Do learning styles, learning strategies, and student's preference for teacher's teaching philosophy predict student preference for online or in-class courses

http://search.proquest.com.cmich.idm.oclc.org/docview/305087620/

120 page dissertation

Little research has been devoted to the investigation of the predictability of these variables in determining student preference for online or in-class instruction. This multiple line of inquiry is important to academia because using multiple lenses to determine effectiveness, rather than merely examining separate lines of inquiry may provide a more complete picture of contributors for student’s choice of online or in-class courses. Moreover, Diaz and Cartnal (1999) show that academic success may be related to learning preference. Multiple lenses include; (1) learning styles, (2) learning strategies, and (3) teacher’s teaching philosophies. This study will attempt to fill the gap in the literature by exploring the link between styles, strategies, and philosophies and the implications of these findings for predicting student’s choice for online or in-class instruction. Further, it is believed this information may provide important insights to how students approach the learning transaction and may be a contributing factor to their academic success

LIST OF TABLES Table Page 1. Null Hypothesis Table ...........................................................................................10 2. Principal Components Factor Analysis of Index of Learning Styles .....................86 3. Factor Analyses for 20 Item Version of Index of Learning Styles Profile with Original Instrument ................................................................................................90 4. Descriptive Statistics for 20-Item Version of ILS ...............................................101 5. Descriptive Statistics Comparing Full Version of the ILS to the 20-Item Version Based on Factor Analysis .......................................................................102 6. Distribution of Expected and Observed Frequency on ATLAS ..........................110 7. Variance Accounted for in Regression Analyses for Types of Educational Philosophy as Criterion Variable .........................................................................117 8. Variance Accounted for in Regression Analyses for Learning Style Preference as a Criterion Variable .......................................................................119 9. Classification Results for Learning Strategy Preference Groups from Discriminant Analysis ..........................................................................................123 10. Classification Results for Teacher Centered and Learner Centered Groups from Discriminant Analysis ..........................................................................................125 ix LIST OF FIGURES Figure Page 1 Applying the Staged Self-Directed Model to a Course .........................................71 2 Distribution of Active Scale Scores .......................................................................92 3 Distribution of Reflective Scale Scores .................................................................93 4 Distribution of Sensing Scale Scores .....................................................................94 5 Distribution of Intuitive Scale Scores ....................................................................95 6 Distribution of Visual Scale Scores .......................................................................96 7 Distribution of Verbal Scale Scores .......................................................................97 8 Distribution of Sequential Scale Scores .................................................................98 9 Distribution of Global Scale Scores .......................................................................99 10 Preference for Type of Teacher Students Would Absolutely Want to Have Teach Them .........................................................................................................104 11 Preference for Type of Teacher Students Would Like to Have Teach Them ......105 12 Preference of Type of Teacher Student Could Live With Having to Teach Them ....................................................................................................................106 13 Preference for Type of Teacher Students Could Live With But Not Want to Teach Them .........................................................................................................107 14 Preference for Type of Teacher Students Could Absolutely Not Want to Have ....... Teach Them .........................................................................................................108 15 Distribution of Learning Strategy Groups on ATLAS ........................................109 16 Frequency of Preference for On-Line Instruction Compared to Traditional Classroom Format ............................