Personality Scales and Learning Styles: Pedagogy for Creating an Adaptive Web-Based Learning System

There is a vast body of literature that indicates students not having homogeneous learning patterns. Just as the students vary, their learning styles, cognitive abilities, and learning preferences vary; similarly, instructors employ different teaching methods. Numerous researchers have hypothesized that when students’ unique learning dimensions are matched with similar teaching styles, it can have a significant positive impact in regards to students’ grasp on information, their satisfaction with the course, improved academic grades, and group/team interaction. However, it is rigorously debated what these dimensions are, if they are fixed or changeable, and which scale gives the most accurate purview into the various learning dimensions of students. This paper explores the behavior and learning style of the human mind and its capacity in different learning environment. The authors examine theory, similarities, differences, and implications of the five relevant learning models discussed in the paper. Analyzing and interpreting these learning styles and behaviors will help the reader employ the best scale or combination of scales that should be used in the creation of Web-based learning environments (WBLE) for students and adapting WBLE to their particular learning styles and preferences.