Advances in Social Science, Education and Humanities Research (ASSEHR), volume 244

1st International Conference on Early Childhood and Primary Education (ECPE 2018)

Learning Style Preferences of College Student

Arda Purnama Putra Sutansi Achmad Badawi
Elementary School Teacher Education Elementary School Teacher Education Graduate School
State University of Malang State University of Malang State University of Malang
Malang, Indonesia Malang, Indonesia Malang, Indonesia
[email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Abstract— Research on preferential learning styles has long physical, mathematical and chemical disciplines are more
been carried out since 1981. Several studies reveal that likely to have a visual learning style.
learning styles can affect one's learning outcomes. However,
there are several studies which reveal that learning styles do Each student has a unique personality that is different
not affect one's learning outcomes. This difference is from other students. Each student is different in the level of
interesting to discuss more deeply. This article will discuss the performance, learning speed, and learning style. This
various types of college student learning styles and the results different way of learning shows the easiest way for students
of previous studies on the influence of learning styles on to absorb information during learning. The easiest and
student learning outcomes. This article also discusses the types fastest way to learn languages as learning styles [8].
of learning styles according to some experts. There are three
types of learning styles, namely auditor, visual, and kinesthetic.
Lecturers in teaching must pay attention to student learning
While the others define 4 kinds of learning styles, namely styles. This is because in each teaching the effectiveness
Activists, Reflective, Theoretical, and Pragmatic. will depend on the way or style of learning of students, in
addition to their personal and intellectual abilities. The
Keywords— learning style, college student, learning lecturers' lack of understanding of student learning styles
outcomes. has a detrimental effect on students. This will result in
student learning achievement not in accordance with the
I. INTRODUCTION level of student intelligence capabilities. Therefore, the
Each student has a different way of learning. Different lecturer must know and know the learning style of each
learning methods for each student will affect the knowledge student so that it can facilitate the learning process
gained. The different ways of learning can be caused by
internal factors and external factors. Research into the trend II. DISCUSSION
of learning styles has long been carried out since 1981.
There has even been a measurement model of learning style A. Learning Style Preferences
preferences. One method for identifying trends in learning Learning styles are attitudes and behaviors that
styles, namely the measurement model of Kolb's Learning determine individual preferences in learning [9]. Learning
Style Inventory or Kolb's LSI [1] and the Myers Briggs styles as styles of thinking, ways of remembering, ways of
Type Indicators or MBTI model [1]. observing, ways of solving problems when individuals are
Some studies reveal that learning styles can influence in the learning process [10]. In learning in college, the
learning outcomes obtained by individuals. Several other appropriate learning style of students will determine the
studies stated that there was no influence between learning success of students in learning in college [11] [12]. Sukadi
styles and individual learning outcomes. Students with revealed that learning styles are a combination of the way a
certain types of learning styles show better performance person absorbs knowledge and how to organize and process
because they are satisfied during the lecture [2] [3]. Other information or knowledge gained [13]. Meanwhile,
results revealed that students with learning styles similar to according to Nasution, learning style is a consistent way that
their lecturers, tend to have better performance compared to is carried out by a student in capturing stimulus or
other students who have learning styles that are not similar information, how to remember, think, and solve problems
to lecturers [4]. While in the study Prastiti & Pujiningsih [14].
revealed the opposite. There is no influence of learning style Learning styles between one individual and another
preferences on student learning outcomes in UM accounting individual are different, this difference allows the individual
majors [5]. to have a difference in the lifestyle and personality [15].
This thing supports research which reveals that the Students with different learning styles have different
tendency of learning styles in each department is different. behaviors in receiving, interacting, and responding to
This is reinforced by the research of Van Adel which learning in an environment [16]. Learning styles are very
compares the learning style trends of accounting students important to know so that teachers can adjust to children's
with management students and business students found that learning styles. Felder & Spurlin revealed that the
students of accounting study programs tend to have different differences in learning styles of each student are important
learning styles than students of management study programs to be known to teachers because information about learning
and business students [6]. Johnson & Miller explain that styles can help teachers become more sensitive to students,
student learning style is determined by the characteristics of especially in delivering class material [10]. There are many
the field of science taken [7]. Students who study in learning styles that have been discovered by researchers.
Every individual has a different learning style. There is no

