Complete thesis - Murdoch University

stimuli associated with learning activities. These layers assist in the choice of over 70 modelsreported in the literature (Coffield et al, 2004). It should be noted, however, that instrumentschosen, although associated with one of Curry’s levels, may, in fact address elements of morethan one layer. The next sections describe the major diagnostic devices applied over theduration of the study.Figure 5.8: Onion model of learning styles (Curry, 1983)Personality-centred ModelsThese learning styles serve as an (relatively stable) indicator of how an individual interactswith and responds to the learning environment. The study of learning style involves theinvestigation of individual differences: people perceive and gain knowledge differently, theyform ideas and think differently, and they act differently.The value of investigating personality-centred learning models is two-fold: to help teachersdesign a balanced approach that addresses the learning needs of all of their students byattempting to provide variation in teaching style; and to provide individual students withboth an understanding of the learning implications of their style and strategies to addresstheir strengths and weaknesses.Learning Styles Inventory (LSI)The Learning Style Inventory (Kolb, 1984) is a simple test to measure an individual‘s intrinsiclearning style or predisposition in any given learning situation: a preference for one of fourstages of the learning process. These are grouped by how learners take information in (con-231