Using Learning Style models to Enhance Chinese college students Learning

The Center for Supporting Student Learning and Development

Beihang University

How do our students study in their daily

life？

How could we find the feedback that

they have learnt？

How do our students figure out the

problems when they meet some learning

issues? For example, the absent-minded

in some courses, losing motivation in

Academic learning and so on…

What do we begin with when they ask

helps from us?

……？

As an Academic Advisor, can we tell——

Outline

Application of the learning style models in Beihang

VAK & KOLB learning styles Model

Influence of Chinese culture on college students’ learning style

Strategies of the improvement of students’ learning

Meditation in Chinese Style

Questions and discussion

Embracing uncertainty future

It’s necessary to get learning

capabilities in a paradigm shift

No longer only examination-

oriented education

Leaching methods in class are

not as detailed and simple in

middle school

Taking effective goals and

actions

Improve learning efficiency by

diversified learning models

Making yourself different

Learning Style

Motivation

Goal setting

Thinking

Training

The course of Learning Skills for College Students

Cognition

& Planning

Personal

Management

Time Management

Procrastination

Stress Management

Critical Thinking

Reading and Writing

Memory Skills

The course helps students learn how to learn through the curriculum links such

as thematic theory guidance and the interactive exchange practice, with

recognizing the academic goals and style of college learning.

The course of Learning Skills for College Students

Peer demonstration & supervision

Brainstorming

Panel discussion

EfficiencyEasiness

Hands-on approach

Each theme workshop can be registered on line individually

1 elective credit can be recieved by attending 8 workshops in total

Group work

& presentationSpecific application

Application of the learning style models in Beihang

Feeling

Intuition

Sensing

Thinking

How NASA Builds Teams: Mission Critical

Soft Skills for Scientists, Engineers, and

Project Teams

——by Charles J. Pellerin

Application of the learning style models in Beihang

Feeling

Intuition

Sensing

Thinking

How NASA Builds Teams: Mission Critical

Soft Skills for Scientists, Engineers, and

Project Teams

——by Charles J. Pellerin

Course data tracking on 4D

teambuilding(155 students)

Feeling+Intuition Feeling+Sensing Thinking+SensingThinking+Intuition

Application of the learning style models in Beihang

Application of the learning style models in Beihang

Heterogeneity within teams and homogeneity across teams!

VAK learning styles Model

✓ The VAK Learning Styles Model was developed by psychologists in the 1920s to classify the most

common ways that people learn.

✓ According to the model, most of us prefer to learn in one of three ways: visual, auditory or kinesthetic

(although, in practice, we generally "mix and match" these three styles).

✓ A variation on the acronym, developed by New Zealand-based teacher Neil D. Fleming, is VARK

The VARK Questionnaire

When choosing a career or area of study, these are important for me:

___Communicating with others through discussion.

___Working with designs, maps or charts.

___Using words well in written communications.

___Applying my knowledge in real situations.

Group Discussion & assessment

40

59

56

VAK学习风格课堂追踪（155人）

视觉型Visual 听觉型Auditory 动觉型Kinesthetic

Application of the learning style models in Beihang

Course data tracking on VAK learning styles

(155 students)

Application of the learning style models in Beihang

What style of presentation do you prefer?

Visual---learners respond to images and graphics

Auditory---learners prefer verbal presentations

Kinesthetic---learners prefer a physical, hands-on approach

Visual Auditory Kinesthetic

•I see what you mean.•I get the picture.•What's your view?

•That rings a bell.•I hear what you're saying.•That sounds OK to me.

•That feels right.•How does that grab you?•Let me try.

Engage visual learners by using diagrams, charts and pictures.

Engage auditory learners by stressing key words, and telling stories and anecdotes.

Engage kinesthetic learners by including physical activities and "hands-on" tasks.

VAK learning styles Model

Application of the learning style models in Beihang

VAK learning styles Model

Discussion:

✓ share your feelings about the assessment of VAK

✓ Introduce your VAK style based on your own characteristics and experience

✓ Brainstorm your own style of learning strategies to maximize strengths and minimize weaknesses

Understanding Learning Preferences & Strategies for Improving

Learning

VisualAdvantages? Weaknesses?Opportunities? Threats?

AuditoryAdvantages? Weaknesses?Opportunities? Threats?

KinestheticAdvantages? Weaknesses?Opportunities? Threats?

Application of the learning style models in Beihang

VAK learning styles Model——Understand the difference between derivatives and differentials

Application of the learning style models in Beihang

Kolb's learning styles Model

one of the best-known and widely used learning style

theories

David Kolb first outlined his theory of learning styles in

1984

• He believed that our individual learning styles

emerge due to our genetics, life experiences, and

the demands of our current environment.

