VARK Analysis
VARK Analysis
Family Health Promotion
August 12, 2010
VARK Analysis There are several methods used to determine learning styles. “A learning style is, rather, a description of a process, or of preferences. Any inventory that encourages a learner to think about the way that he or she learns is a useful step towards understanding, and hence improving, learning” (Fleming, N., & Baume, D., 2006, p.4). . One of the most commonly used learning styles is the Fleming VARK model. VARK stands for visual, auditory, reading and writing and kinesthetic learners. This model focuses on the best way for a student to learn and retain new information based on sensory modality. “The only perceptual modes, or senses, it does not
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There are two different ways to be multimodal. One is to be context specific which means only one mode is chosen at a time to fit the situations. The second kind is to gather information from each preferred mode before he/she is satisfied. I believe that I am the second kind who gathers information using all my preferred modes. Because of this, it takes a longer amount of time for me to gather the information in order to learn and understand it. When I take notes in a class, I usually write down almost every word. By doing this I have great notes and references. Even though the VARK model predicted that I belong in the aural category also, I believe that I comprehend new information better with reading and writing. When I listen more to the speaker than I do writing I have found that I forget information quicker. I agree that I am multimodal, but not in equal degrees. For example when I am sitting in class I need to hear the speaker, but I am not completely focused on him/ her. Next, I write what I hear and am completely focused on making sure I get almost every word being said. Lastly, I read over the information as a mental review. By me learning in this manner, I believe it is the best way to achieve academic success.
Changes Needed There are necessary changes that I needed to make in my learning style. By me knowing now that I am strong in aural and reading/writing categories, I need to divide my attention equally between aural and reading and writing in class.
My preferred learning style is auditory. I can use mnemonic devices, such as flash cards with audio to my advantage in school. The repetition of the flash cards would help me in science where there is lots of information to remember. Reading the information, text, stories, assignments, out loud would help me to fully understand the context. I can also read my drafting work out loud, so that it is less likely to miss any errors. During class, I can ask my teacher more questions or to explain certain concepts.
Fleming (2005) stated that people can be grouped into four styles of learning: (Gravells, 2012), Visual, Aural, Read / Write and Kinaesthetic (VARK), with Honey and Mumford (1992) suggesting that learners are a...
Review the other learning styles: visual, aural, read/write, kinesthetic, and multimodal (listed on the VARK Questionnaire Results page).
Some students may be a combination of these sensory modalities making them a multimodal learner. Over 60% percent of learners fall into the multimodal learner category (Fleming & Mills, 2011). Learners in this category may switch from each of their learning strengths to fit the situation or presentation of
i. Understanding the learners learning styles can make my course to be engaging. Flemming (1987) noted three different styles of learning; visual, kinaesthetic and aural. In order to know which method(s) to use to benefit my students the first lesson on my course will centre around discussions on what they already know, the resources they are familiar with, and a learning style questionnaire which will provide me with information on preferred learning styles. Effectiveness can also be enhanced if I adapt my teaching style to give maximum benefit to learners.
VARK is a questionnaire that helps your learning by suggesting the strategies you should be using. People with a strong visual preference for learning like: different formats, space, graphs, charts, diagrams, maps, plans and Visual. People with a strong aural preference for learning like:
• At the end of the questionnaire, the individual is given points in each category of learning
“Just as students have different personalities, they also have different ways of learing (Slavin, 107).” Learning styles are another important factor to incorporate when implementing the best learning environment. Learning styles are defined as an individual's mode of gaining knowledge. The most common learning styles addressed are auditory, visual, and kinesthetic. Auditory leaners understand information through hearing. Visual learners need more visual aids in the learning process, such as diagrams, webs, or pictures. Kinesthetic learners learn better by using manipulatives or by being physically involved in the learning process. Learning styles is a piece of the “backbone” of differentiated learning. Both are used to individualize instruction to help students achieve the most success.
There are four main types of learning styles: auditory, kinaesthetic, reading and writing, and visual. Each of these theories describes how learning occurs and has its own terminology, perceptions on learning and generalities about teaching and learning. My personal learning style uses a combination of visual, reading, writing and auditory. I prefer using pictures,
Once you have determined your preferred learning style, review the corresponding link to view your learning preference.
Learning styles and barriers to learning can be by the VARK to give a profile of learning preferences of how a person takes in and gives out information or Tidwell and Rodgers Practical learning styles Questionnaire. The VARK learning styles determines if the person learns by being a theorist, reflector, activist and/or pragmatist. The practical learning styles questionnaire looks at how people learn by their orientation, whether they are a realistic or creative, by their interaction, are they a doer or a thinker, by how they represent things, either by words or pictures, and how they process information, whether they are a surface or deep processor. There are many other
VARK stands for visual, auditory, reading and writing and kinesthetic learners. When using VARK a person must understand that the questionnaire alerts people to the variety of different approaches to learning. It supports those who have been having difficulties with their learning and has particular applications in business, sport, training and education. This model focuses on the best way for a student to learn and retain new information based on sensory modality. (Fleming, 2011) When a student knows his/her learning style preferences, he/she is able to learn more effectively and store and
What is a learning style? Well a learning style is the way a person tends to learn best. It involves your preferred method of taking in, organizing, and making sense of information, Lake Washington Institute of Technology (2012). Some people prefer to learn by doing and touching, others prefer to learn by seeing, or by hearing the information. Still others learn using more than one learning style. If a person was interested in finding out what their particular learning style is would be to take the VARK questionnaire for learning styles. The most common learning style is the multimodal, but the learner
As a read and write learner, I like taking notes in class and I read over these notes or copy them out. I take my time to study at my own pace and in a quiet environment, I love studying ahead of time to gather and collect all the information needed to understand and also learn a new task to achieve new skills I require. When I’m listening to a lecture for instance, I like to take notes, make bullet points for my reading, and I also turn illustrations into words and check the dictionary for word meanings for me to understand when I study. I check out information in library, textbooks and handouts for better
There are three main learning styles which are Visual, Auditory and Kinaesthetic. The three of these are different ways of how you prefer to learn, and how you consume information efficiently.