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 Advances in Social Science, Education and Humanities Research (ASSEHR), volume 244

superior learning style, there is a learning style that is such as the presence of new children, the presence of a
appropriate to the context, task, and personality [17]. notice board in the corner of the classroom; (h) when
working like talking to yourself; (i) neat appearance; (j)
B. Learning Style According to De Porter and Hernacki easily disturbed by noise; (k) learning by listening and
De Porter and Hernacki identify three learning styles that remembering what is discussed rather than being seen; (l)
a person uses in learning [18]. The three learning styles are happy reading aloud and listening; (n) move their lips and
explained as follows. say the writing in the book when reading; (o) better spelling
hard than writing it; (p) prefer oral jokes rather than reading
1) Visual comics; (q) having problems with work involving visual; (r)
Visual learning style is a learning style by seeing, speak in a patterned rhythm; (s) can repeat and mimic the
seeing, and observing. The dominant senses are used in tone, rhythm, and color of the sound.
visual learning styles, namely the eye. This learning style is
owned by individuals who like to follow illustrations, read 3) Kinesthetic
instructions, observe pictures, review events directly, and so Kinesthetic learning style is a learning style by moving,
on. A visual type, will quickly learn materials presented in working, and touching. A person with this learning style is
writing, charts, graphs, pictures. Anyway, it's easy to learn easier to catch lessons when he moves, feels, or takes action.
the lesson material that can be seen with the visualization Individuals of this type, easy to learn the material in the
tool. On the contrary, it is difficult to learn when confronted form of writings, movements, and difficult to learn the
with materials in the form of sound, or movement [19]. material in the form of sound or vision. In addition, learning
is kinesthetically related to practice or learning experience
The characteristics of visual learning styles are: (a) directly. The characteristics of the kinesthetic learning style
Tending to see the attitude, movement, and lips of the are: (a) touching everything that is met, including when
teacher who is teaching; (b) not a good listener when learning; (b) difficulty staying silent or sitting sweet, always
communicating; (c) when you get instructions to do wanting to move; (c) doing everything that allows his hands
something, usually you will see other friends and then act to be active; (d) likes to use real objects as learning aids; (e)
yourself; (d) do not like to talk in front of the group and do difficult to master abstract things like maps, symbols, and
not like listening to others. look passive in discussion udders; (f) liked practice/experiment; (g) love games and
activities; (e) less able to remember information given physical activity; (h) speak slowly; (i) neat appearance; (j)
orally; (f) prefer demonstration rather than verbal not too easily disturbed by the commotion situation; (k)
explanation; (g) can sit quietly in a crowded and crowded Learning through manipulation
situation without being disturbed; (h) speak rather quickly;
(i) concerning appearance in dress / presentation; (j) not C. Learning Style According to Honey & Mumford
easily disturbed by noise; (k) remembering what is seen,
Honey & Mumford identify four learning styles that a
rather than what is heard; (l) prefer to read than read; (m)
person uses in learning [20] [21]. The four learning styles
the reader is fast and diligent; (n) often knowing what to
are explained as follows.
say, but not good at choosing words; (o) prefer to do
demonstrations rather than speeches; (p) prefer music than 1) Activists
art; (q) having problems remembering verbal instructions This learning style is owned by individuals who learn by
unless they are written, and often asking people to repeat doing. They like to involve themselves in new experiences
them. and will always try others. They are more interested in
doing first and then thinking about the consequences. This
2) Auditory
learning style is good in terms of (a) leading a group; (b)
The auditory learning style is a learning style by
working with others in problem-solving, games, and role-
listening. This learning style is more dominant using the
playing; (c) engage in new experiences, problems, and
sense of hearing. Children who are auditorial type, easy to
opportunities. This learning style is not good in terms of (a)
learn materials presented in the form of sound (lecture), as
listening to lectures or reading texts; (b) writing and
soon as the teacher explains he quickly catches the material
thinking; (c) analyzing and interpreting a lot of data; (d)
of the lesson, besides that the word from friend (discussion)
follow regular instructions.
or radio voice/cassette he easily catches it. Someone who
has a learning style auditors will feel difficulties in the 2) Reflector
lessons presented in the form of writing, touching, Individuals who have this learning style learn by
movement movements. observing and thinking about what happened. They like to
consider all possibilities from various points of view before
The characteristics of visual learning styles are: (a) able
they give opinions. They spend more time listening and
to remember well the teacher's explanation in front of the
observing. They tend to be wiser and more careful. This
class, or the material discussed in the group/class; (b) great
learning style is good in terms of (a) performing tasks
listeners: children easily master advertising/song material on
without a tight grace period; (b) given time to think and
television/radio; (c) tend to talk a lot; (d) do not like to read
investigate before commenting or acting; (c) given the
and generally are not good readers because they are unable
opportunity to review what has happened. This learning
to remember well what they have just read; (e) lack of skill
style is not good in terms of (a) being forced to lead in
in working on writing/writing tasks; (f) nice to discuss and
groups; (b) do something without preparation; (c) work with
communicate with others; (g) less interested in paying
tight deadlines.
attention to new things in the surrounding environment,

