Learning Styles versus Teaching Styles: How to match them?

Are the students engaged in learning? This is a typical question used to measure the learning experience by the students. Most common approach to improve it is by employing different teaching styles such as: (1) not only focus on concept but also use examples, (2) working in groups and have discussions, and many more. Yet, engaging in learning also depends on students’ learning styles. Students receive, remember and process the knowledge/information delivered by lecturers in different ways. For example, some students understand information best by discussing and explaining to others while some retain information best when they see diagrams and figures. As a result, we may find a gap between students’ learning styles and lecturers’ teaching styles. When this happens student may not be able to learn effectively, feel bored and become inattentive. Besides, lecturers may also feel discouraged as students are not listening and focusing to their lecture in class. This paper discuss about different student learning styles, their education background & attitude and how to bridge between student’s learning styles and lecturer’s teaching styles in order to engage student in learning.