Vark Analysis Lindsay Williams Grand Canyon University The Vark assessment tool is a questionnaire that will provide the user with an understanding about the type of learner they are, and what are the most useful resources to for maximum learning. The questionnaire consists of 16 questions which are aimed at isolating a learner’s preference to give them a better understanding of what is most effective for their retention of information being taught. According to the Vark questionnaire, there are four types of dominant learning styles; Visual, Aural, Read/Write and Kinesthetic. Additionally, Vark introduces a sub category of learning called multimodal. (Fleming, 2011) If the learner has a preference for Aural style of learning, he …show more content…
Based on the studies and information regarding learning preferences, the question is then posed, does teaching strategy need to align with a students learning preference in order to be most effective for learning? The answer to this question according to studies is yes. Every student is different, and learns at a different pace, using different strategies, and have different levels of readiness, interest and motivation. (Gardner 2001) According to Howard Gardner, a Harvard educated developmental psychologist, as teachers, we need to employ multiple teaching modalities for optimal student learning. This includes the use of visual and audio media, verbal regurgitation of information processed, and written discussion of ideas learned. It can be argued that the more modalities employed and presented to students, the greater their chance for successful learning becomes. As educators, if we appeal to all strategies of learning, we are more likely to enhance the learning of everyone in our target audience. This may be challenging as we ourselves tend to flock to a particular learning style, and in turn, tend to teach the same way. It also may be a challenge to address each individuals learning style, as it may be difficult, or even impossible to know each and every one of their learning preferences. However, the first step in overcoming that challenge is to be well versed in our own learning preferences. If we are well versed in our own
Dictionary.com defines a student as “a person formally engaged in learning” (Student, 2012). Students of any age know that comprehending and retaining information is essential to educational success. Just as every student had unique physical attributes, they also have unique learning styles in which they best retain new and important information. The VARK (Visual, Aural, Read/Write, and Kinesthetic) is a questionnaire that is given to help individual find their unique learning style. This allows students and non students alike to explore the way in which the not only retain information, but the best way to present information. Each type of learning style is broken down with ways in which to
In school everyone learns differently; however, according to the article The Myth of Learning Styles, “The idea of learning styles is based on a theory… developed in the early 1980’s.” (pg 1.) A lot has certainly changed from the 1980’s as we learn new more material in every class we take. With this being said, someone the scientists referred to in the article “assumed” that learning styles challenged the way of the educational system when in reality, it is simply a myth. Students, like myself, only prefer to process information that they find useful or interesting to him or her. Thus giving us the problems of that teachers may take too long to cover one idea, and students may miss out out on information because he or she did not prefer that learning style.
For years, there have been many theorists who have shared their views on how individuals learn. Such research has determined that individuals have different learning styles. It is important for teacher to understand the learning styles of both themselves and their students because it helps them to relay the subject knowledge to the students. The teacher is in a position where they must be able to assess the learning styles of their students. This means that the students and teachers are both in a process of learning.
From the time of birth, individuals are constantly learning. Individual learning styles vary from person to person. It is essential to the education of the individual to learn the particular style of learning that best serves them. One particular analysis tool is the visual, aural, read/write, kinesthetic or V.A.R.K. tool (VARK, 2011). This tool allows the individual to identify their particular learning style which will better prepare them throughout their education.
Review the other learning styles: visual, aural, read/write, kinesthetic, and multimodal (listed on the VARK Questionnaire Results page).
Our first step to identify the individual learning style of the learners’ (ergo to identify their needs), is performing ‘VAK’ (visual, aural, kinaesthetic) assessment. Francis and Gould (2013) describe it as a model of
“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.
The VARK learning preference that was identified for Lori Goedecke after taking the VARK online questionnaire is the multimodal learning preference. Approximately 60% of any population fits into the multimodal learning preference. Multimodal learners vary in their scores on learning preferences and many combinations exist. Multimodal learners tend to be more flexible in how they learn, compared to someone who has a single VARK learning preference, and also tend to adapt to whatever learning preference is being used. Some multimodal learners will use one or two of the learning preferences to learn a given topic. These learners are labeled as VARK Type One. When a multimodal learner wishes to use all of their preferred modes of learning before they are satisfied that they have learned enough on the given topic and that they can trust that the information taken in is adequate, they are labeled VARK Type Two. Because they take longer to gather the information they feel is necessary, this multimodal learner may be labeled as a procrastinator or one who
VARK questionnaire is composed of many fundamentals that associated with people’s preferred learning styles. VARK questionnaire help leaners identify their specific learning methods to focus on learning material with important segments. Any profession can use VARK learning methods to teach or introduce study materiel to their associates. The VARK questionnaire is based on four scores and there are five different learning strategies and they are, multimodal, visual, aural, read-write, kinesthetic. When an Individual takes the VARK questionnaire assessment, they will be scored under these four learning methods: visual aural, read/write, and kinesthetic. Each individual learning method are
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,
Review the other learning styles: visual, aural, read/write, kinesthetic, and multimodal (listed on the VARK Questionnaire Results page).
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
Everyone has a distinctive way of doing things, including a diverse learning style. By taking the VAK test I have learned that I am kinesthetic-dominant which is essentially a hands-on type of person. However, it does propose a blend of auditory with a score of thirty-three and kinesthetic with a score of fifty which is my dominant learning style. I have a score of twenty-four in the visual section which is the lowest of the three. A combination is ok; I don’t think that any study technique permits just one solitary learning style.
VARK is a short, simple questionnaire that your students can fill out online so that they (and you!) determine how they learn best. VARK is free for use in schools, and universities for student or faculty development, and as long as you give attribution, there should be no problem in using this tool in your classroom.