161 / 465
While there are many benefits to taking online courses, such as a learner-
centered environment, flexibility, and convenience, there are also some
challenges. Learning how to access people, services, and your course material
are the biggest challenges that new online learners face. Lack of immediate
feedback and insecurity about computer skills or having unreliable internet
service can also cause concern. By addressing these concerns, and evaluating
your learning style, we can provide resources and suggestions to help mitigate
your concerns and help you get the most out of your online course.
Learning Styles
Why is knowing your learning style important? Your learning style dictates how
you prefer to process information and how you can best learn new things. There
are several prominent learning style instruments developed by leading theorists in
this field. Three of the most well-known and well-respected instruments include
the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, Kolb's Learning Style Model, and the Fleming
VARK Inventory. We will use the VARK inventory to assess your learning style.
The VARK inventory is based on the research of Neil Fleming. VARK looks at
modal preferences – only one part of a person’s learning style - but an important
one, because it is about preferences for working with information.
The four
modalities are Visual, Aural, Read/Write, and Kinesthetic.
Keep in mind that just because material is not taught in your preferred style does
not mean that you
CAN’T
learn it; it just means that it will take more effort on your
part.
Take a few minutes to answer the following questions. The questionnaire aims to
discover your preferences for the way you work with information. You will have a
preferred learning style and one part of that learning style is your preference for
the intake and the output of ideas and information. There are no right or wrong
answers, and there is no learning style preferred over another. This survey will
assist you in developing strategies to help you maximize your success and
enjoyment in online classes.
Section 7 – Becoming An Effective Online Student
159