Learning styles and navigation patterns in web-based education

Abstract

Researchers agree that it is possible to diagnose student's learning style and that learners with a dominant preference for certain learning style may have difficulties in knowledge acquisition in conditions where teaching strategy is not compatible with it. This paper presents an experimental work conducted in order to determine if students with different learning styles have different navigational needs while using web-based learning environment. Correlations between learning styles and students' learning performance are also observed and discussed. A group of 102 graduate and postgraduate students were involved in the study. Learning styles according to Felder-Silverman learning style model have been explored in the context of an e-learning course delivered through a Learning Management System. The main results show that the course supports global learners to some extent. The methods for meeting the needs of sequential learners are proposed. © 2011 Springer-Verlag.