1Lecturer of Health Sciences, University of Buraimi, Oman
*Corresponding Author: Mrs. Grace Angeline J. P. College of Health Sciences, University of Buraimi, Oman Email: grace03king@gmail.com
Online published on 2 November, 2018.
Every student has a different learning style preference. Nurse educators face lot of challenges to teach complex issues in clinical and theoretical settings. Nurse teachers are expected to use instructional strategies which facilitate learning process. An understanding of the learning styles and preferences helps to incorporate preferred methods and to make the teaching learning process more effective.
The aims/objectives of this study were to explore the different learning styles among the Nursing students who were enrolled in the selected courses and to explain the relationship between the students’ learning styles with the academic performances.
A cross sectional, explorative survey design was utilized to assess the learning style of nursing students. The VARK (Visual, auditory, read and write, kinesthetic) model by Neil Fleming was used to determine the learning style of students. A total of 140 students across all semesters were the participants of this study.
The findings of this study show that nursing students had diverse learning styles including bimodal, tri-modal and multimodal preferences. The analysis reported that there exists no significant difference in CGPA (Cumulative Grade Point Average) based on learning styles. However Learner with K (Kinesthetic)-Single Mode Learning style had a high CGPA Score.
This research has given the researchers an insight into the different learning styles of nursing students and it would help the faculty to encourage students to utilize the individual, self-directed learning style to gain maximum benefits.
Learning styles, preferred learning methods, VARK model, nursing students learning methods, teaching and learning methods
