Assessment of Learning Style Profiles on Newly Joined MBBS Students during the Foundation Course

Abstract

Introduction: Information enters brain by three main ways - Sight, hearing, and touch, which one is used by individual mostly becomes their own learning style. Most of students have a combination of learning styles. One of them is dominant than others. AIM of this study: To identify various learning styles and if possible dominant/also prominent dominant styles which each individual student of 1st MBBS fresh students at the foundation course. Materials and methods: The study conducted was a cross sectional study done among 150 students enrolled in MBBS course for the year 2019-2020 at NRIIMS. A pro-forma / questionnaire is prepared by using VARK approach. Data was collected by using that VARK proforma. Study procedure: During regular working hours, the first-year undergraduate medical students were briefed about the study. The questionnaire was then distributed in the form of hard copies to the first year M.B.B.S students. Variables and their evaluation: Students were distributed into one of the following categories: Unimodal-Having only of the V, A, R, or K preferences; Bimodal-Having two preferences (VR, VA, VK, AR, AK,RK) ; Scores were given accordingly. Statistical analysis: The data was entered into a Microsoft excel sheet and the score were statistically analyzed to determine the percentage of students in each category Results: Response rate for the study was 75.3% and majority were Females comprising 44.6%. Bimodal learning style is most preferred than Unimodal learning style corresponding to 87.6% and 12.3% respectively. Among the strong Unimodal learners Aural, Visual, Reading/writing, and kinesthetic preferences were documented by 4.4%, 3.5%, 2.6%,1.8% students respectively. In Bimodal style combination of visual and auditory styles are most preferred by 27.4% participants. Least commonly employed learning style was combination of Reading/Writing and kinesthetic style and it was reported by only 8.9% of students. Conclusion: In the present study amongst first year medical students Bi-Modal learning style, with a combination of Visual and Aural presentation is the most preferred learning style. With the help of VARK questionnaire, it is recommended to test all the medical students. This will/ can be used to identify their most desired learning styles. This helps to improve educational goals by choosing most appropriate teaching methods.