Are mathematics students' learning styles related to their preferred method of learning how to use advanced calculators?

One of the learning styles models used for investigating students’ preferences is based on the Visual, Aural, Read-Write or Kinesthetic (VARK) modalities for receiving information. This paper presents the research findings of a survey study on Singaporean and Australian students, contrasting students’ VARK preferences with their instructional learning preferences when using graphing calculators and calculators with computer algebra systems (advanced calculators). Students filled in an adapted 7-item instrument about their VARK preferences, and were also asked to indicate their most preferred instructional method of learning how to use the calculators to solve mathematics problems. It was found that students generally preferred visual and kinesthetic instructional methods when learning how to use calculators, regardless of their VARK preferences. Results also show that there were regional differences in students’ VARK preferences. Overall, the results suggest that students adapt their learning preferences to different contexts, and that advanced calculators lend themselves to visual and kinesthetic modalities of learning.