Visual, auditory, reading/writing, and kinesthetic: Which learning style predicts academic success in nursing?

Abstract

This study focuses on how different ways of learning affect the school success of undergraduate nursing students in Saudi Arabia, especially when they had to switch to online classes because of the COVID-19 pandemic. It uses the VARK model, which identifies various learning preferences, to explore this topic. We wanted to find out what the main learning styles among these students are and how these styles relate to their grades, particularly in an online learning setting. Using a survey called the VARK questionnaire, we gathered information about the learning styles of 133 nursing students. We also collected their grades and used statistical methods to see if there's a link between the way they prefer to learn and their academic results. We found that most of the students (64.7%) liked using multiple ways of learning at once, with listening and doing activities being their top choices. However, those who preferred learning by doing or seeing struggled more with their grades when classes moved online. Online classes seem to work well for some students but not for others, depending on their preferred way of learning. This information is important for teachers so they can create lesson plans that work for all students, especially if schools have to switch to online learning unexpectedly.