This study investigated the perceptual learning styles of 170 vocational students from 6 programs at Trat Technical College in Thailand. The students completed the Perceptual Learning Styles Preference Questionnaire. The results showed that the students' major learning styles were group, kinesthetic, and auditory styles. Their minor styles were visual, tactile, and individual. There were statistically significant differences in learning styles between 3 programs, but no differences between the other 3 programs. The study provides implications for teachers to incorporate different teaching styles like group work and role plays to match students' preferred learning styles.

1. PERCEPTUAL LEARNING STYLES
OF VOCATIONAL EDUCATION STUDENTS
AT TRAT TECHNICAL COLLEGE
International Conference on Interdisciplinary
Research and Development in ASEAN Universities
8-10 August, 2013
Imperial Mae Ping Hotel, Chiang Mai, Thailand
Presented by
Nattawut Matluang, Graduate Student, eric.nattawut@gmail.com
Pattaraporn Thampradit, Associate Professor, tpattaraporn@yahoo.com
Department of Applied Arts, Faculty of Industrial Education,
King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang (KMITL)

2. PERCEPTUAL LEARNING STYLES
OF VOCATIONAL EDUCATION STUDENTS
AT TRAT TECHNICAL COLLEGE

INTRODUCTION

MATERIALS AND METHODS

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

CONCLUSION

3. INTRODUCTION
One of the significant languages in the world is
definitely English language (Hou, 2009).
English is official language in more than 50 countries (CIA,
2012)
Educational Improvement in the 2nd Decade of Education
Reform (2011-2018) on English ability (OEC, 2011)
Student should be aware of their learning styles which
teachers need to guarantee this (Pask, 1977)

4. INTRODUCTION (Cont.)
Teachers need to assess the learning styles of their students
Knowing students' learning styles is significant in learning.
Only Nimmanpisood (1992) and Buranarek (2002)
studied the learning styles in English language on
certificate vocational students.
No research emphasized on diploma vocational students'
perceptual learning styles in Thailand

5. Research Questions
What are the perceptual learning styles of vocational
education students in six programs at Trat Technical
College?
Are there any differences between the perceptual learning
styles of vocational education students from different
programs?

6. Objectives of the Study
To investigate the perceptual learning styles of the
vocational education students in six programs at Trat
Technical College.
To compare the perceptual learning styles of vocational
education students from different programs at Trat
Technical College.

7. MATERIALS AND METHODS
Population and samples
The population was 477 diploma students who were
learning English as a foreign language at Trat Technical
College, Thailand.
The samples were 170 second-year diploma students
enrolled in Developing Skills for English Communication
2 in the first semester of academic year 2012.
The samples were six programs; Building Construction
Technology, Mechanical Technology, Electrical Power
Technology, Electronics Technology, Accounting, and
Marketing.

8. MATERIALS AND METHODS
Instrument
dual
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ndiv phic
I
ogra on
dem mati
infor
Questionnaires
PLS
P
Q
To determine students' learning styles using Perceptual
Learning Styles Preference Questionnaire (PLSPQ)
To measure six learning styles; visual, auditory, kinesthetic,
tactile, group learning and individual learning styles

9. Perceptual Learning Styles
1) Visual Style: Tendency to learn more effectively through
visual perception.
2) Auditory Style: Tendency to learn more effectively
through auditory perception.
3) Kinesthetic Style: Tendency to learn more effectively
through whole-body movement.

10. 4) Tactile Style: Tendency to learn more effectively through
touch and hand-on activity.
5) Group Style: Tendency to learn more effectively through
working with others.
6) Individual Style: Tendency to learn more effectively through
working alone.

11. Reid's classification
on 3 levels for learning styles preferences
Level of Interpretation
Score
Major learning style preference
38 to 50
Minor learning style preference
25 to 37
Negligible learning style
preference
0 to 24
Learning styles preferences' average value
Rank
Frequency
Average
1
The highest
4.50 to 5.00
2
High
3.50 to 4.49
3
Medium
2.50 to 3.49
4
Low
1.50 to 2.49
5
The lowest
1.00 to 1.49

12. Data Analysis and Statistical Procedures
Analysis of Research tools
Validity and reliability of the research tools
- A pilot questionnaire with 65 diploma students in
three programs
- Cronbach Alpha was 0.898.
Analysis of research questions
Descriptive statistics
- Research question one : statistical procedures, arithmetic
mean, and standard deviation
- Research question two : One-Way ANOVA at a
significance level of p<0.05

13. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Students' Demographic Background
Table 1. Summary for Demographic Background of Samples
by Genders and Programs

14. Analysis of Research Question One
Research Question One: What are the perceptual learning styles of
vocational education students in six programs at Trat Technical College?
Table 2. Mean and Level of Perceptual Learning Styles

15. Figure 1 Overall of Mean in Students’ Perceptual Learning
Styles
The result showed the two levels of perceptual learning styles: Major and
Minor levels.
This study confirmed Boonsuk (2008) and Nimmanpisut (1992), they
found that Group style was in Major level.
While Banban (2010) and Simsek (2005), they indicated that Kinesthetic
style was the Major level.

16. Analysis of Research Question differences between the
Research Question Two: Are there any Two
perceptual learning styles of vocational education students from different
programs?
Table 3. The Comparison of Students' Perceptual Learning Styles in 6 Programs
Statistical significant differences : Electrical Power Technology
(p=.001), Electronics Technology (p=.002), and Accounting (p=.001)
No statistical significant differences : Building Construction
Technology (p=.019), Mechanical Technology (p=.113), and Marketing
(p=.011)

17. Table 4. Mean ( ), Standard Derivation (SD) and Rank of Each Learning
Styles in each program
All programs of students mostly ranked Individual style as their least
learning style preference
This study confirmed Simsek's (2005) and Boonsuk's (2008) findings, they
indicated that Individual style was the lowest rank in students’ perceptual
learning styles.
The result showed the near paralleled finding with secondary level

18. CONCLUSION
Students in six programs preferred Group, Kinesthetic and
Auditory learning styles as their major learning styles
Visual, Tactile and Individual learning styles were
employed as their minor learning styles
Statistical significant differences were found according to
Learning Styles in three programs: Electrical Power
Technology, Electronics Technology, and Accounting.
There was no statistical significant difference of students'
learning styles in Building Construction Technology,
Mechanical Technology, and Marketing.

19. This study shows the meaningfulness of perceptual learning
styles.
Teachers can select the teaching style and materials in their
English language classroom i.e. group discussion, role play
(Reid, 1995) or game and picture (Singhasiri, 2004).
The students’ perceptual learning styles can be the
implications for curriculum design e.g. student-centered
learning approach in the vocational diploma curriculum
(Office of Education Council, 2011).
The classroom of language teaching and learning can be
more effective.

20. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION