Matching Up Learning Styles with
Learning Objects: What's Effective?
Lori Mestre
lmestre@illinois.edu
Fourteenth Off Campus Library Services Conference
April 29, 2010
What’s Your Learning Style?
•
•
•
•
Visual?
Verbal/Auditory?
Read Write?
Kinesthetic?
From Recent Class of Students
Cultural Differences Can Influence Learning
• Different Dimensions of Learning
• Instructional Practices
• Information Processing
• Social Interaction Tendencies
• Influence of Personality
What’s your process for putting
together a puzzle? Borders 1st?
Or more by concept,
color….?
Overview of Presentation
Discussion
of Learning
Objects
Relationship
to Learning
Styles
Study
Overview
Suggestions
Discussion of Learning Objects
What are Some Learning
Objects You Use?
Discussion of
Learning Objects
Images
Tutorials
Videos
Polls
Games
Podcasts
Study Overview
Summary of Results- Study 1
Features Used to Facilitate Instruction
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
58%
55%
49%
48%
41%
36%
29%
16%
7%
What Training Have you Had Related to
Pedagogy in Online Learning?
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
29%
28%
23%
Workshops on Previous (related) Attended Some
Pedagogy on
Coursework or
Preconferences
Campus
Degree(s)
or Conference
Programs
20%
No Training
Part I:
Part II:
Part III
Design
Considerations
8 questions
Learning Style
Considerations
6 questions
Assessment
of Tutorials
4 questions
Options for Learning through Multiple Modalities
40%
35%
30%
28%
20%
20%
10%
10%
5%
2%
0%
Visual and
auditory
All three
Varies
Text with Visual only Text only
screen
shots or
images
Do you plan your objects so that a user
can pick and choose what to do next?
Varies
16%
Yes
20%
No
64%
Simulations or Interactive Features for
Tactile Learners?
In every
tutorial
6%
No
21%
In some
tutorials
41%
No, but would
like to 32%
Learning Style Background
35%
33%
18. Have you had any training in
learning styles?
30%
30%
24%
25%
20%
15%
9%
10%
4%
5%
0%
Yes, I have taken
coursework
Yes, I have attended
workshops
Only by reading and
online info
Not really
Other
Student Involvement
 Took Two Learning Style Inventories
 Index of Learning Style Inventory
▪ http://www.engr.ncsu.edu/learningstyles/ilsweb.html (NC State)
 Vark Questionnaire (How do I Learn Best)
▪ http://www.vark-learn.com/english/page.asp?p=questionnaire
▪ Went through two to three tutorials
▪ a web page static tutorial to learn how to get to and use ERIC
▪ a camtasia tutorial to learn how to get to and find a database
through Online Research Resources
Match up
Learning
Objects with
Learning
Style
Preferences
Learning Styles Using Vark Assessment
Hispanic and Asian Americans
8
7
7
6
5
4
4
3
3
2
1
1
0
Visual
Read/Write
Kinesthetic
Auditory
Preference for Under 18
Years
36.2%
Preference 55+ Age
63.8%
Single Mode
Multimodal
Preference
Summary from the Vark Database
About Learning Styles.
43.2%
56.8%
Multimodal
Preference
15
10
5
0
Using NCSU Learning Style
Assessment
14
10
10
5
9
5
1
6
Active Learner
Reflective Learner
Instruction
Class Participation
Assignments
Model Building
Assessment
Projects
Reports
Field Trips
Virtual Field trips
Meetings
Critical Thinking
Reflection Time
Problem Sets
Journaling
Problem Solving
Essays
Observations
Readings
Webcasts
Reference
Communication
Sensing Learner
Intuitive Learner
Images
Sounds
Demos
Creation of Demos
Images
Case Studies
Detail Tests
Audio Tests
Case Studies
Hypothesis Setting
Reference
Field Trips
Virtual Field Trips
Compare & Contrast
Communication
Conferencing Tools
Group Work
Instruction
Assignments
Assessment
Problem Solving
Resolution Building
Outcome Projections
Visual Learner
Verbal Learner
Instruction
Video Clips
Diagrams & Images
Maps
Lecture
Audio clips
Assignments
Mind Mapping
PowerPoint With Images
Interviews
Seminars
Reports & Speeches
Assessment
Id on Maps
Drawings and Sketches
Read & response
Sound Identification
Verbal tests
Reference
Reference maps
Diagrams/Pictures
Articles
Video/Audio Clips
Communication
Whiteboard
Chat
Phone
Audio Conferencing
Acadia Institute for
Teaching and Technology
Sequential Learner
Global Learner
Instruction
Video Clips
Diagrams & Images
Maps
Lecture
Audio clips
Assignments
Mind Mapping
PowerPoint With Images
Interviews
Seminars
Reports & Speeches
Assessment
Id on Maps
Drawings and Sketches
Read & response
Sound Identification
Verbal tests
Reference
Reference maps
Diagrams/Pictures
Articles
Video/Audio Clips
Communication
Whiteboard
Phone
Usability Interviews by Students
Used Camtasia
software to
record their
mouse
movements
Asked to
talk through
their actions
(voice was
recorded)
Pre- and
posttests.
