Learning styles and preferred teaching methods in students of Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences-Yazd

Recognize learning styles are an effective and important way in optimizing learning and increasing training efficiency in order to improve learning quality. This study aimed to determine learning styles and preferred training methods in Students of Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences during 2012. This is a cross sectional among 354 students using stratified sampling method. Data were collected using two standard questionnaires, Joy Reid and questionnaire of preferred teaching methods and items about demographic and background were used. Average age and score of participants were 21.8±3.3 and 16.7±1.8 respectively. Preferred teaching methods in theoretical lessons were lectures and in practical lessons was team based method. There was significant correlation among auditory learning styles and others learning styles. In addition, students in Faculty of Medicine and Faculty of pharmacy employed learning styles of; auditory (P=0.014) and students in Faculty of Dentistry employed kinesthetic (P=0.001). Group styles (P=0.022) received the highest score. Attention to the most preferred learning styles and prefers teaching methods in each of the faculties will enhance student's learning.