UNDERSTANDING OF LEARNING STYLES AMONG INTERNATIONAL AND LOCAL STUDENTS ON ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTION IN MALAYSIA

Abstract

Learning style is the manner of an individual process, obtains and studies new and challenging information. It is vital because students’ academic performance is related to learning preference styles. In some occasions the poor academic performance is still rising among university students and it brings a universal concern, especially for developing countries like Malaysia. Thus, this study reports the learning styles that would be preferred by international students and local students in higher education institutions in Malaysia. VARK model was introduced by Felder Fleming to examine learning style which includes Visual (V), Auditory (A), Reading (R), and Kinesthetic (K). Data were collected using VARK questionnaire developed by Fleming and Mills (1992). The finding of the survey demonstrates a significant relationship between the four dimensions measured visual, auditory, reading/writing, and kinesthetic. The result developed provides recommendations for the educators to implement effective teaching strategies and materials for student learning preferences and to benefit future researchers.