Learning styles

The VARK learning style
Kathy Husbands
Grand Canyon University
NSR 429
06/02/12

Learning styles

The VARK questionnaire results for Kathy Husbands taken 05.30.2012
Your scores were: * Visual: 10 * Aural: 12 * Read/write: 9 * Kinesthetic: 8
You have a multimodal ( VARK) learning preference
In the multimodal learning style one uses two or more learning styles together to achieve success.

Learning styles

The toddler takes hesitant steps, stumbles, falls and gets up to shakily totter across the room. The student repeating the multiplication tables aloud in a rhythmic fashion till he can recall a desire calculation at a moment’s notice. The little girl wearing heavy, poorly applied makeup and big shoes pretending to be mommy, are all examples of the way we learn. A human experiences and learns from his environment the skills needed to function and to develop. The brain being the center for all thought processes and learning, interprets all collected data gathered by the five senses depending on the lesson being learnt and the individual’s personal preference to learning that particular lesson. The VARK learning style is a highly rated technique using these senses. It was developed by Neil Fleming in 1987 to assist students identify how they gather and process data while learning. VARK separates learning styles as V-visual, A- aural, R-read and / or write and K- kinesthetic. To successfully learn one must utilize one, some or all of these styles also known as the multimodal learning experience.
A visual learner responds better to seeing colours, shapes, pictures, charts and graphs than written words. As children we learn by seeing and repeating or imitating our surroundings. Later we recognize and understand more complex colours, shapes and diagrams as they convey messages or directions. This style is easiest as it is understood by all despite language spoken or education. Across the globe we understand the meaning of the red, yellow and green of the traffic lights or the octagon stop sign. Factory workers with little or no education follow diagrams or patterns to make complex products like computers.

Learning styles

The spoken word is a quick and simple way of conveying information. The information to be learned can be adjusted to limitations of the learner’s age, education or language. With aural learning data is not just the spoken word or sounds or music but the tone has its own lesson of pertinent information which can indicate urgency, fear or sadness or other emotions. In the nursing profession where scared and confused patients have difficulty expressing themselves the nurse has to be an excellent listener. By listening with both her ears and eyes, as in watching for clues in the patient’s body language and actions the nurse can gather the objective and subjective data that is vital to the formulation of nursing diagnoses.
In the read and/ or write style of learning data can be digested at the learners pace with read and write and is easily accessible for review without losing content and misinterpretation is limited. Making lists, taking notes or excessive reading is major characteristics of this style. Most persons including me don’t like this but it is necessary especially in formal educational settings. To some who are very detailed oriented this style is key. To others it can be complicated, time consuming and bothersome, leading to stress and confusion and boredom. This is most evident when working with facts and figures in statistics or survey information.
The kinesthetic learning style is definitely for the active, creative or curious person. One learns through direct hands on interaction and return demonstration or experimentation. This style shows immediate results of what was learnt and the ability to re-evaluate the need for more teaching. A patient can give a return demonstration to prove understanding of how to use equipment, provide care or administer medications as prescribed. The instant gratification is an added bonus.
Learning styles

The VARK questionnaire results revealed my multimodal approach to learning. My learning process is primarily aural and visual with a significant emphasis on the read and write and kinesthetic learning styles. Multimodal learning, the combination of two or more styles is the most efficient style as one uses varying styles in different order. One may starts initially learning in the best style for the lesson and seamlessly switch to other styles to avoid confusion and enhance the initial style of learning. As my profile and personality suggests multimodal is most useful. I often talk with my hand and body language and vocal tones to emphasize my point. As a busy professional I can multitask while gathering vital information easily by aural and visual style. Then I can ensure complete understanding of the data by implementing read/write and kinesthetic styles.
I have always loved the traditional classroom learning environment and have functioned very well using my multimodal style of learning. I a free spirit , very impatient with a short attention span who bores easily so I need to frequently shift learning style focus to achieve success. In the past I was most comfortable with more human interaction and old fashion methods of teaching, however with the advent of modern technology I ‘m learning to embrace new learning styles and adapt to maintain my own success. My limited typing skills and the likelihood of computer crashes has caused me to avoid rushed assignments and last minute studying. Thus proving that a lifetime of established habits can be reconfigured to the every evolving world we live in and I must and can change along with it. And so I will.

Learning styles

References
VARK. A guide to learning styles. Questionnaire. Retrieved May 30 2012 from http://www.vark-learn.com/english/page.asp?p

Fleming, N. (2012). Introduction to Vark. Retrieved from http://legacy.hazard.kctcs.edu/VARK/introduction.htm