VARK Analysis: Determining Preferred Learning Styles
VARK Analysis Every student has their own unique style of learning, with today’s technology; students can easily go on the internet to identify their preferred learning style if desired. By doing so, this would assist the learner to identify their preferred method of learning which can assist the leaner to become more successful in their learning process. As an assignment, the participant answered two different questionnaires the “VARK” (Visual, Aural, Read/Write, Kinesthetic) (Fleming, n. d) and LDPride. net Learning Styles Report (LDPride, n. ). Summary of Learning Style The VARK Questionnaire consists of 16 answers where the participant answered as many boxes the participant felt appropriate. Once the questionnaire was completed, the participant received the VARK Personal Learning Profile analysis. Upon thoroughly reviewing both profile analysis, the participant concluded that the LDPride questionnaire results were very similar to the VARK Personal Learning Profile Analysis, both scores revealed that the participants’ learning preferences were visual, read/write, tactile/kinesthetic.
Between the two profile analyses, the participant favored VARK which was much more in depth providing detailed scenarios and examples that the participant can clearly relate to. The VARK analysis is divided into two categories; Type One consists of learners who scores are between twelve and twenty five; these types are learners are considered to be “contextual” or “situational” (Fleming, n. d) who utilizes one of the four modes individually and changes according to the mode needed.
An example would be if a learner was learning a physical skill such as sports, the learner would use the Kinesthetic mode. Type Two learners are “multimodal” who scores greater than thirty; these types of learners are able to use a combination of learning modes at one time, which also reinforces what the learner is learning. An example of a multimodal learner would be using a flip chart (visual) in addition to listening to the lecturer (aural) at the same time without taking notes. Fleming, n. d) According to the participants’ VARK analysis, the participant scored a forty seven; Visual 10, Aural 9, Read /Write 14, Kinesthetic 14 is therefore, considered to be a multimodal learner who may alternate or combine any of the four modes depending on the learning situation. Preferred Learning Strategies In reference to the VARK analysis, the preferred multimodal learning strategies the Participant uses are all four modes as mentioned earlier.
In order of preference, the participant begins with The Read/write learning preference this allows the participant to read and absorb the information that will determine which additional learning preference the participant will incorporate. The participant also prefers the Visual mode; the participant use different colored highlighters when reading, prefers to sit up front, benefit from illustrations and presentations that use color, take detailed notes, utilizes e-media and on-line tutorials which allows the participant to envision the subject that is being taught.
The Kinesthetic mode allows the participant to reinforce what was learned in the Read/write and Visual modes having the ability to have hands on demonstration affirms what the participant is learning. Lastly, the Aural mode allows the participant to listen to lectures, group discussions, telephone conferences combined with the Read/write mode by taking notes. Comparison of Analysis to Preferred Learning Style
The Participant has found the VARK analysis, to be accurate on the participants’ learning preferences; the participant was aware of the existing visual learning preference but had not applied much thought towards the other three modes until taking the VARK questionnaire. This has given the participant a greater understanding of the personalized analysis learning process as well as the style of learning which will continue to incorporate all four modes which provide the participant a “clearer picture” from all angels of the learning process. Appraisal of Learning Style and Study Habits
Multimodal learners benefit from utilizing any of the four modes simultaneously. The participant was able to identify areas to improve in order to become a successful learner, the two characteristics that this multimodal learner struggles with is the excess amount of time it takes to process new learning material and to accomplish weekly assignments such as; discussion questions and papers which is not due to procrastination. Nevertheless, due to the endless hours the participant takes to gather and absorb all the data collected to complete an assignment, this has led to having lack of confidence in learning. Fleming, n. d) Although, this can be viewed by the participant as a disadvantage, the wealth of information gained can be shared knowledge with others such as nurses, physicians and teachers. Learning styles play a vital role in a learners’ learning process, without identifying a learning style this would this would hinder a learner to identify which style the learner may excel in perhaps impact the learner in a negative way by becoming discouraged to learn and further their education. Zhou, 2011) References Fleming, N. (n. d. ). The VARK Questionnaire: How do I learn best?. Retrieved October 8, 2011 From http://www. vark-learn. com/english/page. asp? =questionnaire LDPride (n. d). www. ldpride. net/learning_style. html. Retrieved October 8, 2011, from www. ldpride. net Zhou, M. (2011). Learning Styles and Teaching Styles in college English teaching. International Educational Studies, 4(1), 73-77.
