This report aims to present a thorough and wide-ranging evaluation based on 'the evidence, on reasoned argument and on healthy scepticism' of what current research has to say about learning styles and their associated inventories and how this might be relevant in particular to post-16 education.
What the resource is:
This is a large (80 pages), authoritative and thoroughly well documented academic study of what is acknowledged to be a vast, important and rapidly growing field of current study. Whilst acknowledging that there is limited research relating specifically to learning in FE colleges, the authors started with around 3800 published references, reducing these to 800 identified texts which they reviewed and logged in their database. From these, they subsequently identified 71 different models of learning styles and synthesised these down to what they call the 13 most influential models which are then studied, analysed and critically reviewed in considerable detail against a list of pre-determined criteria. The whole report contains a lot of detailed summaries of these 13 models and ends with some recommendations.
The quality of the resource:
This is high quality report by a very well established academic team led by Professor Frank Coffield. As you might expect, the writing is dense but it is very accessible and extremely well cross-referenced to an amazingly thorough selection of published texts. The authors certainly live up to their claim to use evidence, reasoned argument and healthy scepticism throughout. The authors do not come down on the side of promoting any particular one model but they do explain in fine detail how each one meets or fails to meet various sets of criteria and set out the strengths and weaknesses of each one. They also explain how various official bodies such as the DfES, Ofsted and others are beginning to make more and more reference to these models though not necessarily thoroughly understanding the implications of what is involved. It is very well worth reading.
Implications for ITE tutors/mentors:
If you are involved in any way with using any learning style inventory such as Kolb’s LSI or Entwistle’s ASSIST, then this is a must-read report. It is so packed with information and balanced arguments about the pros and cons of learning styles, I am sure it will become an essential reference document in its own right.
Relevance to ITE students:
If you are thinking of using a learning inventory in your teaching, then reading at least the summaries of this report is to be highly recommended. At the very least, the 13 one-page summaries of each of these major models will be useful but there is also so much more in it.
Should We Be Using Learning Styles
Reviewed by:
Rod Bramald
Authors :
F Coffield, D Moseley, E Hall and K Ecclestone
Source :
http://www.lsda.org.uk/files/PDF/1540.pdf
Publisher :
Learning and Skills Research Centre
Article Id :
11465
Date Posted:
9/10/2006