Learning preference among dental students based on sensory modalities - A cross sectional study

Abstract

Dental educators face the issue of improving student satisfaction with their learning preference. The purpose of this study was to measure the distribution of learning preference mean scores of the dental students and note any significant differences in gender determined using 326 participants. Learning preference is considered a component of the wider concept of personality. A learning style describes a process or preference and is considered an umbrella term covering a spectrum of modalities, preferences and strategies.  One learning style is neither preferable nor inferior to another but is simply different, with different characteristic strengths and weaknesses. The distribution of dental student scores shows a preference for instructors who use strong lecture-based presentations and who enhance kinesthetic learning preference among students. The educators must be more aware of these variants to create a more interesting and fruitful learning environment.