RESUMO
Objectives: This paper investigates the perceptions of the current teaching strategies among first year medical students. It further assessed the predominant learning style preferences using the VARK (Visual, Auditory, Reading/Writing and Kinesthetic) questionnaire and the gender differences for learning style preferences. Methods: This study was conducted among the first year medical students in the Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo (n=192) and descriptive cross sectional design was adopted. Data was collected using a self-administered multiple choice questionnaire. Frequencies were calculated followed by cross-tabulations to generate descriptive statistics and analyzed with Chi Square distribution test. Results: Majority of the students found lectures and small group activities as useful learning experiences most of the time; 60.4% and 47.4% respectively. The multimodal preference was commoner, 59.8% (n=115) than the unimodal preference, 40.2% (n=77). Among the unimodal learners, the majority preferred aural modality, 55.8% (n=43). Bimodal preference was the most common among multimodal learners, 31.2% (N=60). Learning styles did not significantly differ between male and female students (p=0.115, n=192). Conclusions: To facilitate multimodal learning, combination of teaching techniques should be employed. Active learning should be further encouraged using a variety of learning tools such as video clips, computer simulations and interactive models.