VARK is an assessment tool developed by Neil Fleming and David Baum in 1987. The questionnaire assesses a persons’ learning style. Learning style refers to the way a person gathers, processes, organizes and thinks about information ("Learning styles," n.d.). The acronym VARK refers to visual, auditory, read/write and kinesthetic (Fleming & Baum, 2006). VARK is utilized by students and teachers to assist in determining which learning technique or combinations of techniques are used by the person being tested.
This tool will allow a person to identify and understand ones strengths and weaknesses which can lead to strategies to help strengthen any identified weaknesses. There are a multiple of learning environments which a student must adapt to. These various environments require a person to implement different learning styles for their own success. The results of the VARK questionnaire will capitulate number results for each learning style and indicate how an individual functions in each kind of learning style. Usually the results will reveal one or two types of learning styles in which the person excels (Bednarik,R., & Franti,P., 2004). Here are the results from an individual that recently took the VARK online assessment. Visual=3, Aural=6, Read/Write=2, Kinesthetic=6. As seen, the score of the test reveals an equality on kinesthetic and aural styles of learning, and an inadequacy in read/write (Fleming & Baum, 2006). This assessment shows the individual where their strengths and weaknesses lie. Understanding ones’ learning preference can be helpful. An individual can use this tool to recognize and work on any academic weaknesses. This tool can also be used to develop a teaching style suitable for various type of learners. To do this you must understand all the different styles of learning as presented by VARK.
The visual style of learning is