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 Advances in Social Science, Education and Humanities Research (ASSEHR), volume 244

3) Theoretical children's learning styles. There are many learning styles

Individuals who have this learning style prefer to that have been discovered by researchers. Every individual
understand the theory of each incident. They need models, has a different learning style. There is no learning style that
concepts, and facts to learn. They like to analyze and is superior, there is a learning style that is appropriate to the
synthesize a situation. They will feel uncomfortable with context, task, and personality. There are three types of
subjective judgments. This learning style will be effective learning styles, namely auditor, visual, and kinesthetic.
when: (a) in a restructuring situation and with a clear While the others define 4 kinds of learning styles, namely
purpose; (b) activities that are supported by ideas and Activists, Reflective, Theoretical, and Pragmatic.
concepts that form a model, system, or theory; (c) is needed
There are differences in the results of research on the
to understand complex situations. This learning style is less
influence of learning styles on student learning outcomes.
effective in (a) situations that emphasize emotions and
This is due to differences in subject and object of research.
feelings; (b) if the activity is not restructured or ambiguous;
However, research reveals about the influence of learning
(c) when asked to act without knowing the principle or
styles on learning outcomes more than others. Apart from
concept first.
the results of the study, it is very important for teachers to
4) Pragmatic know their students' learning styles so that the learning
Individuals who have a pragmatic learning style always provided by the teacher can be absorbed to the maximum.
want to try everything. They are looking for new ideas that
can be applied to each problem. They like a lot of things. IV. CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTION
They tend to be impatient with open discussion. They are
practitioners. This learning style will be effective when: (a) A. Conclusion
there is a clear relationship between current topics and Based on the discussion above, a conclusion can be
needs; (b) they are shown techniques with clear practical drawn that there are many types of student learning styles
advantages; (c) they can try various things with feedback when viewed from various sides. When viewed from the
from an expert; (d) they can copy samples, or copy a model. side of sensory receptors, there are three types of learning
This learning style is less effective when: (a) there are no styles, namely auditor, visual, and kinesthetic. In terms of
practical benefits; (b) there is no clear guide on how to do it; the way students study, there are 4 types of learning styles,
(c) dealing with many theories. namely Activist, Reflector, Theoretical, and Pragmatic.
Honey & Mumford argue that most people tend to only
have one or two learning styles learning [20] [21]. Different B. Suggestion
learning may be more appropriate to certain learning styles. Based on the discussion described above, further
By knowing the dominant learning style will help in research should be conducted on differences in student
measuring how much an activity will affect a person. learning styles in each department. Experimental research
on the influence of learning styles on learning outcomes also
D. Results of Previous Studies needs to be done in each department so that the cause of the
Certain learning styles show better learning outcomes research gap can be known.
because they are satisfied during the lecture [2]. Marriott
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