Unlocking Student Success: How a Learning Style Inventory (LSI) Enhances Learning

Kendra Cherry, MS, is a specialist in psychosocial rehabilitation, a psychology educator, and the author of the acclaimed "Everything Psychology Book."

A Learning Style Inventory (LSI) is a diagnostic tool designed to identify an individual's preferred methods and strengths in learning. Rooted in the idea that each person absorbs information differently, LSIs aim to optimize educational experiences by aligning teaching approaches with these unique styles.

The concept of diverse learning styles gained traction in the 1970s and has since profoundly influenced educational practices. Educators frequently utilize LSIs at the beginning of courses to better understand their students and to help learners recognize how they best acquire knowledge.

Practical Applications of Learning Style Inventories

While definitive proof that matching teaching methods to learning styles improves academic results remains limited, LSIs continue to be widely used in classrooms. Research confirms that learners do exhibit clear preferences in how they process new information.

At their best, LSIs encourage students to develop personalized study techniques that maintain engagement and motivation. For example, visual learners might enhance comprehension by incorporating charts, diagrams, and symbols into their study sessions.

Popular Learning Style Inventories

Several well-known LSIs are commonly used today:

Kolb’s Learning Style Inventory

Kolb’s LSI is one of the most recognized assessments, helping students uncover their preferred learning methods while providing educators with insights to adapt instruction accordingly.

Fleming’s VARK Questionnaire

Fleming’s VARK model categorizes learners into visual, auditory, reading/writing, and kinesthetic types. Introduced in 1992, this questionnaire remains a popular resource for students and teachers eager to understand individual learning preferences.

Jackson’s Learning Styles Profiler

Based on a hybrid model that considers experience, biology, and personal choice, Jackson’s Learning Styles Profiler is tailored for workplace learning environments, frequently utilized in organizational development and business training.

Learning Style Quizzes: Fun but Informal Tools

Numerous free online quizzes offer quick insights into learning preferences. Although entertaining, these tools often lack scientific validation. Students should view results as a starting point for self-reflection rather than definitive assessments.

Explore more on:

• Psychology
• Learning Theories
• Cognitive Psychology

References

1. Moayyeri H. The impact of undergraduate students’ learning preferences (VARK model) on their language achievement. Journal of Language Teaching and Research. 2015;6(1):132-139. doi:10.17507/jltr.0601.16
2. Bhagat A, Vyas R, Singh T. Students awareness of learning styles and their perceptions to a mixed method approach for learning. Int J Appl Basic Med Res. 2015;5(4):58-65. doi:10.4103/2229-516X.162281
3. Çakıroğlu Ü. Analyzing the effect of learning styles and study habits of distance learners on learning performances: A case of an introductory programming course. The International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning. 2014;15(4). doi:10.19173/irrodl.v15i4.1840
4. Kolb DA, Kolb AY. Kolb Learning Style Inventory - Version 4.0. Experience Based Learning Systems; 2013.
5. Fleming ND, Mills C. Not another inventory, rather a catalyst for reflection. To Improve the Academy. 1992;11:137-155.
6. Ghadirli HM, Rastgarpour M. Model for an intelligent and adaptive tutor used on web by Jackson’s Learning Styles Profiler and Expert Systems. Proceedings of the International MultiConference of Engineers and Computer Scientists. 2012;1.

By Kendra Cherry, MSEd
Kendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the "Everything Psychology Book."

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