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Apr 20, 2015 · 1. Individuals will state that they prefer to learn in a particular style. They may prefer information to be presented visually, or verbally etc. This is their opinion, based on...
- Overview
- VARK Learning Styles
- What Type of Learner Are You?
- Visual Learners
- Aural Learners
- Reading and Writing Learners
- Kinesthetic Learners
- Criticisms
- Why It Matters
Trending Videos
Learning styles are a popular concept in psychology and education and are intended to identify how people learn best. VARK learning styles suggest that there are four main types of learners: visual, auditory, reading/writing, and kinesthetic.
The idea that students learn best when teaching methods and school activities match their learning styles, strengths, and preferences grew in popularity in the 1970s and 1980s. However, most evidence suggests that personal learning preferences have little to no actual influence on learning outcomes.
While the existing research has found that matching teaching methods to learning styles has no influence on educational outcomes, the concept of learning styles remains extremely popular.
There are many different ways of categorizing learning styles, but Neil Fleming's VARK model is one of the most popular. Fleming introduced an inventory in 1987 that was designed to help students and others learn more about their individual learning preferences.
According to the VARK model, learners are identified by whether they have a preference for:
•Visual learning (pictures, movies, diagrams)
•Auditory learning (music, discussion, lectures)
•Reading and writing (making lists, reading textbooks, taking notes)
•Kinesthetic learning (movement, experiments, hands-on activities)
Example
Imagine that you are learning how to perform a new physical skill such as riding a bike or dancing a certain style of dance. In which way would you learn this skill the best? Look at pictures of people performing the skill. (Visual) Listen to an expert explain how to do the task. (Auditory) Read about how to perform the task in a book. (Reading/Writing) Watch someone else perform the skill and then trying it yourself. (Kinesthetic)
Visual learners learn best by seeing. Graphic displays such as charts, diagrams, illustrations, handouts, and videos are all helpful learning tools for visual learners.
Visual learners prefer this type of learning would rather see information presented in a visual rather than in written form.
Do you think you might be a visual learner? Then consider the following questions:
•Are art, beauty, and aesthetics important to you?
•Does visualizing information in your mind help you remember it better?
•Do you have to see information in order to remember it?
Aural (or auditory) learners learn best by hearing information. They tend to get a great deal out of lectures and are good at remembering things they are told.
Are you an auditory learner? Consider the following questions:
•Do you create songs to help remember information?
•Does reading out loud help you remember information better?
•Do you prefer to listen to class lectures rather than reading from the textbook?
•Would you prefer to listen to a recording of your class lectures or a podcast rather than going over your class notes?
Reading and writing learners prefer to take in information that is displayed as words and text. Could you be a reading and writing learner? Read through the following questions and think about whether they might apply to you.
•Do you enjoy making lists, reading definitions, and creating presentations?
•Do you find reading your textbook to be a great way to learn new information?
•Do you take a lot of notes during class and while reading textbooks?
•Do you prefer it when teachers make use of overheads and handouts?
If you answered yes to these questions, it is likely that you have a strong preference for the reading and writing style of learning. You might find it helpful to write down information in order to help you learn and remember it.
Kinesthetic (or tactile) learners learn best by touching and doing. Hands-on experience is important for kinesthetic learners.
Not sure if you're a kinesthetic learner? Answer these questions to find out:
•Are you good at applied activities such as painting, cooking, mechanics, sports, and woodworking?
•Do you enjoy performing tasks that involve directly manipulating objects and materials?
•Do you have to actually practice doing something in order to learn it?
•Is it difficult for you to sit still for long periods of time?
The validity of the VARK model as well as other learning style theories has been questioned and criticized extensively. Some critics have suggested that labeling students as having one specific learning style can actually be a hindrance to learning.
One large-scale look at learning style models suggested that the instruments designed to assess individual learning styles were questionable.
People might find that understanding their own learning preferences can be helpful. If you know that visual learning appeals to you most, using visual study strategies in conjunction with other learning methods might help you remember and enjoy your studies more.
If no single learning preference calls out to you or you change preferences based on the situation or the type of information you are learning, you probably have what is known as a multimodal style.
For example, you might rely on your reading and writing preferences when you are dealing with a class that requires a great deal of book reading and note-taking, such as a history of psychology course. During an art class, you might depend more on your visual and kinesthetic preferences as you take in pictorial information and learn new techniques.
How to Learn More Effectively
Dec 1, 2009 · Learning style is the way in which each learner begins to concentrate on, process, absorb, and retain new and difficult information (Dunn and Dunn, 1992; 1993; 1999). The interaction of these elements occurs differently in everyone.
- Harold Pashler, Mark McDaniel, Doug Rohrer, Robert Bjork
- 2008
Feb 2, 2009 · LEARNING STYLES. A benchmark definition of “learning styles” is “characteristic cognitive, effective, and psychosocial behaviors that serve as relatively stable indicators of how learners perceive, interact with, and respond to the learning environment. 10 Learning styles are considered by many to be one factor of success in higher ...
- Frank Romanelli, Eleanora Bird, Melody Ryan
- 2009
Oct 5, 2010 · The four learning styles measured by the LSQ are: activist (Kolb's active experimentation); reflector (Kolb's reflective observation); theorist (Kolb's abstract conceptualisation; and pragmatist (Kolb's concrete experience).
- Simon Cassidy
- 2004
In this article, we look at how the key learning styles theories were developed, and explore their intentions and limitations. We also show why it's still valuable to understand your personal approach to learning – even if there's no single, "magic bullet" solution for any of us.
Dec 1, 2009 · The term “learning styles” refers to the concept that individuals differ in regard to what mode of instruction or study is most effective for them. Proponents of learning-style assessment contend that optimal instruction requires diagnosing individuals' learning style and tailoring instruction accordingly.
