Psychology

The learner is the first in the list of the components of the educative process, followed by the teacher and the learning situation.  This is so because the learner is the reason why there is education (Duka,2003)  .

Learning modalitiesthis word labels emphasize the different ways children and adults learn best. Just as a single shoe size doesnt fit everyone neither does a single learning environment ensure learning for all. Learners come not only from differing localities, abilities, cultures, and home experiences, but are inherently have different learning modalities. In addition, they possess varying combinations of these learning modalities - its not an all or none issue (Boiser, 2004).

Thus, in order for the teacher to meet the needs of the learners, heshe must have a sufficient knowledge on the background, strengths and weaknesses which can contribute in the full potential development of the learners (Boiser, 2004).

Human beings learn primarily thru senses which are referred to as learning modalities.  From the knowledge on psychology, all knows that humans have five senses and from these senses, persons become aware of hisher environment which eventually leads to learning (Boiser, 2004).

Basically, there are three learning modalities thru which learners process information to the memory, these are visual (learn by seeing), auditory (learn by hearing), and kinesthetic (learn by doing, touching and moving).  Every learner has one predominant learning modality which a teacher must know in order for himher to provide learning experiences that suits the childs unique personality and can facilitate in hisher full development (Boiser, 2004).

A childs primary learning style is referred to as his or her dominant modality. The next favored learning style is referred to as the secondary modality. A childs least favored modality is considered a weakness (Tobias, 2001).

The researchers would like to help teachers know about the learning modalities of their learners so that they can design approaches, activities and learning aids suitable to them.  Thus, this research was conducted.

Conceptual framework
According to Dr. Howard Gardner, the man behind the Theory of Multiple Intelligences,
The biggest mistake of the past centuries in teaching has been to treat children as if they are all variants of the same individual, to feel justified in teaching them all the subjects in the same way.

These words of Gardner were used by the researchers as scaffolding to this present study about the learning modalities of learners as an important factor in the teaching and learning process.  The researchers believe every individual is unique, and thus, in some ways needs to be treated differently from others.  It is therefore important to have a birds eye view on how can a learner grasp ideas easily and process them in memory for a permanent learning experience.

Statement of the Problem
This research was done to find out the learning modalities of grade four at (certain school).

Specifically, the study seeks to answer the following questions
1.   What is the dominant learning modality of the respondents
2.   Is learning modality dependent on gender
3.  What learning activities should be employed to enhance learning in the basis of the  
      identified modalities

Hypothesis of the Study
Learning modality is not dependent on gender.

Significance of the Study
This study will serve as basis through which learning approaches, techniques, strategies and methodologies suitable to the learners be designed. This study is dedicated to

Teachers and school administrators
The researchers believe that awareness on the learning modalities of the learners can help teachers as well as school administrators to frame strategies, curriculum or even training programs that can help in the full potential development of the learners.

Parents
This study can help them develop awareness on how could they help educating their children because from this study they might acquire knowledge on how their children learn best.

Children
This can help them understand and determine how can they easily understand lessons, and from that they may be able to focus well in school using their dominant learning modality.

Future Researchers
This study can be a basis on future researcher related to the present in order to help more human being called future leaders of our nation.

Definition of Terms
Approach.  It refers to the way how a teacher attacks the prior knowledge of the learners so that they can connect the ideas to the present lesson.

Auditory.  This refers to the easy grip of sensory information thru the use of ears.

Kinesthetic.  It refers to an easy grasp of ideas thru the use of bodily movements.
Learning modality.  It refers to the way how sensory information could be processed easily in the memory of the learner.

Method.  It refers to the step by step procedure in teaching the concepts of the lesson.

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

This part presents the procedure utilized in the collection of data, the method employed in the presentation and interpretation to answer the problems presented.

Research Design
This study utilized the descriptive survey as methodology using questionnaire as main data gathering tool. Descriptivesurvey research method can be useful when a researcher wants to collect data on phenomena that couldnt be directly observed (Babbie, 1989).  Descriptive survey method was utilized in this study because it seeks to investigate prevailing conditions about the learning modalities of grade four pupils at (certain school) (Tamondong-Diaz, 2002).

This study also wants to unfold whether or not gender is a factor that affects learning modalities of pupils and also on what appropriate learning activities could be used to learners who have visual, auditory or kinesthetic learning modalities.

The researchers used grade four pupils of (certain school).  Grade four was chosen for it is the beginning of intermediate course.

Instrumentation and Data Collection
The main tool for data collection was the questionnaire, which was adopted from the book of Dr. Diosdada C. Boiser, a Career Executive Service Offficer and consultant in Lipa City Colleges.  She earned her degree in Doctor of Philosophy in Education from the University of Sto. Tomas, earned Dr. Boiser a Meritissimus.  She also earned her Bachelors degree in Science Education and Master of Arts in Guidance at the Holy Name University both earning with honors.

The questionnaire is composed of two parts, first is about the profiles of the respondents and the second part is composed of fourteen assessment questions with three options each regarding how the respondents do in case of a given situation.  The questions were adopted from Dr. Boisers own works.  The questions also include situations outside the four corners of the classroom because according to Boiser, learning modalities are consistent in wherever setting the pupils are in.

Tools for Data Analysis
The researchers utilized the following tools for analysis of the data gathered
For objective number one, the frequency count method was used in determining the dominant learning modalities of the respondents.

The scoring is done by counting the frequencies for A, B and C answers.  A answers stand for Auditory, B for Visual, and C for Kinesthetic learning modality.  The greater the frequency, the more dominant the learning modality is.

To answer objective number two, the Chi Square Test of Independence was utilized.  This test seeks to answer whether or not gender served as influential factor in the learning modalities of the respondents (Fraenkel  Wallen, 1993).
The formula used was

Where
Oi   observed frequency
Ei  an expected (theoretical) frequency and
n  the number of possible outcomes of each event.
Discussion

In this study, the expected data that can be gathered are categorical or nominal data.  The respondents may be classified according to their dominant learning modalities.  The data that can be gathered will be treated statistically using the chosen tool.

After the data has been treated and analyzed, conclusions will be made as well as recommendations.  The researcher will also incorporate in the recommendations the things or strategies that can be used in dealing with pupils of each of the learning modalities.