Learning Styles among Dental Undergraduates and Postgraduates—VARK Scale Study

Authors

  • Anshula Neeraj Deshpande KM Shah Dental College and Hospital Sumandeep Vidyapeeth
  • Dr Hemachandra Chintamani Pradhan Dr. Hemachandra Pradhan Currently DAE-Raja Ramanna Fellow, Formerly Senior Professor and Centre Director, Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, V.N.Purav Marg, Mankhurd, Mumbai 400088
  • Dr Mandira Sikdar Associate Professor and Dean – Student Affairs School of Science and Engineering Navrachana University, Vadodara, Gujarat India 390141
  • Dr Neeraj Deshpande Professor MDS, MBA(Hospital Adm.), PGDIPRL
  • Dr Kinjal Patel Post Graduate student

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.37591/rrjod.v9i2.470

Abstract

Learning of clinical science is challenging task for dental student. It requires practice, integration and application of knowledge, skill and attitude to learn in dental school and hospital. Students’ awareness about their own learning style and their ability to choose the most appropriate strategies for themselves are two important concepts. Aim: To assess the learning styles among dental undergraduates and postgraduates. Methodology: Self-response VARK questionnaire was administered to the students of private dental college in person. The VARK instrument measures how you prefer to learn. Each of the letters corresponds to a particular preference as follows: Visual (V), Aural/ Auditory (A), Read/Write (R) and Kinesthetic (K). Results: There was variation seen in the learning style amongst the students of different level of course. About 42% of final year students showed preference to trimodal learning, 32% interns for bimodal and 31.3% of graduates had increased unimodal style of learning in their respective groups. In overall sample of students, 31.3% had trimodal and 29.3% had bimodal preference of learning style. The Chi-Square test showed that there was a statistical significant association between learning choices and the category of participant as final year, intern and graduates. As oral healthcare educator it becomes important to be aware of learning style of our students for helping students in effective learning. This study also helps educators to design effective educational programme for dental students based on their learning preferences.

 

Keywords: Learning styles, VARK scale study, trimodal learning, oral healthcare educator

Cite this Article

Deshpande AN, Pradhan HC, Sikda M et al. Learning Styles among Dental Undergraduates and Postgraduates—VARK Scale Study. Research & Reviews: A Journal of Dentistry. 2018; 9(2): 1–8p.

Author Biographies

  • Anshula Neeraj Deshpande, KM Shah Dental College and Hospital Sumandeep Vidyapeeth

    Professor and guide

    Dept of Paediatric and preventive dentistry

  • Dr Hemachandra Chintamani Pradhan, Dr. Hemachandra Pradhan Currently DAE-Raja Ramanna Fellow, Formerly Senior Professor and Centre Director, Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, V.N.Purav Marg, Mankhurd, Mumbai 400088

    Dr. Hemachandra Pradhan
    Currently DAE-Raja Ramanna Fellow, 
    Formerly Senior Professor and Centre Director,
    Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education,
    Tata Institute of Fundamental Research,
    V.N.Purav Marg, Mankhurd, 
    Mumbai 400088

  • Dr Mandira Sikdar, Associate Professor and Dean – Student Affairs School of Science and Engineering Navrachana University, Vadodara, Gujarat India 390141
    Associate Professor and Dean – Student Affairs
    School of Science and Engineering
    Navrachana University,
    Vadodara, Gujarat
    India 390141
  • Dr Neeraj Deshpande, Professor MDS, MBA(Hospital Adm.), PGDIPRL

    Professor
    MDS, MBA(Hospital Adm.), PGDIPRL

    Dept. of Periodontics
    K.M.Shah Dental College & Hospital
    Sumandeep Vidyapeeth an institution deemed to be university
    Vadodara, INDIA

  • Dr Kinjal Patel, Post Graduate student
    Dept. of Paediatric and Preventive Dentistry
    K.M.Shah Dental College & Hospital
    Sumandeep Vidyapeeth an institution deemed to be university
    Vadodara, INDIA

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Published

2018-10-10

Issue

Vol. 9 No. 2 (2018)

Section

Research Article

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