Did you ever question yourself as to, who am I as a learner? And what learning style is best suited for me? If you did, then you’re in the right place.
Learning is seen as a continuous cycle in which a person has a learning experience, reviews it, concludes from it, and plans the next step. Whereas, learning styles are a popular concept, in psychology and education, that aim to account for differences in individuals’ learning.
Truth be told, we all learn differently. To each his preferred learning style. Don’t worry! I won’t leave it at that, explanation is coming.
Learning Styles
What is VARK learning style?
The VARK model of learning styles stands for Visual (V), Aural (A), Read/Write (R), and Kinesthetic (K).
As you can see, it suggests that there are four main types of learners, and is considered as a tool used to analyze learning styles; moreover, according to Neil Fleming (2009) VARK is a questionnaire that provides users with a profile of their learning preferences.
How did it come to be?
Well, in 1987, Fleming developed this model designed to help students and others learn more about their individual learning preferences.
How does it work exactly?
It’s simple really. It is based on three principles, first of which is that everyone can learn academic issues; otherwise everyone has their own styles.
Second of all, an individual’s motivation is increased when different learning styles are taken into account. And last, Educational concepts are learned through utilization of senses and different perceptions.
Moreover, it consists of 16 multiple choice questions, each having four choices. All choices correspond to the four sensory modalities which are measured by VARK (visual, aural/auditory, read/write, and kinesthetic).
The students can then select one or more choices, based on the sensory modalities which are preferred by them, to take in new information.
In a recent study done in the United States (Michigan) among first-year medical students, it was found that 43.45% preferred quad-modal (using more than one different style at once) and that 36.1% selected single modal learning style.
What type of learner are you?
Visual (OBSERVATIONAL) Learner:
As a learner you prefer to observe the Item in the process of teaching-learning. You are passive and would rather see information presented in a visual rather than in written form.
For example: in the form of charts, pictures, handouts, and videos. ‘Mere chalk and talk’ does not help since most of this type is of Audio/Visual/Audio-visual or Projective/Non-projective category. Here are some signs that you are a visual learner:
- You have to see information in order to remember it
- Visualizing information in your mind helps you remember it better
- You use flashcards to learn new words
- You prefer sitting near the front of the classroom
Your style in short:
Kinesthetic = Less
Visual = Maximum
Aural = Less
Aural learner:
As a learner you prefer to imagine the Item in the process of teaching-learning. You are active but based on your own perception.
In short, you prefer using sound and music and you learn best by listening. Here are some signs that you are an aural learner:
- You prefer to listen to class lectures rather than read from the textbook
- Reading out loud helps you remember information better (verbalization promotes memorization)
- You prefer to listen to a recording of your class lectures than go over your class notes
- You read with whispering lip movements
Your style in short:
Kinesthetic = Less
Visual = Less
Aural = maximum
Reading/ Writing Learner:
As a learner you prefer to write a text, that’s how you lean properly. Furthermore, you are passive; you prefer to take in information displayed as words.
Learning materials that are primarily text-based are strongly preferred by these learners. Here are some signs that you are indeed a read/write kind of learner:
- You find that reading your textbook is a great way to learn new information
- You prefer it when teachers make use of handouts
- You write down a lot of notes during class
- You turn diagrams and charts into words
Kinesthetic learner:
As a learner you prefer to handle, alter, and-manipulate the item in the process of teaching-learning. You are Active. Overall, you learn best by touching. Hands-on experience is important for you. And here are some signs that might suggest that you are a kinesthetic learner:
- You have to actually practice doing something in order to learn it
- It’s hard for your to sit still
- You talk with-communicate using- hands or gestures
- You remember best what has been done, not what you have seen or talked about
What is best for you?
It is beyond doubt that the first-hand experience (kinesthetic) is the best type of educative experience. But it is neither practical nor desirable to provide such experience to pupils all the time. Substituted experiences may be provided under such conditions.
There are many inaccessible objects and phenomena, for example, it is not possible for the pupils living in Africa to see the Eskimo.
Similarly, it is not possible for the average person to climb Mount Everest. There are innumerable situations in which it is not possible to have direct access. So, in all such cases, teaching aids help.
What is obvious is that what is gained in terms of learning needs to be carved up in the minds of students. You use what works out best for you, what is suitable and guarantees your learning to be successful. Your own learning style. But it has been noticed that in an effective classroom, the Learning outcome is the result of one, two, or a combination of Observational, Kinesthetic and Aural Learning in the two classrooms.
Are learning styles a myth?
You heard that right, all of what was mentioned so far might just be a myth, what? How? That can’t be true? Well, you’re just going to have to continue reading to find out.
Author of “Great Myths of the Brain” Christian Jarret says that “although each of us is unique, usually the most effective way for us to learn is based not on our individual preferences but on the nature of the material we’re being taught”
For example, imagine trying to learn French grammar but only using pictures, or how to play football by listening to a lecture. It doesn’t matter how auditory focused you think you may be, if you’ve never tried it you’re not going to excel at it.
Moreover, it is believed that this learning style theory has become widely accepted because the idea itself is ”appealing” since It predicts that a struggling student would find much of school work easier if we made a relatively minor change to lesson plans, ensure the auditory learners are listening, the visual learners are watching, and so on.
Still not convinced? Well here it goes.
The multiple intelligences theory:
In 1983, psychologist Howard Gardner published his book Frames of Mind: The Theory Of Multiple Intelligences.
This book theorized that our intelligence went beyond the traditional idea of single processing thoughts, and instead intelligence came through multiple channels or as he called it, Multiple Intelligences.
He theorized that there were 7 intelligences which worked together. They were: linguistic, logical-mathematical, musical, bodily-kinesthetic, spatial, interpersonal and intrapersonal, and later he added an eighth: naturalist intelligence.
How is this related?
Well, The concept of learning styles is believed to have come as a Misunderstanding of his theory.
The new line of thought is that these intelligences are defined as isolated learning avenues and not, as Gardner theorized, a collective-process.
Now as a professor at Harvard Graduate School of Education, Gardner has spoken of this misinterpretation of his theory, and the tendency of people to credit him with the notion of ‘learning styles’ or to collapse ‘multiple intelligences’ with learning styles.
“It’s high time”, he says “to relieve my pain and to set the record straight.”
And there you have it. Not what you come for, Huh? But don’t go wandering in your thoughts just yet. This doesn’t mean that each one of us doesn’t learn differently or that learning in different methods is wrong. No, that’s not the point here. The point is that students do benefit best when learning new information in different ways; moreover, we learn to read by looking at pictures, saying the words aloud, and writing new words down.
Say for example, you learn better kinesthetically, you should take advantage of this knowledge when you are trying to learn or master something new. See, rather than boring yourself with reading instruction-manuals or listening to lectures, you should look for ways that can help you gain a hands-on experience.
Now, I’d really like to know what works best for you, what kind of learner do you think you are? Comment away!