Measuring Knowledge in Computer Network Vocational Training by Monitoring Learning Style Preferences of Students

Abstract

Learning style preferences play a significant role during the learning and teaching process. Therefore, a multitude of researchers have developed different models to accommodate students’ various learning styles. Those models share the same goal of trying to classify a particular students’ learning style and to provide an overview of better teaching strategies for educators. This paper presents a research study based on a survey that investigates the learning style preferences of computer network vocational senior secondary school students in Yogyakarta Province, Indonesia. This survey uses the Index of Learning Styles (ILS) questionnaire developed by Felder and Solomon. In total, 162 data sets from five different schools in five different areas were collected in order to represent the Yogyakarta Province. The findings from the study show that students participating in computer network vocational training preferred active (82.66%), sensing (67.66%), visual (83.83%), and sequential (52.44%) learning styles. Students most strongly prefer visual and least favor verbal (16.17%). Identifying learning styles can benefit teachers as they customize teaching methods and can maximize the learning and teaching process.