People learn in different ways, and understanding how someone learns can help teachers cater their lessons to better match the leaner’s needs. One framework that has been developed to classify these different learning styles is VARK. This stands for Visual, Auditory, Reading/Writing, and Kinesthetics. VARK learning style was coined by Neil Fleming in 1987 at Lincoln University. Each of these categories has its own strengths and weaknesses, so it is important for teachers and learners to be familiar with the different VARK learning style model in order to help their leaners learn most effectively.
There are four primary learning styles: auditory, visual, read-write, and kinesthetic. Each person has a preference for one or more of these styles. Some people may be equally balanced between two or more styles.
We will discuss each individual learning styles below.
“A visual learner learns best when they can see what they are learning.”
It is a common belief that people learn best when they can see what they are learning. This theory has been around for many years and has been proven to be true time and time again. A visual learner learns best when they can see what they are learning. This means that when they are trying to learn something new, they need to have access to pictures, diagrams, and other visuals that will help them understand the concept.
For leaners who are visual learners, you should take notes and make diagrams for the concepts you want to remember. This way, you’ll retain the information better. Taking notes and creating diagrams can help you to identify topics, organize notes, and make small-scale memory-sticking memories. You can even colour code your agenda to help you better organize your notes. If you are a visual learner, these strategies can help them do better in school and achieve academic success.
The best way to engage a visual learner is to use visual aids. You can use PowerPoint for this, but only if it’s accompanied with graphics. Without graphics, your audience won’t be able to fully benefit from the visual learning style. If you want to try something more interactive, you can also use an interactive presentation program such as Canva or Prezi. A visual learner may also find worksheets helpful. They are especially helpful if they have colour.
“An auditory learner learns best when they can hear the information.”
Auditory learners learn best when they can hear the information. This is because the auditory learner can take in more information and has an easier time remembering it. The auditory learner also benefits from hearing the material multiple times. In order to help an auditory learner, be sure to speak slowly and clearly, and use short phrases. You can also try repeating the information back to the leaner to ensure they are understanding it correctly.
A person who learns best by hearing something will benefit from collaborative work, discussions with others, and different learning platforms. Also, this person will be more likely to understand instructions if the information is presented in verbal form. In addition, an auditory learner will also benefit from group discussions. To make this kind of learning more effective, you can schedule in-person meetings and discuss topics with other leaners. Auditory learners can benefit from using audiobooks. They can learn new concepts or solve logic problems by hearing the information. By using audiobooks, they can learn more quickly than leaners who read alone.
Leaner with excellent auditory learning skills will be more likely to make friends and have more confidence. It also gives them the opportunity to learn how to solve problems. While leaner who learn by listening are less likely to need notes, they will be better able to remember material from class without them. This also benefits their social development. If you want your learner to be socially adept, you should encourage them to listen to others and discuss their ideas and problems.
“A Reading / Writing learners learns best when they can write / read the information.”
Some leaners prefer to read texts to learn, while others prefer to write.There are benefits and drawbacks to each approach. Reading or writing allows leaners to absorb large amounts of information quickly, but they may not always understand all the nuances of the text. Writing allows leaners to clarify their own thoughts and better understand the material, but it can be more time consuming.
Although reading/writing learners prefer to read, they can be engaged with different types of material. For instance, they can take written quizzes and assignments. Reading/writing learners rely on logic and search for patterns, connections, and explanations through reading/ writing what they read which have interesting meanings. Taking pointer notes or create a mindmap, graphs or diagrams could also help such learners in their learning journey.
These individuals are characterized by high levels of memory and focus on small details. These learners often struggle with big-picture concepts and reading comprehension. They are also often frustrated when presented with questions that do not make intuitive sense to them. For this reason, they prefer reading material that is presented in a chronological order, rather than a chaotic manner. In addition, they tend to have long attention spans, making it ideal for them to focus on a specific subject. Teachers can engage and motivate these learners by providing material that activates in reading and writing. Additionally providing “additional” reading materials would engage the interest of such learners.
“A kinesthetics learner learns best when they can physically do something with the information.”
A kinesthetics learner can visualise complex topics and concepts. For example, if a lecturer explains a complicated concept in a video, a kinesthetics learner will probably remember it much better than something they read about. A kinesthetics learner’s motor memory is also extremely strong, which means that they can easily absorb information by condensing it and using a combination of different learning methods. For example, if you are learning about the muscles in the body, you need to be able to feel them and move them around. This is because kinesthetics learners like me learn best through hands-on experience.
Kinesthetics learners are more interested in doing and being physically active. Therefore, you might want to combine your academic study with games and physical activities. For example, you can do word scavenger hunts or play a game where you have to run in place. These activities will also help kinesthetics learners make connections between different ideas and concepts.
To help a kinesthetics learner, consider introducing activities that involve movement. For example, using letter-shaped magnets to practice spelling can help them internalize concepts. Providing tactile materials is also useful, such as textured paper and a range of writing tools. This will help kinesthetics learners focus and retain information. This type of learning style can be very helpful in the classroom. These strategies may be more difficult to implement but will be effective in the long run.
In order to know what type of learner you are, there are many different ways and websites that can test this for you. Below are a number of popular vark learning styles test/quiz websites to assess what type of learner you are based on VARK learning style framework.
In order to learn most effectively, it is important to know your learning style. This means understanding how you best take in and process information. There is no one “right” way to learn, and everyone has their own unique strengths and weaknesses. It’s important to figure out what type of learner you are so that you can best capitalize on your strengths and work on your weaknesses.
