VARK: A Guide to Learning Styles Analysis Paper

What is VARK
The acronym VARK stands for Visual, auditory, read/write, and kinesthetic. These four sensory modalities are used to determine an individual’s learning style. Based on an individual’s specific learning style, teaching and learning plans can be developed to teach effectively and to learn the material in one’s own style (Fleming, 2014). Summary of Preferred Learning Style

My preferred learning style is multimodal based on VARK questionnaire results. According to Fleming (2014), most people fall into multimodal learning style category. 60% of the population who have taken VARK questionnaire fits into multimodal learning style category. Multimodal learning style is very interesting and is very different from visual, auditory, read/write and kinesthetic style itself in a unique way that it includes variety of strong learning styles. For example, based on VARK questionnaire, multimodal learning style results indicated that my scores were five for visual, five for aural, four for read/write, and five for kinesthetic.

Out of those four learning style, three learning style has equal value of five and one has value of four which is just a number less than the other three learning styles. The most useful benefit of multimodal learning style is that multimodal learners can easily switch to the learning style being used for teaching by a teacher or an educator. In addition, they can easily adapt to the learning style of a person whom they are providing education in a teaching process. Therefore, multimodal learning style provides a variety of strong learning mode choices to use for during learning and during teaching sessions Fleming, 2014). List of Preferred Learning Strategies

As I have explained earlier, multimodal learning style includes visual, auditory, read/write and kinesthetic style. Multimodal learners should use all the learning styles with highest scores in their learning. For example, visual, aural, and kinesthetic mode will be included in my learning style due to the fact that each of the three learning mode’s total score was five based on VARK questionnaire. In addition, read/write with a total score of four would also benefit to some extent in order to learn the new material (Fleming, 2014). Comparison of Preferred Learning Strategies to the Identified Strategies of Preferred Learning Style My preferred learning strategies include visual strategies with a total score of five, aural strategies with a total score of five, read/write strategies with a total score of four, and kinesthetic strategies with a total score of five.

Preferred learning style is a multimodal learning style which includes all of the above mentioned four learning modes. First of all, visual learning strategies include looking at pictures, postures, slides, diagrams, graphs, flow charts, and underlining and highlighting the key words during learning. After the teaching session is over, a visual learner should recall visual images used during learning and should practice turning visual images into words again to be able to write if needed for examination. Secondly, Aural learning strategies include attending classes and then discussing with others to hear from them, attending tutorials, discussing topics with educators, using a tape recorder to record lecture and then listening to it, and reading notes aloud to hear then again in order to remember material.

Third, Read/write learning strategies include writing and rewriting key words and ideas, making a new list from diagrams and graphs, reading notes silently over and over, and practicing examination by writing answers. Lastly, kinesthetic learning strategies include using all the senses to learn material via demonstration. It includes experimenting in laboratories, field trips to learn new ideas, listening to lecture which includes real life examples, hands-on training, try out samples, recalling the experiments, and practicing examinations. Multimodal learning style incorporates visual, aural, read/write, and kinesthetic learning strategies (Fleming, 2014).

Influence of Awareness of Preferred Learning Style, Preferences, and Strategies on Teaching and Learning The awareness of an individual’s preferred learning style, preferences, and strategies have a huge impact on the learning process and the teaching process. A person can use the learning strategies to learn the new material and to teach effectively to others. Based on the VARK questionnaire, a person would first determine his or her learning style. Then a learning plan would be developed to learn the material based on specific learning style. Awareness of learning style, preferences, and strategies helps people learn easily in their own style. Consequently, people who struggled previously without knowing their learning style would succeed in their life (Montgomery and Groat, 1998). Most people do not know their learning style.

They have trouble learning and remembering due to the fact that they are learning in a different style than of their own (Montgomery and Groat, 1998). For example, my son who is 9th grader always has difficulty with remembering material being taught in the class. He tries very hard to learn the material. For some reasons, he just could not get better grades. It caused frustration for him. He was not using any specific learning style. He was unaware of his learning style. He used VARK questionnaire today and found out that he is kinesthetic learner. He will be using the kinesthetic learning style. I’m hoping to see his grades improving.

It will promote his education. The main role of the nurse is to provide education to patients and families. Education results into change of unhealthy behaviors into healthy behaviors in order to prevent diseases and promote health of individuals. Nurses are always providing education to their patients and families on daily basis while practicing nursing. (Grand Canyon University, 2011). Nurses must first assess the learning style of each individual patient in order for patient to learn the new material and for nurse to be able to provide effective teaching. Assessing learning style prior to providing education will benefit patient in learning and nurse in successful teaching.

References
Fleming, N. (2014). VARK. A Guide to Learning Styles. Retrieved on September 20, 2014, from http://www.vark-learn.com/english/results.asp
Grand Canyon University. (2011). Grand Canyon University of Nursing Philosophy. Phoenix,
AZ.
Montgomery, S. M, & Groat, L. N. (1998). Student Learning Styles and Their Implications for
Teaching. Retrieved on September 20, 2014 from
http://www.crlt.umich.edu/sites/default/files/resource_files/CRLT_no10.pdf