Focus on the learning styles of freshman design students

Abstract

Using Kolb’s Experiential Learning Model, this study explores learning styles of freshman design students in three consecutive academic years. Principal Component Analysis method is used to reduce the number of variables and classify them according to the priorities assigned to learning process by the design students. Findings showed that the distribution of design students through learning style preference was concentrated in assimilating group with coordinates close to the intersection of the axes of the Learning Style Type Grid. The bipolar perceive dimension indicated that the freshman design students are more related to the analytical skills of theory building, quantitative analysis and technology. Also, the bipolar process dimension showed that they have better behavioural skills compared to perceptual learning skills.