TY - JOUR
T1 - Learning style preferences of Australian accelerated postgraduate pre-registration nursing students
T2 - A cross-sectional survey
AU - McKenna, Lisa
AU - Copnell, Beverley
AU - Butler, Ashleigh E.
AU - Lau, Rosalind
PY - 2018/1/1
Y1 - 2018/1/1
N2 - Graduate entry programs leading to registration are gaining momentum in nursing. These programs attract student cohorts with professional, cultural, gender and age diversity. As a consequence of this diversity, such accelerated programs challenge traditional pedagogical methods used in nursing and require different approaches. To date, however, there has been limited research on the learning styles of students undertaking these programs to inform academics involved in their delivery. Kolb's Experiential Learning model has been used widely in a variety of educational settings because it is based on the theory of experiential learning. More recently VARK (Visual, Aural, Read/write and Kinaesthetic) model has become popular. The aim of this study was to investigate the learning styles of two cohorts of graduate entry nursing students undertaking an accelerated masters-level program. This was a cross-sectional survey of two cohorts of Master of Nursing Practice students enrolled at a large Australian university. The students were more inclined toward converging (practical) and least toward concrete experience (experiencing) learning styles. The majority of students were more inclined toward kinaesthetic and least toward aural learning style. Findings have implications for academics engaged in teaching graduate entry nursing students.
AB - Graduate entry programs leading to registration are gaining momentum in nursing. These programs attract student cohorts with professional, cultural, gender and age diversity. As a consequence of this diversity, such accelerated programs challenge traditional pedagogical methods used in nursing and require different approaches. To date, however, there has been limited research on the learning styles of students undertaking these programs to inform academics involved in their delivery. Kolb's Experiential Learning model has been used widely in a variety of educational settings because it is based on the theory of experiential learning. More recently VARK (Visual, Aural, Read/write and Kinaesthetic) model has become popular. The aim of this study was to investigate the learning styles of two cohorts of graduate entry nursing students undertaking an accelerated masters-level program. This was a cross-sectional survey of two cohorts of Master of Nursing Practice students enrolled at a large Australian university. The students were more inclined toward converging (practical) and least toward concrete experience (experiencing) learning styles. The majority of students were more inclined toward kinaesthetic and least toward aural learning style. Findings have implications for academics engaged in teaching graduate entry nursing students.
KW - Experiential learning
KW - Kolb Learning Style Inventory
KW - Learning styles
KW - Master of Nursing Practice students
KW - VARK model
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85041810665&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.nepr.2017.10.011
DO - 10.1016/j.nepr.2017.10.011
M3 - Article
C2 - 29066158
AN - SCOPUS:85041810665
VL - 28
SP - 280
EP - 284
JO - Nurse Education in Practice
JF - Nurse Education in Practice
SN - 1471-5953
ER -