Project SET
Modules
An Online Assessment of Student Learning Styles and Instructor
Teaching Styles with Feedback Suggestions for Improvements
module unavailableGeorge C. Wood, Ph.D.
Assistant Dean for Education and Professor of Pharmaceutical SciencesKathy Gibbs, M.S., M.Ed.
Director, Student Academic Support ServicesLeonard Cleavelin, M.S. in MIS, J.D.
Senior Computer AdministratorCarol Likens, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Physical TherapyLearning Style
There is significant educational literature examining student preferred learning styles as a major determinant of learning effectiveness. The Inventory of Learning Styles (ISL) by Felder and Solomon is becoming one of the more important diagnostic instruments used to evaluate information processing, perception, input type and understanding as parameters of learning style. This instrument has been validated in a number of educational settings and appears to be reliable with college students in science based curricula. Use of the instrument has fostered the development of feedback suggestions for students to adapt or expand their learning abilities and suggestions for instructional techniques to better present instruction to classes with specific learning profiles.
Teaching Style
This is some information suggesting that instructors will opt to teach in their preferred learning style. This may be in contrast to the class' preferred learning style. Therefore, there may be significant incongruence between the instructor's teaching style and students' learning style that inhibits effectiveness of the teaching-learning process. Based on this rationale, the ILS will be administered to instructors to help characterize their preferred learning style and potentially point to their preferred teaching style. To further characterize and validate the teaching style of instructors, a more specialized Teaching Style Profile will be administered online. This instrument is particularly effective at highlighting incongruencies between perceived and actual practices with students. Constructive suggestions to improve potential weak points will be developed for this instrument and made available online immediately to the instructor upon completion of the instrument. Background information, readings and links to expand the instructors' knowledge in using and interpreting these instruments will be part of the module for those instructors who wish to explore these topics more.
Prototype Development
An online ILS prototype has been developed and is being validated for students and faculty at UTHSC. It can be viewed at: http://cop.utmem.edu/ils_stu/default.htm . The Teaching Style Profile prototype can be viewed at http://cop.utmem.edu/teachstyle/default.asp
Diagnostic, Constructive Instructor-Class Report
Upon sign on, the instructor will be asked to designate his/her class size and minimum number of students who will be required to complete the ILS for a class profile. Once the required number of students has completed the ILS and the instructor has completed the teaching style instruments, a learning-teaching profile with suggestions for improvement will be constructed from the accumulated data and forwarded via email to the course director.
Module Assessment
The module and process will be assessed: (1) by characterization of the module usage data; (2) accumulated ILS and TSP data statistical analysis for reliability, validity, correlations and trends; (3) characterization of the learning-teaching profiles; and (4) module evaluation via online survey form from participating instructors.