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, evaluated using the VARK questionnaire.Adv. Med. Educ. Pract.2018917918610.2147/AMEP.S15768629593441
     [Google Scholar]
  15. FlemingN.D. I'm different; Not dumb. Modes of presentation (VARK) in the tertiary classroom.Research and Development in Higher Education, Proceedings of the 1995 Annual Conference of the Higher Education and Research Development Society of Australasia (HERDSA), HERDSA, 1995. Vol. 18, pp. 308 - 313.
     [Google Scholar]
  16. MarcyV. Adult learning styles: How the VARK©learning style inventory can be used to improve student learning.”Perspective on Physician Assistant Education.J. Physician Assist. Educ.200112211712010.1097/01367895‑200107000‑00007
     [Google Scholar]
  17. AlKhasawnehE. Using VARK to assess changes in learning preferences of nursing students at a public university in Jordan: Implications for teaching.Nurse Educ. Today201333121546154910.1016/j.nedt.2012.12.01723454890
     [Google Scholar]
  18. StirlingB.V. AlqurainiW.A. Using VARK to assess Saudi nursing students’ learning style preferences: Do they differ from other health professionals?J. Taibah Univ. Med. Sci.201712212513010.1016/j.jtumed.2016.10.01131435226
     [Google Scholar]
  19. AlmigbalT.H. Relationship between the learning style preferences of medical students and academic achievement.Saudi Med. J.201536334935510.15537/smj.2015.3.1032025737179
     [Google Scholar]
  20. JamesS. D’AmoreA. ThomasT. Learning preferences of first year nursing and midwifery students: Utilising VARK.Nurse Educ. Today201131441742310.1016/j.nedt.2010.08.00820826044
     [Google Scholar]
  21. KlementM. How do my students study? An analysis of students of educational disciplines’ favorite learning styles according to VARK classification.Procedia Soc. Behav. Sci.201413238439010.1016/j.sbspro.2014.04.326
     [Google Scholar]
  22. PalviaS. AeronP. GuptaP. MahapatraD. ParidaR. RosnerR. SindhiS. Online education: Worldwide status, challenges, trends, and implications.J. Global Inform. Tech. Manag.201821423324110.1080/1097198X.2018.1542262
     [Google Scholar]
  23. AlharbiH.A. AlmutairiA.F. AlhelihE.M. AlshehryA.S. The learning preferences among nursing students in the king saud university in Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional survey.Nurs. Res. Pract.20172017May1710.1155/2017/309038728630767
     [Google Scholar]
  24. LeiteW.L. SvinickiM. ShiY. Attempted validation of the scores of the VARK: Learning styles inventory with multitrait–multimethod confirmatory factor analysis models.Educ. Psychol. Meas.201070232333910.1177/0013164409344507
     [Google Scholar]
  25. KrishnamurthyS. VelusamiD. GanapathyK. A study on the learning styles and learning approaches among medical students.Natl. J. Physiol. Pharm. Pharmacol.201771
     [Google Scholar]
  26. AlFhaidF. SamiW. AlzahraniM. AljulifiM. AlmufarrihY. AlaqilA. The study of learning styles among medical students at majmaah university, Saudi Arabia.J. Educ. Train. Teach.20221310.47750/jett.2022.13.04.036
     [Google Scholar]
  27. FlemingN. BaumeD. Learning styles again: VARKing up the right tree!Educational Developments2006747
     [Google Scholar]
  28. SinhaN. BhardwajA. SinghS. AbasA.L. Learning preferences of clinical students: A study in a Malaysian medical college.Int. J. Med. Public Health201331606310.4103/2230‑8598.109325
     [Google Scholar]
  29. LoboZ. Student preferences among the different teaching strategies employed by faculty in RAK Medical and Health Sciences University.UAERAKMHSU2017
     [Google Scholar]
  30. AsiryM.A. Learning styles of dental students.Saudi J Dent Res201671131710.1016/j.sjdr.2015.02.002
     [Google Scholar]
  31. MartinezE.G. TuescaR. Learning styles and gross anatomy assessment.Educación Médica20192027983
     [Google Scholar]
  32. GoodJ.P. RamosD. D’AmoreD.C. Learning style preferences and academic success of preclinical allied health students.J. Allied Health2013424e81e9024326923
     [Google Scholar]
  33. BillingsD.M. HalsteadJ.A. Teaching in Nursing: A guide for faculty.5th edElsevier2016
     [Google Scholar]
  34. KoohestaniH.R. BaghcheghiN. The effects of team-based learning techniques on nursing students’ perception of the psycho-social climate of the classroom.Med. J. Islam. Repub. Iran20163043728210602
     [Google Scholar]
/content/journals/nemj/10.2174/0102506882298077240603111704
Loading
Learning Preference of Health Care Professional Students at a Multi-cultural University in the United Arab Emirates
NEW Emirates Medical J 5, e02506882298077 (2024); https://doi.org/10.2174/0102506882298077240603111704
/content/journals/nemj/10.2174/0102506882298077240603111704
/content/journals/nemj/10.2174/0102506882298077240603111704
Loading

Data & Media loading...


  • Article Type:     Research Article
Keyword(s): Education; Healthcare professional students; Learning methods; Learning styles; United Arab Emirates; VARK learning preference

Most Cited Most Cited RSS feed

This is a required field
Please enter a valid email address
Approval was a Success
Invalid data
An Error Occurred
Approval was partially successful, following selected items could not be processed due to error
Please enter a valid_number test