Matching Up Learning Styles With Learning Objects: What's Effective?

Lori Mestre lmestre@illinois.ed

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Matching Up Learning Styles with Learning Objects:  What's Effective?

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 Overvie

wSuggestions

Discussion of Learning Objects

What are Some Learning Objects You Use?

Discussion of Learning Objects

Podcasts

TutorialsImages

Videos

Games

Polls

Study OverviewSurvey 1—EBSS (Educational and Behavioral Sciences Section) Survey--- to learn of the tools used to create learning objects –95 respondentsSurvey 2 – to gauge design considerations for tutorials (including learning styles) – 120 respondents

20 Student Interviews with Students /Usability Assessment

Summary of Results- Study 1

55% of the respondents were using Web CT as their Course Management System on Campus

68% familiarize themselves with new software by figuring it out themselves

Features Used to Facilitate Instruction

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70 58% 55% 49% 48%41% 36%

29%16%

7%

What Training Have you Had Related to Pedagogy in Online Learning?

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40 29% 28%

23%20%

Study 2

Part I:

Design Consideratio

ns 8 questions

Part II:

Learning Style

Considerations

6 questions

Part III

Assessment of

Tutorials

4 questions

120 responses 98% academic

libraries

Options for Learning through Multiple Modalities

Visual and

audi-tory

All three Varies Text with

screen shots or images

Visual only

Text only

0%

10%

20%

30%

40% 35%28%

20%10%

5% 2%

Do you plan your objects so that a user can pick and choose what to do next?

No64%

Yes20%

Varies16%

Simulations or Interactive Features for Tactile Learners?

In some tuto-rials41%

No, but would like to 32%

No21%

In every tutorial6%

Learning Style Background

Yes, I have taken coursework

Yes, I have attended workshops

Only by reading and online info

Not really Other0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35% 33%30%

24%

9%

4%

18. Have you had any training in learning styles?

Course-work Workshops

Reading

No

Student InvolvementTook 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

Visual Read/Write Kinesthetic Auditory0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

7

43

1

Preference for Under 18 Years

Multimodal Preference

Single Mode

63.8%36.2%

56.8%

43.2%

Multimodal Pref-erence

Preference 55+ Age

Summary from the Vark Database About Learning Styles.

Using NCSU Learning Style Assessment

0

5

10

1510

5

10

5

14

1

96

Active Learner Reflective Learner

Instruction Class Participation Critical ThinkingReflection Time

Assignments Model Building Problem SetsJournaling

Assessment ProjectsReports

Problem SolvingEssays

Reference Field TripsVirtual Field trips

ObservationsReadings

Communication Meetings Webcasts

Sensing Learner Intuitive Learner

Instruction ImagesSoundsDemos

Case StudiesHypothesis Setting

Assignments Creation of DemosImagesCase Studies

Problem SolvingResolution Building

Assessment Detail TestsAudio Tests

Outcome Projections

Reference Field TripsVirtual Field Trips

Compare & Contrast

Communication Conferencing Tools Group Work

Instruction Video ClipsDiagrams & ImagesMaps

LectureAudio clips

Assignments Mind MappingPowerPoint With Images

InterviewsSeminarsReports & Speeches

Assessment Id on MapsDrawings and SketchesRead & response

Sound IdentificationVerbal tests

Reference Reference mapsDiagrams/PicturesArticles

Video/Audio Clips

Communication WhiteboardChat

PhoneAudio Conferencing

Visual Learner Verbal Learner

Instruction Video ClipsDiagrams & ImagesMaps

LectureAudio clips

Assignments Mind MappingPowerPoint With Images

InterviewsSeminarsReports & Speeches

Assessment Id on MapsDrawings and SketchesRead & response

Sound IdentificationVerbal tests

Reference Reference mapsDiagrams/PicturesArticles

Video/Audio Clips

Communication WhiteboardChat

PhoneAudio Conferencing

Sequential Learner Global Learner

Acadia Institute for Teaching and Technology

Usability Interviews by Students

Used Camtasia

software to record their

mouse movements

Asked to talk

through their

actions (voice was recorded)

Pre- and post- tests.

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

tutorial- more 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 sectionsAdditional information available if needed

Keep information inside the images

What Do Students Want?

Variety of tools that engage

Multiple paths to informationInteractive

opportunities

Mismatch Variety of tools that engage

• Yet 63% of survey respondents did not provide tools for multiple modalities

Multiple paths to informati

on• Yet 72%

of respondents did not provide for multiple paths

Interactive opportuniti

es• 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

Relevance

InteractivityTactile, Reading

Interactivity/Assessment

http://support.library.ewu.edu/reference/tutorial/flash/citation.html

Interactivity and Assessments

Read, Reflect and Respond

Interactivity -they have to do something

Review

SuggestionsMake learning objects intuitive to

learnersStandardi

ze language and color schemes

Use short 10-15

second video clips

Use captionin

g 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 PresentationIndex 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=questionnaireHelpsheets 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 Styleshttp://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 Mestrelmestre@illinois.edu

Made possible by a grant from the Research and Publications Committee of the University of Illinois