The Learning Styles of College Aviation Students

Abstract

This study investigated the learning styles of collegiate aviation students. The results of this investigation were compared to the learning styles of qualified pilots in the United States Air Force, as identified in a previous study. Using the Kolb Learning Style Inventory, the objectives were to identify the learning styles of collegiate aviation students, determine if there was a difference in learning style among the grade levels of the college students, and to note the similarities and/or differences in learning styles between the collegiate aviation students and the United States Air Force pilots. The demographic survey used in the previous study was tailored to reflect the disparity of experiences between college students and active pilots in the United States Air Force. The population for this study consisted of students enrolled in the aviation programs at Oklahoma State University-Stillwater campus, Oklahoma State University-Tulsa campus, and Southeastern Oklahoma State University on the Durant campus and at Tinker Air Force Base. Using the results of this study to identify a preferred learning style among college aviation students can provide information about the students’ cognitive mapping. This mapping can be used as a tool so that courses can be more effectively designed. Modifications to this main theme can then be made for those students who have different learning styles. An ideal learning style, due to the predictive nature of Kolb’s Learning Style Inventory, can also identify aviation students as a discrete group from other degree programs on campus.