Leraning and teaching styles in the veterinary medical education in Indonesia : a preliminary study at Bogor Agricultural University

Abstract

This study was undertaken in order to improve the quality of learning process and learning gains in the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Bogor Agricultural University (IPB). Analysis on the questionnaires taken from 210 students of IPB using Felder's Index of Learning Styles revealed that most of the students were visual, sensing, inductive, active learner, while some of good students were global learner. The findings suggested that an effective communication is important in the learning and teaching process. Teaching styles, however, were mostly auditory, abstract, deductive, passive and sequential which results in some mismatches. Teaching styles that would be developed should include the use of more visual information (pictures, films or hands-on) before, during and after verbal presentation, providing student participation/ group discussion and assignments, balance in the delivering of concrete and abstract coilcepts, balance in the materials of practical problem solving with materials of fundamental understanding, explicit illustrations of intuitive patterns and sensing patterns, and acknowledge student creations. Especially during the internship course of the final year, suitable teaching styles in clinical setting should be addressed to enhance the clinical skills of the students.