A Comparison of Learning Styles and Success in Classroom, Work-Based and Online Learning

Abstract

<p>In the Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector in Australia, students can choose to learn in three different ways: face-to-face in a classroom, in the workplace or online. Each of these learning options comes with its own advantages and disadvantages. Each student also comes with a preferred way of learning or learning style. It was envisaged that each learning option would be suitable for a particular learning style. For example, most online learning in the VET sector involves a large amount of reading" therefore, students who prefer to learn by reading should be more successful if they study online. However, students who prefer to learn by kinaesthetic methods would not be as successful in their learning in an online environment</p> <p>A case study was undertaken to see if a student who understood their learning style and chose the most suitable method for learning would be more successful than a student who was learning in a way that did not suit their learning style. The case study consisted of eight students, all of whom were studying in the VET sector at the level of a Certificate III or higher. Three students were studying in the classroom, two students were studying in the workplace and three students were studying online.</p> <p>The first part of the research consisted of choosing a learning style assessment to be used to determine the learning styles of the participants. The learning style assessment used was the visual, aural, read/write and kinaesthetic (VARK) learning style assessment. It was chosen because it uses terminology that was common in the VET sector and was easy for a layperson to understand.</p> <p>During the second part of the research, the participants undertook the learning style assessment, and their learning styles were ascertained. The participants were then interviewed approximately once a month over a period of four to twelve months. This was performed to gain a better understanding of how well the students' chosen method of learning suited their learning style. The interviews were also used to establish if other factors apart from the participants' learning styles affected the success of the students' learning. The student's trainer was also interviewed as were the supervisors of the two work-based students. Apart from the interviews, the students were also asked to keep journals on their learning journey. The work produced by the students as part of their studies was also analysed.</p> <p>It was concluded that students can be more successful if they are studying in a mode that suits their learning style. However, it was also determined that other factors apart from the students' learning style and study mode can have an effect on the students' success.</p>