Estilos de aprendizagem segundo os postulados de David Kolb: uma experiência no Curso de Odontologia da Unoeste

Abstract

We conducted a qualitative research (Case Study), which has as object of our concern to assess the adequacy of the learning styles of students in a School of Dentistry for a private university, in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. We aimed to identify the predominant learning styles, according to the classification proposed by David A. Kolb (1984), students in the School of Dentistry, each of which is associated with a way to solve the problems posed for learning. We use as theoretical, studies of experimental learning theory of David Kolb and others. The instruments used to collect data were the Bibliographical Research on the subject and through the application of a questionnaire based on the Learning Styles Inventory, developed by David Kolb, the 175 students, 127 and 48 of the first term of the 8th term, referred to the School of Dentistry The results revealed that students in the population of the study, the predominant size of the abstract learning, identified by the Learning Styles assimilated and Convergent 83% of students. The distribution of Learning Styles among students of both genders were similar, following similar patterns of distribution of the directions of Learning Styles around the sample space. We also conclude that the vast majority of students represented by Styles assimilated and Convergent exhibit characteristics of study that a positive value proposition of hypotheses and the justifications for the learning through problem solving, the Dental Course. This work allowed the reflection on the learning styles students in a School of Dentistry as a method of teaching - learning.