The learning preference of Cardiff Metropolitan sports students in teaching environments

Abstract

The main purpose of this study was to investigate the learning preference of Cardiff Metropolitan sports students in teaching environments. The study focused on the three commonly used teaching environments (lead lectures, seminars and practical sessions) and looked to find students opinions on each and ultimately discover their preferred learning environment. Previous studies and theories were reviewed to help provide a ‘blueprint’ and it was decided to use a qualitative approach with 6 Cardiff Metropolitan students each taking part in a semi-structured interview. The interviews, when analysed, found that all the participants preferred to be engaged in their teaching environment and found the didactic environment tedious. Further questioning led to the students seeing interactive sessions like seminars and practical’s in a much more positive light to the didactic approach of a lecture. Therefore according to the results there should be more of these interactive sessions and less didactic style sessions. This view was found to be too simplistic as it is not cost effective. A lead lecture session can pass information on to 300 students, whereas it would require 10 seminar sessions to replace this lecture. It is therefore essential that teachers engage students as much as possible, regardless of the environment or number of students present, to help them reach their academic potential. The information gained from this study could form the basis of a more in-depth study that may lead to more informed / improved teaching sessions for sports students in the future.