Learning patterns, personal and contextual factors on teacher education students from Spain and Latin-America EARLI 2015 conference, Cyprus
García-Ravidá, Laura B. & Martínez-Fernández, J. Reinaldo Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain
CONCLUSIONS
AIM of the study
It remained the four learning patterns proposed by Vermunt (1998), but with some nuances. In this respect, Latin-American students use more concrete processing strategies, self- and external regulation strategies, vocational orientation and learning conceptions based on the use of knowledge (AD). We think that they believe that learning is more adaptive in uncertain contexts and more useful for successful academic behaviour. We called the LatinAmerican paradox (Martínez-Fernández & Vermunt, 2015). Personal factors seem to exercise greater influence on learning patterns than contextual factors and GPA. This influences it can be observed in Spanish and Venezuelan samples, particularly. The results underline the need to go in depth about three aims: a) to take a close look at learning patterns in more Latin-American countries; b) to continue the research on the influence of personal and contextual factors in the learning patterns; and c) to discuss the Iberoamerican dates in a more international arena in order to recognize a different learning patterns that identified successful students, taking into account the cultural influences (in a way of Vermunt, Bronkhorst, & Martínez-Fernández, 2014).
Discuss the learning patterns model defined by Vermunt (1998; 2005). He proposed four patterns: Meaning Directed oriented (MD), Application Directed oriented (AD), Reproduction Directed oriented (RD), and Undirected (UD). We analyse this learning patterns in relation to some personal and contextual factors on a Latin-American and Spain sample (Colombia, Mexico, Spain and Venezuela).
METHODOLOGY Participants: 456 teacher education students (115 Colombian, 100 Mexican, 102 Spanish, 139 Venezuelan), they were 335 females and 121 males (M = 23.40, SD = 4.84, range = 17 to 51). Questionnaires: 1) Socio-demographic questionnaire. Personal factors: age, gender, specific domain and effort; and contextual factors: perception of teaching and dedication to study; and GPA (Grade Point Average) were asked. 2) ILS (Learning Inventory Style). The Spanish mainland version was applied to identify the learning patterns (Martínez-Fernández, et al., 2009).
SPAIN PI —> women VO —> older students RD/UD —> older students
MEXICO MD/er = better GPA
VENEZUELA COLOMBIA No relevant differences
MD/er —> women & VO —> more effort —> better GPA RD/UD —> younger students —> worst GPA —> better perception of teaching
MAIN FINDINGS: In general we found four learning patterns:
MD/er: PI: VO: RD/UD:
Meaning directed with external regulation Passive-Idealistic Vocational oriented Reproduction directed and Undirected
- MD/er is more related to GPA and effort - RD/UD is more related to younger ages, worst GPA and a better perception of teaching. We believe it is necessary to discuss Vermunt models’ from a more cross-cultural view. In this respect, the effect of personal and contextual factors can be different according some cultural reasons.
REFERENCES Martínez-Fernández, J. R., García-Ravidá, L., González-Velázquez, L., Gutiérrez-Braojos, C., Poggioli, L., Ramírez-Otálvaro, P., & Telleria, M. B. (2009). Inventario de Estilos de Aprendizaje en español. *Inventary of Learning Styles in Spanish+. Report of PAFIU research team. Barcelona: Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Available in: http:// grupsderecerca.uab.cat/pafiu/ Martínez-Fernández, J. R., and Vermunt, J. D. (2015). A cross-cultural analysis of the patterns of learning and academic performance of Spanish and Latin-American undergraduates. Studies in Higher Education, 40(2), 278-295. Vermunt, J. D. (1998). The regulation of constructive learning processes. British Journal of Educational Psychology, 68, 149-171. Vermunt, J. D. (2005). Relations between student learning patterns and personal and contextual factors and academic performance. Higher Education, 49, 205-234. Vermunt, J. D., Bronkhorst, L., & Martínez-Fernández, J. R. (2014). The dimensionality in student learning patterns in different cultures. In: D. Gijbels, V. Donche, J. Richardson, & J. D. Vermunt (eds). Learning Patterns in Higher Education: Dimensions and Research Perspectives. New Perspectives on Learning and Instruction, serie. New
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