Abstract: In this study, three activities (essay, forum, and quiz) offered by Moodle as a Virtual Learning Environment were analyzed in order to learn which is the students’ favorite activity and the reason for their preference. The subjects were 19 university health students in an ESP course. The instruments were the very activities used in the course and a final questionnaire. The results showed that 60% of the students preferred the quiz, against 20% who preferred the essay, and 20% the forum. The reasons for these preferences are discussed, considering aspects such as level of students’ knowledge and learning styles. The theoretical implications are also presented with an emphasis on the concept of assisted performance, based on Vygotsky’s theories.
Keywords:
student preferences; learning styles; language learning