Hadi Peyman1, Jamil SadegHifar2, JavaHer KHaJaviKHan3, maSood yaSemi4, moHammad raSool5, yaSemi monireH yagHoubi6, monireH moHammad HaSSan naHal7, Hemati Karim8 InTROduCTIOn

Background: Preferred learning styles of learners are different, which depend on tastes, mentality preparedness, as well as physical condition, in terms of sensory modalities. Identifying and employing appropriate learning styles could play an important role in selecting teaching styles, which can improve education ultimately. Aim: The present study aimed to assess the diversity of learning styles amongst medical students of a medical sciences university which was located west of Iran, in 2010. Methods: A cross-sectional study which employed VARK learning style’s questionnaire was done on 141 first year medical sciences students at Ilam University of Medical Sciences in 2010. Data was collected with use of VARK questionnaire. The validity of the questionnaire was assessed on basis of experts’ views and its reliability was calculated by using Cronbach’s alpha coefficients (α=0.86). Data were analysed by using SPSS software and Chi-square test. Results: Overall, 41.6% of the samples preferred to use a single learning style (Uni-modal). Of these, 17.7% preferred the Aural style, 17% preferred Reading and Writing, 6.4% preferred Kinesthetic style and 0.7% preferred Visual styles. Among the rest of the 82 students who preferred more than one style (multimodal), 17% chose two modes (bimodal), 13.5% chose three modes (tri-modal), and 27.6% chose four modes (quad-modal). There was a significant difference between educational levels and majors on one hand and choice of quad modal of VARK styles on the other hand (p=0.008). A significant association was also found between participants’ genders and selection of visual and reading/writing styles (p=0.03). Conclusion: The preferred learning styles of medical students in the present study were aural and reading/writing. It is suggested that all medical students must be tested to determine their desired learning styles by using VARK questionnaire, also to choose appropriate teaching methods and to improve educational goals. Hadi Peyman1, Jamil SadegHifar2, JavaHer KHaJaviKHan3, maSood yaSemi4, moHammad raSool5, yaSemi monireH yagHoubi6, monireH moHammad HaSSan naHal7, Hemati Karim8 InTROduCTIOn The characteristics of university learners are very varied in terms of age, culture, level of mentality preparedness, intelligence and psychological conditions, which lead to differences in individual learning styles in sensory modalities [1]. Medical students basically use different approaches to obtain required information, as their learning is affected by learning atmosphere and curricular issues, as well as teaching methods [2]. Therefore, it seems that teaching methods have to be organized individually, according to their individual characteristics [3]. Learning style is a complicated approach in which the learner should save, recall and process the concepts efficiently and effectively [4]. Visual, aural, reading and writing and kinesthetic (VARK) is one of the instruments which can be used to determine the learning styles. The VARK questionnaire was primarily developed by Lincoln University of New Zealand in 1998. It is based on three principles, which are as follows: 1. everyone can learn academic issues; otherwise everyone has their own styles 2. The learner’s motivation is increased when different learning styles of learners are taken into account and 3. Educational concepts are learned through utilization of senses and different perceptions [4]. From this perspective, people acquire environmental knowledge through four sensory modalities: visual, auditory, reading/writing and kinesthetic [5]. In other words, students learn the education force process by experience, projection, contemplation and accomplishment [6]. a na es th es ia S ec tio n VARK instrument, which is based on interaction and response to learning environment of the students, divides students into four categories, including; Visual (a group of learners who learn best by observation and visual presentation, such as diagrams, pictures and figures, which are associated with clarification), Aural or auditory (a group of learners who learn best through listening and verbal instructions), Reading/writing (a group of learners who learn best by taking notes during lectures or reading written or printed texts) and Kinesthetic or practical (a group of learners who learn best by doing practicals, through gaining of experience and by manipulation of objects during a physical process) [7]. Using VARK Approach for Assessing Preferred Learning Styles of First Year Medical Sciences Students: A Survey from Iran