Significant changes have taken place in higher education over the past ten years. Learners are more liberated and want to be acknowledged as individuals with differences, and not expected to adapt their individual characteristics to fit in with the specific environment of the learning situation. A new emphasis is placed upon creating and sustaining learning environments that accommodate learner needs and the process of effective learning. Learners' individual needs include their need to learn how to learn and an acceptance of their individual differences as expressed in learning styles.
Active learner participation in the learning process is necessary for effective learning to take place. Only then can the desired outcome be reached. For a learner to actively participate in the learning process, the learner must know how to learn, and how to function as an independent learner. To reach these goals, sound knowledge of individual differences in learning styles is necessary.
The impact of individual differences on education and the way they affect educational practice, future learning and academic achievement places the emphasis even more strongly on constant awareness, updating or change, improvement and development of the educational environment. The educator, as one of the role players in the educational environment, is the facilitator of learning, and should be empowered with a strong knowledge base regarding individual differences among both learners and educators, thus becoming more innovative and creative.
Qualitative non-empirical research was undertaken. The aim of this research was to analyse and explore the concept learning style as well as to promote learning style awareness through assessment of learning styles, and to provide an organised frame of reference to guide the learning process and provide for systematic education.
Based on insight and knowledge gained through inductive and deductive reasoning, the Learning Style Assessment Tool and a model for learning style promotion in higher education were constructed. The instrument enables learners and educators to assess their own learning styles and identify their learning characteristics and preferences. The model can serve as a basis for acknowledging and accommodating learning styles in higher education. The desired outcome of this research is effective learning and quality education.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:unisa/oai:uir.unisa.ac.za:10500/980 |
| Date | 30 June 2002 |
| Creators | Van Rensburg, Gisela Hildegard |
| Contributors | Steyn, P. J. N. (Paul Johannes Nicolaas), 1949-, Brink, Hilla |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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