The effects of visual learning styles instruction on the social studies achievement and retention of knowledge in 3rd grade social studies class

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of visual learning style instruction on the students' academic achievement and retention of this instruction in 3rd grade social studies class, specifically on Living Things in the Environment, Earth and Space units. This research was designed according to one experimental and two control groups modeling. The study was conducted with three classes at one public elementary school. 40 students who attends the third grade of primary school were assigned to experimental group. First control group was consisted of 38 and second control group was consisted of 32 students. Visual instructional resources were used to develop social studies achievement and retaining of knowledge of students as a treatment for experimental group. The treatment consisted of 26 hours. The sessions were 40 minutes that is a class hour in the school. The treatment took 5 hours in a week. First control group was treated traditional teaching method by investigator. Second control group had been taught by classroom teacher as the way he/she does traditionally. v Learning Style Inventory (LSI) was used to determine students learning style preferences. For the students academic achievement and retention "Social Studies Achievement Tests" were used. These were prepared by the researcher, with the basis of two units of social studies cources. At the end of instruction, "Interview Form" was used for getting students opinions about visual instructional teaching. Data were processed by using covariance analysis. For interview data, content analysis technique were used. Findings indicated that visual learning styles instruction has a significant effect on social studies achievement for students who has visual learning style preferences, but not significant effect on retention of social studies knowledge. Analysis of interview data were revealed that, students felt that this instruction is much more benefical and enjoyable than traditional instruction. Key Words : Learning, Learning Style(s), Visual Learning Style, Learning Style Inventory, Teaching Methods, Social Studies Instruction.