Learning Styles Annotated Bibliography Essay

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Learning Styles Annotated Bibliography with Additional Resources Chris D. Ceary Stevenson University Annotated Bibliography Alghasham, A. A. (2012). Effects of students learning styles on classroom performance in problem-based learning. Medical Teacher 34 (Suppl. 1), S1 4-9. doi: 10.3109/0142159X.2012.656744 The researchers examined a practical application of Felder’s learning style theory, which explores the varying ways learners take in and handle information. The styles are based on different arrangements of conflicting dimensions. The specific dimension examined in the study were whether the learner was primarily reflective or primarily active. They utilized a method known as Problem Based Learning (PBL), which is focused on In this article they explain the concepts and past research involved in their theory. According to their theory, learning is based on the students’ progress and not on the outcomes, which takes into consideration how far a student comes from and not just whether they are measuring up to a set standard. Additionally, based on this perspective, learning is holistic and all-encompassing of the individual, based on replacing faulty logic, and something that must be built. The concept of the process was specifically where Kolb and Kolb’s learning styles develop. According to this theory, learning begins with the concrete experience that is essentially what can be empirically discerned, moves to reflective thought to bring what is observed together, then ideas are created based on these two processes, then the learner begins testing these ideas on the real world, and eventually the cycle begins again. The learning styles are derived from this process. A truly balanced learner focuses on the whole process, but the other learning styles are based on varying degrees of focus on two or three aspects of the process only. The theorists went on to examine the research to date. Many studies have been conducted examining this form of learning styles with mixed According to this hypothesis, a student with preference for a particular learning style should demonstrate increased learning from material that aligns with the style. The current study used the Dunn and Dunn learning styles which categorically clarifies learners as either auditory (primarily learning through listening), visual (primarily learning based on what one can see), kinesthetic (learning through touch). The researchers used a sample of participants at the same education level and split them into either auditory or visual learning groups using a survey designed to assess preference. These participants were then part of two experiments. The first experiment examined participants’ understanding of verbal material. All participants were given assessments in both ability to learn from visually reading and from listening to the material. The second study used electronic and audio versions of a book to assess if learning styles relate to understanding and retention. Their findings did not support the meshing hypothesis or Dunn and Dunn’s learning styles. Learners did not demonstrate more skill when tested with their style or when given material based on their style. In fact, participants classified as visual learners performed better overall. This may have been caused by assessment methods of ability being written not auditory; however, this led the

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