Understanding and Promoting Effective Online Student Learning Styles: An Action Research Study
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Authors
Patterson, James G.
Issue Date
2001-12
Type
Thesis
Language
en_US
Keywords
Independant Learning Styles , Online Learning Success
Alternative Title
Abstract
Nine online students of a freshman-level computer survey course at a suburban Phoenix community
college agreed to participate in a research project designed to increase the Independent
learning style. Prior research has shown the Independent style is especially critical for
online success. Early in the course, students filled out the general form of the Grasha-
Riechmann Student Learning Styles Scales (GRSLSS) to provide a baseline measure of
their learning styles. Following this, students were exposed to an online lecture on the
importance and meaning of learning styles and received several online assignments
designed to strengthen the Independent learning style. Then the same students were
asked to fill out the specific form of the GRSLSS, used by past researchers to measure
changes in learning styles. After a statistical "t" test was applied, the class showed a
slight increase but no significant difference in the Independent learning style. However,
two learning styles showed a significant drop: Collaborative and Competitive. Although
this study did not show a significant difference in the Independent learning style, past
research and experience shows that students with a higher Independent learning style
have a greater chance at online learning success. Instructors should consider how they
could help increase their students' Independent learning style through independent online
activities.