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Project Introduction

Research on “Accommodating Learning Styles in International Bridging Education Programs” funded by Canadian Council on Learning (2006 – 2008)

Investigator: Professor Lillie Lum, School of Nursing, York University

Co-investigators: Caroline Chassels, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto and Hilary Schuldt, Woodgreen Community Services

Research Consultant: Nikhat Rasheed

Undergraduate Assistant: Arti Chagar

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Our Research Objectives

To obtain demographic data on your previous educational and work histories that we can measure across professions

To understand your learning histories, styles, preferences and self-directedness

To arm you with the knowledge of your learning style how you can improve chances for success in your current program, how to become a life-long learner and how to improve team and group working!

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Why Do We Have Different Styles?

Parental upbringing Previous experience in education Temperament What’s worked and what hasn’t Other? No wrong or right way!

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How Will Knowing your Learning Style Help You?

In both professional and personal spaces…

Maximize learning from educational programs Solve problems that occur due to different learning

styles Improve your team working and group working skills Manage disagreement and conflict

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Our Research Tools

Your research package contains: Consent Form Bridging Education and Work Survey Self-directed Learning Question Booklet +

Answer Sheet Kolb Learning Styles Inventory Question Booklet

+ Answer Sheet

You have to return all documents except the Kolb booklet which is yours to keep.

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Instructions Please fill out three questionnaires and sign/date the consent

form.

You do not need to fill out any section that asks for your personal details except if you want to participate in a discussion group to follow, then you can put your first name and phone number at the end of the bridging education and work (demographic) survey.

Keep the Kolb Booklet but return the Kolb questionnaire. You will be given a spare Kolb sheet when you return the package.

When you return the package containing all three questionnaires and the consent form by next week, sign and collect a new package containing your $25 honorarium.

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Frequently Asked Questions: Filling the Bridging Education Professional Work Survey

Q4. Please list the countries you have lived in but don’t add Canada to it Q10. We want to really understand how many languages you speak including

your own native languages, English and/or French. So please list 4 of your best languages in addition to English (which is already listed). Think carefully about how good you are and try and use the rating chart as a guide.

Q12. It would be great if you put in the scores you got for the language tests you have taken. Helps us to see how well everyone is doing!

Q17. You should tick ALL the different educational qualifications you have (but this does not include the specific license to practice that some countries award you). Not all countries license the professions. Sometimes you only need a degree.

Q18. I know it might take some time but please use the code charts provided. It is very hard for us to know just from the name if your educational institution was a university or college or institute.

Q19. This refers to the highest only, please only tick ONE. Q33/36. Please use the code charts provided to give us information on the

institutions that give you license to practice or where you worked.

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Frequently Asked Questions: Filling out the Learning Styles Inventory

Making the choices• Don’t fill out your personal information on the front, we don’t need it

• For each sentence, you have to pick one choice, the one that is most like you.

• Our suggestion is that you read the questions carefully and circle your answer in your booklet first

• Then once you have answered all the questions, you can transfer the answers to the answer sheet

Filling out the answer sheet• Transfer your answers to the answer sheet correctly

• Be sure to colour in your responses properly (black pen is best) so that the machine can read your responses

• Return both the question and answer sheets to us so that we can double check you have filled out your answers correctly.

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Frequently Asked Questions: Filling out the Kolb Properly

Ranking the Kolb

• For each sentence, you have to rate the choices from most like you (4) to least like you (1). Sometimes there will be choices that you will feel you undertake equally. But still, you need to rank them from 1 to 4.

• The easiest way to do this is to read the choices and decide which one is like you most (4) and which one is like you the least (1). Then try and rank the other two choices in the middle (2,3).

• To fill it out correctly, make sure that on each sentence you have 1,2,3,4 across it. Please do not repeat the same number on the same sentence.

• You only have one chance to fill out the sheet because there is carbon paper at the back. So be careful.

• Also, make sure to write down your final scores (AE, CE, RO, AC) on separate paper so you can check against it later. You can keep the Kolb Booklet.

Meanings of the words e.g. “rational” and “reserved”?

• If you don’t understand the meaning of the words straight away, you can consult a dictionary to make sure you understand the meaning properly.

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Kolb - The Circle of Learning

Fill out the Kolb question sheet by looking at the different options they have given you for every statement, then mark 4 for the one that’s most like you, and 1 for the one most unlike you and rate the others (2,3) based on what you think. You can discuss the questions with a partner or friend if you feel it would be useful! Then follow the instructions on the sheet and plot your scores on the circle.

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Kolb - Learning-Style Type Grid

You can also plot your scores on the grid to understand which styles you use most while learning and which one’s you can improve upon.

Tip: Make photocopies of both the circle and the grid and use those to plot your scores so that you can make more copies of the book at a later stage, and can repeat the test whenever you want!

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My Kolb Scores

I learn by thinking most, followed by observation and then actually doing

I’m good at planning systematically, logically analyzing ideas and acting on an intellectual understanding of a situation

Cycle of Learning: Abstract Conceptualization Learning Style: Assimilating

Some Career Possibilities – Educational Research, Economics, Technology (I love technology!)