An analysis of the conformity of the teaching methods used by high school teachers with different learning styles of 10th grade students (A case study in Gaziantep)

This study was carried out with thirty 10th grade students in two different fields of study (Turkish-Mathematics Classes and Mathematics-Science Classes) and two teachers of Turkish Language and Literature in Private Sanko Schools in Şehitkamil, Gaziantep during the academic year 2008-2009. The purpose of the study is to determine the conformity of the teaching methods used by these two teachers with the different learning styles of their students. The private Sanko Schools was selected as the whole population of the study because these schools are said to apply the Multiple Intelligences Theory in teaching-learning processes long before the other schools. The sample of the study was a typical case study which is one of the purposive sampling methods. The study is mostly a qualitative one. The learning styles of the students and the teachers in the study were determined with the use of Kolb?s Learning Style Inventory (LSI) designed by D. Kolb in 1984. In addition, the questionnaire, observation and interview techniques were also used in order to get more information from the participants. After analyzing the data, it was found that there is no difference among the students with different learning styles in terms of the field of study. However the students seem to differ in learning styles in terms of gender. It was also found that the teaching methods used by the teachers do not match the learning styles of the students. This study is significant because this is the first qualitative study in the field which investigates the 10 grade 16-year-old students studying in a private school. It is believed that the teaching would be more effective if the teaching methodology matches the students? learning styles, and such a process is believed to improved students? academic success.Key words: Learning style, Teaching method, Turkish Language and Literature Teacher