Do learning styles of undergraduate and postgraduate students in B-schools differ? Insights and implications

Abstract

With the expansion of business education and an increasing focus on diversity, it is imperative that business schools address students’ diverse learning styles. A deeper understanding of how differently each student learns may provide useful insights into “teaching-learning” processes that need to be designed for effective learning. Providing an environment that maximizes learning for each student is the prime motive for understanding students’ learning styles. This study used Kolb’s learning model to understand the differences in learning styles of undergraduate and postgraduate students in management programs. Using data from a leading B-school in India, the study identified the differences in undergraduate and postgraduate students’ learning styles. The study offers insights for developing learning effectiveness by aligning learning styles with pedagogical tools.

Keywords:

• B-schools
• learning styles
• teaching–learning processes
• teaching pedagogy