VARK Analysis Paper

Learning Styles

Dayana Fornaris

Grand Canyon University

Learning is an essential aspect of one’s life despite his or her age. A learning style describes a unique manner in which an individual gathers, understands, and maintains data or information (Kharb et al., 2013). Over several decades, the research has proved that each continually prefers varying learning styles. Moreover, it is worth to note that each person has a combination of learning techniques although some of the people might realize that they have a principal mode of learning. Individual’s previous experience and the environmental factors are some of the aspects that affect the learning styles of a person (Lee & Kim, 2014). The following discussion will primarily focus on my learning styles. Comment by Sandi Coufal: You are missing a title page. All APA papers need a title page. Comment by Sandi Coufal: When a source has less than 6 authors, you have to cite all of the authors with the first citation and then you can use et al when citing this source. Comment by Sandi Coufal: Great introduction and thesis!! Do not use first or second person in your academic writing. Your papers need to be written in 3rd person.

Learning style has emerged to be a complicated concept because an individual is unique in a manner such that the way in which a person acquires, understands and maintains the information varies. It is through the use of the VARK model that people can realize more about their learning style as the scores of the VARK questionnaire gives specific results. The results of the VARK tests show that I have a multimodal learning preference. This preferred mode of learning is primarily based on Aural, Reading/Writing, and Kinesthetic (ARK) learning styles. Based on the scores attained from the VARK tests, both aural and kinesthetic modes are dominant in my multimodal learning preference. Both auditory and kinesthetic have achieved the same scoreline of ten points whereas the reading/writing style got eight points.

Nonetheless, being an auditory learner means that one understands new concepts mainly by listening and speaking in different incidences like in a group discussion. Also, it indicates the implementation of repetition as a method of acquiring further information hence the need to have several mnemonic devices to foster retaining and retrieval of the learned ideas. The read/write mode of learning asserts that a person will learn easily via the use of words. Being an avid reader of the printed media, and one typically take notes whenever studying or listening to almost all the lectures. Embracing the kinesthetic learning style implies that a person effectively understands information when it is represented in concrete or demonstrative manner. Such a learner is excellent through hands-on-experience. That is, understanding new concepts by working on them physically. The multimodal learning preference has been advantageous to me since the different styles of learning are valid based on the prevailing circumstances. These styles tend to supplement each other thus increasing the possibility of best understanding new information despite being shared through different modes. The identification of learning will directly influence the behavior because a person can now match it with the most appropriate learning strategies based on the current situations (Bhagat, Vyas & Singh, 2015).

The preferred learning strategies include the following:

· Read/write strategies

· Kinesthetics strategies

· Aural strategies (Bhagat, Vyas & Singh, 2015).

The VARK questionnaire tests indicate that people must embrace a multimodal strategy to enhance the favorite learning style. My preferred learning strategies coincide with those provided by VARK results apart from the inclusion of the visual strategies. The multimodal approach encompasses visual, aural, read/write, and kinesthetic strategies. The aural strategy is given a priority if the provider of information is speaking or can be heard. Mainly, the aural approach requires the learner to ask several questions to enhance idea conceptualization. The learners applying aural strategy must engage themselves in discussing, listening, and asking questions among other practices. The read/write plans imply that learner primarily uses printed words to share or receive information; thus, the use of practices such as note-taking, the listing of ideas, rewriting, etc. The kinesthetic (physical) strategies require the learner to use all his senses. These strategies are based on the hands-on experience of the learner towards the new idea and the ability to internalize and create new things even when represented in the form of images or pictures (Bhagat, Vyas & Singh, 2015). The learner who uses this kind of strategies profoundly embraces tendencies such as trial and error experiments, practical tests, and lots of examples. Comment by Sandi Coufal: Do not use etc. in your academic writing.

Although people have unique learning styles, it is the role of an individual to determine his or her best learning styles, preferences, and strategies. Such awareness is beneficial to both the learner and the teacher (instructor) in any learning environment as it improves the overall effectiveness (Lee & Kim, 2014). Whenever a learner identifies his or her best and preferred learning styles and strategies he or she can restructure his or her present studying practices to enhance the perception, interpretation, and retention of information in an improved manner. Consequently, the teachers or educators have the responsibility of identifying all the learning techniques to ensure that they apply them when conveying information to the learners thus increasing effectiveness. In general, this awareness will enable the teachers to tailor teaching plans and methods that will be based on the diverse learning styles of the recipients (Kharb et al., 2013). The learners are vital stakeholders in an education setting. Therefore, the teachers are obliged to satisfy the needs of the students adequately to ensure the establishment and maintenance of a culture of active learners not only in the classroom restrictions but also in the broad society. Furthermore, the teachers are expected to help the individual learners to establish their respective learning styles and strategies that suit them best. Awareness of the learning styles helps in minimization of the learning problems that affect the learners. Comment by Sandi Coufal: Great job!

References

Bhagat, A., Vyas, R., & Singh, T. (2015). Students’ awareness of learning styles and their perceptions to a mixed method approach for learning. International Journal of Applied and Basic Medical Research, 5(Suppl 1), S58.

Kharb, P., Samanta, P. P., Jindal, M., & Singh, V. (2013). The learning styles and the preferred teaching—learning strategies of first year medical students. Journal of clinical and diagnostic research: JCDR, 7(6), 1089.

Lee, B., & Kim, H. (2014). What Can We Learn from Our Learners' Learning Styles?. English Language Teaching, 7(9), 118-131.