• He developed a theory of experiential learning

and a learning style inventory.

In his experiential theory, learning is viewed as a four-

stage cycle

The learning styles are based on two major

dimensions: active/reflective and abstract/concrete

Application of the learning style models in Beihang

Kolb's learning styles Model

Similarity to Jungian Personality Theory

Four different learning styles

✓ Divergers(Concrete experiencer/Reflective observer)✓ Convergers(Abstract conceptualization/Active experimenter)✓ Accomodators(Concrete experiencer/Active experimenter)✓ Assimilators(Abstract conceptualizer/Reflective observer)

Divergers(44)

Assimilators

(56)

Convergers(23)

Accomodators

(32)

Course data tracking on Kolb’s learning styles

(155 students)

Styles Graphic Preferred style SWOT Analysis

Why?

Diverging

Divergers take experiences

and think deeply about them,

thus diverging from a single

experience to multiple

possibilities in terms of what

this might mean.

They like to ask 'why’, and

will start from detail to

constructively work up to the

big picture.

✓ They enjoy participating and working with others but they

like a calm ship and fret over conflicts

✓ They are generally influenced by other people and like to

receive constructive feedback

✓ They like to learn via logical instruction or hands-one

exploration with conversations that lead to discovery

✓ Weaknesses?✓ Threats? ✓ ……

What？

Assimilating

Assimilators have the most

cognitive approach, preferring to

think than to act. The ask 'What is

there I can know?' and like

organized and structured

understanding.

They prefer lectures for learning,

with demonstrations where

possible, and will respect the

knowledge of experts.

They will also learn through

conversation that takes a logical

and thoughtful approach.

✓ They often have a strong control need and prefer the clean and

simple predictability of internal models to external messiness.

✓ The best way to teach an assimilator is with lectures that start

from high-level concepts and work down to the detail.

✓ Give them reading material, especially academic stuff and they'll

gobble it down.

✓ Do not teach through play with them as they like to stay serious.

✓ Weaknesses?✓ Threats? ✓ ……

Application of the learning style models in Beihang

Kolb's learning styles Model

Styles Graphic Preferred style SWOT Analysis

How？

Converging

Convergers think about

things and then try out their

ideas to see if they work in

practice.

They like to ask 'how' about

a situation, understanding

how things work in practice.

They like facts and will seek

to make things efficient by

making small and careful

changes.

✓ They prefer to work by themselves, thinking carefully and

acting independently

✓ They learn through interaction and computer-based

learning is more effective with them than other methods

✓ Weaknesses?✓ Threats? ✓ ……

What if？

Accommodating

Accommodators have the

most hands-on approach,

with a strong preference for

doing rather than thinking.

They like to ask 'what if?'

and 'why not?' to support

their action-first approach.

They do not like routine and

will take creative risks to see

what happens.

✓ They like to explore complexity by direct interaction and

learn better by themselves than with other people.

✓ As might be expected, they like hands-on and practical

learning rather than lectures.

✓ Weaknesses?✓ Threats? ✓ ……

Application of the learning style models in BeihangKolb's learning styles Model

Combination style

Graphic Preferred style

Combination

mode 1

Learners pay great attention to the collection of information, and it is a large amount of information.

This type of learners tends to be very inquisitive.

Combination

mode 2

Learners are usually more focused on understanding what is being learned.

Without collecting too much information.

This type of learners wants as much time as possible to

digest a small amount of information.

Combination

mode 3

The learner did not focus on one model but managed to strike a good balance of all.

This type of learners is very adaptable and can get good grades from any teacher they meet.

Application of the learning style models in BeihangKolb's learning styles Model

Reference

https://www.verywellmind.com/kolbs-learning-styles-2795155#support-and-criticism

http://changingminds.org/explanations/learning/kolb_learning.htm

http://www.businessballs.com/kolblearningstyles.htm

http://www.doc88.com/p-0919088200099.html

Application of the learning style models in BeihangKolb's learning styles Model

Support and Criticism

Kolb's learning styles are one of the best-known and

widely used learning style theories.

In addition to describing four different learning styles,

Kolb also developed a theory of experiential learning

and a learning style inventory.

Educator Mark K. Smith argued that Kolb's model is

supported only by weak empirical evidence and that the

learning process is actually far more complex than the

theory suggests. He also noted that the theory fails to

fully acknowledge how different experiences and

cultures may impact the learning process.

