Shifts of students' learning styles on a social work course

Social work education involves knowledge, skills, attitude and feelings, and its multidimensionality should be recognised. Kolb's Model of Experiential Learning which conceptualises learning as a four-mode cyclic process is proposed as a compatible model in the study of social work education. Using Kolb's Learning Style Inventory, the shifts of the learning styles of 64 students on a social work course were measured. The expectations of subject teachers and practice teachers concerning students' learning styles were also measured. They are discussed in relation to one another and also compared with another set of US findings. The implications of these findings are discussed.