Learning Styles of Social Work Students in Competency Appraisal : A Phenomenological Study

Abstract

The study aims to find out the learning styles of the social work students who did not get the average score in the Competency Appraisal subject. The study also looks into their coping strategies with the challenges encountered and insights they can share. Seven social work students who re-enrolled the subject were interviewed using the phenomenological method. The results showed that the students were more likely to have visual and a combination of visual and auditory learning styles. Students coped by staying positive, learning from experiences, motivated by family, friends, and dreams of having job. The social work students shared insights such as future examinees prepare ahead by reading in advance as early as first year. The insights include forging alliances with people who are a good influence, knowledgeable, and positive thinker. Implications to social work are: awareness of learning styles may help Social Work faculty in assessing learning preferences of 1st year, 2nd-year students, inculcate reading and study habits beginning with freshmen students, and organize study groups applying the social group work method. The Social Work program may include orientation for resource persons on teaching and learning styles. The orientation's purpose is to meet learning preference needs and facilitate the evaluation of resource persons. The evaluation serves as feedback for further improvement of the conduct of Competency Appraisal.