Asked to
go
through
two
tutorials
Student Results- Ability to Recreate Steps
Static Tutorial Results
Camtasia Tutorial Results
Tutorial with Text Based
Static Tutorial Results
– Scrolled up and down the page to see all the
sections and what was required
– Viewed images (rarely read the text)
– Opened a new window to practice while they
viewed the web page
– Went back to web page for information
– Most successful in finding information after this.
Camtasia Version
UIUC Tutorials
http://www.library.illinois.edu/diglit/tutorial/index.
html
Camtasia Results
•
•
•
•
Watched without practicing
Couldn’t recreate process
Didn’t attempt to go back for assistance
Only two students were successful in the post
test (graduate Asian students)
Recommended Features
•
•
•
•
•
Pop-ups to highlight important information
Sections (chapter markings)
Questions to engage the mind
Interactivity, have students do something
Prefer the static web page to a video tutorialmore efficient– include other multimedia as
options within the web page.
Results- Student Usability Study
Multiple Modalities
•All but one had high rankings for multiple modalities.
•All but one preferred the step-by-step process.
•Students wanted to skim the whole thing first then find the
key items .
What Students Want
Text: Bold, Highlight, Bullets, Arrows
Images: Large, high resolution
Clearly defined sections
Additional information available if needed
Keep information inside the images
What Do Students Want?
Variety of tools that engage
Multiple paths to information
Interactive opportunities
Mismatch
Variety of
tools that
engage
• Yet 63% of
survey
respondents
did not
provide
tools for
multiple
modalities
Multiple
paths to
information
Interactive
opportunities
• Yet 72% of
respondents
did not
provide for
multiple
paths
• Yet 52% did
not provide
these and only
6% provided
them in every
tutorial
Examples of Engaging Tutorials
Interactivity
Multiple Choices
Multiple Modalities
Humor and Interactivity
You quote it, you note it:
http://library.acadiau.ca/tutorials/plagiarism/
Choices and Paths
Interactivity
Tactile, Reading
Interactivity/Assessment
http://support.library.ewu.edu/reference/
tutorial/flash/citation.html
Interactivity and Assessments
Review
Suggestions
Make learning objects intuitive to learners
Standardize
language and
color
schemes
Use short
10-15
second
video clips
Use
captioning
for audio
Create ways
to
emphasize
main ideas
(pop-ups)
Use step by step
instructions
(sequential
learners)–
chunking
Use Voice
narration
(provides
communication
cues)
Use visual and
audio
components
Net Generation
Short, concise,
practical bits of
information
Use of
familiar/relevant
resources
Active;
kinesthetic
learning–
innovative
technology
Individualized
through
personal
contact and
feedback
One style does not fit all
Resources Used in Presentation
Index of Learning Style Inventory
http://www.engr.ncsu.edu/learningstyles/ilsweb.html (NC State)
http://www4.ncsu.edu/unity/lockers/users/f/felder/public/ILSdir/styles.htm
Vark Questionnaire (How do I Learn Best)
http://www.vark-learn.com/english/page.asp?p=questionnaire
Helpsheets for Study Practices based on Preferences: http://www.vark-learn.com/english/page.asp?p=helpsheets
Keys to Effective Learning http://blog.iqmatrix.com/mind-map/accelerated-learning-mind-map
Felder Richard M. and Barbara A. Soloman. “Learning Styles and Strategies.” North Carolina State University, 2009. June 1, 2009.
<http://www4.ncsu.edu/unity/lockers/users/f/felder/public/ILSdir/styles.htm>.
Acadia Institute for Teaching and Technology. Learning Styles
http://learningcommons.acadiau.ca/resources/workshops/learningstyles.ppt
Tutorial Examples Used:
You quote it, you note it: http://library.acadiau.ca/tutorials/plagiarism/
Rutgers: http://www.rci.rutgers.edu/~estec/tutorials/scholarly.htm
Eastern Washington University: APA Citation Style Tutorial
http://support.library.ewu.edu/reference/tutorial/flash/citation.html
UIUC- Digital Literacy http://www.library.illinois.edu/diglit/
For lots of resources for creating or finding learning objects see:
http://uiuc.libguides.com/learningobjects
Lori Mestre
lmestre@illinois.edu
Made possible by a grant from the Research and
Publications Committee of the University of Illinois