Accommodating diverse learning styles inthe design and delivery of on-line learning experiences

The primary purpose of this study was to incorporate principles of learning styles theory into thedesign and delivery of Internet-based education. Learning styles theory has long been used byeducators to enhance the learning experience by individualizing it to accommodate the various waysthat students perceive and process information. Although learning style principles have been widelyapplied to more traditional teaching-learning formats, educators have just begun exploring thepotential application to asynchronous formats. This paper first describes Kolb's (1984) theory oflearning styles, and then describes how principles from the theory can be adapted for use withcomputer-delivered instruction. Finally, we report the results of a study designed to measure theeffect of customized instruction on students' perceptions of the learning process, and discuss theimplications for the increasing numbers of faculty and students involved in on-line teaching andlearning.