Chinese culture on college students’ learning style

Performance and preference in learning ——Take Beihang as an example

26%

38%

36%

Course data tracking on VAK learning styles

(155 students)

视觉型Visual

听觉型Auditory

动觉型Kinesthetic

Divergers(44)

Assimilators(56)

Convergers(23)

Accomodators

(32)

Course data tracking on Kolb’s learning styles(155 students)

Beihang at a Glance Since its founding in 1952, Beihang has excelled as one of the first 16 key universities in China, given priority for development.

In 2017, Beihang was chosen to participate in the Double First-Class plan, which includes major support from the Chinese

Ministry of Education and other government departments to build a world-class university with world-class disciplines.

The motto ——“Integrate Virtue with Brilliance and Combine Knowledge with Practice”

The educational philosophy——“To advocate virtue and pragmatism and to pursue truth and innovation”

The spirit——“hard work and plain living, diligence, all-round development and bold innovation”

Chinese culture on college students’ learning style

The influence from Chinese culture——focusing on Confucianism

26%

38%

36%

Course data tracking on VAK learning styles

(155 students)

视觉型Visual

听觉型Auditory

动觉型Kinesthetic

Divergers(44)

Assimilators(56)

Convergers(23)

Accomodators

(32)

Course data tracking on Kolb’s learning styles(155 students)

Cultural China has many kinds of spiritual resources and Confucianism is only one of the most important.

Confucianism is a kind of culture which is epoch-making, cross-cultural, multi-disciplinary and multi-level in China.

In the modern world, there are many signs of Confucianism‘s influence as well as in higher education.

✓ college entrance examination system

✓ tradition of showing great respect to the teachers

✓ accordingly, expects much more out of the role and action of the teachers, to the extent of a sage

Chinese culture on college students’ learning style

The influence from Chinese culture——focusing on Confucianism

Chinese saying on learning ： "to educate all despite their social status"

"to teach according to the students' characteristics“

"Studying without thinking leads to confusion; thinking

without studying leads to laziness.“

“You can think of, i can do.” "I hear and I forget, I see and I remember, I do and I

understand."

Confucianism is the cornerstone of traditional Chinese culture as well as a complete ideological system created by Confucius.

It has dominated a feudal society that in essence has lasted 2000 years and for that reason its influence over the history, social structure and the people of China cannot be overlooked.

Core Confucian Texts："Four Books and Five Classics“

Core Concepts：✓ Rites

✓ Relationships

• Filial Piety

• Loyalty

✓ Humaneness

✓ The Perfect Gentleman

✓ Governing

✓ Meritocracy

Strategies of the improvement of students’ learning Student Learning Issues Survey

In the research on student academic

development at Beihang in 2018-2019,

what students think are the most

troubling questions:Academic problems (29.1%)

Personal prospects (25.9%)

Relationship problems (9.5%)

Physical health (9.1%)

Mental health problems (7.1%)

Student-teacher relationship (6.1%)

Environmental adaptation (7.6%)

other

What students think are the most troubling problems in academic development:

Difficult course (25.16%) Lack of interest in learning (19.18%) High academic pressure (13.93%) Lack of study time (12.10%) Improper learning methods(12.01%) Inadequate teacher guidance (7.6%) Few problems (8.74%)

Strategies of the improvement of students’ learning Student Learning Issues Survey

Learning by conformity ——I don’t know why to learn

Learning for the test ——I don’t know what to learn

Knowledge and action cannot be unified -- I know I should learn, but I don't know how to learn

Not enjoy learning -- if I "fail" and don't know what to do

Percentage distribution of self-efficacy index values

——Freshman & Sophomore

Freshman Sophomore

Strategies of the improvement of students’ learning Student Learning Issues Survey

• Personal

management

• Deliberate practice

• Resilience

• Peer demonstration

• Body and mind in balance

• Learn how to learn

• Project-based team

learning

• Cultivate ideation

• Self-awareness

• values togetherness

• Academic planning

Learning by

conformity

Learning for

the test

Knowledge

and action

cannot be

unified

Not enjoy

learning

Supported

Platforms

Team

Construction

Guiding

SystemGuiding

Ideology

Strategies of the improvement of students’ learning Using Learning Style models

Strategies of the improvement of students’ learning Using Learning Style models——Meditation in Chinese Style

Midfullness in Chinese way

On Purpose

In the Present Moment

Nonjudgmentally

Questions & Discussionasked for guidance from all you~

• Thank you for any questions or comments on this topic~

• How about the application of the learning style models in your institute or

in your country? What are the popular models and practice projects?

• Are there any influences of culture on college students’ learning style in

your country? What are the main characteristics of learning style?

• What is your best advice for using learning style models to enhance

college students learning?

君子之学也，入乎耳，着乎心，布乎四体，形乎动静The gentleman’s learning is deep into the ear，the heart, the bodies with practical action!