VARK and Learning Styles Essays - Education, Learning,

VARK Help Sheets Study Practices Keyed to VARK Preferences Your VARK preferences can be used to help you develop additional, effective strategies for learning. From the choices below, select your particular preference(s) to see how you should: take in information; study information for effective learning; study for performing well on an examination. Visual Study Strategies (V) Key words: different formats, space, graphs, charts, diagrams, maps and plans Description: Thispreference uses symbolism and different formats, fonts and colors to emphasize important points. It does not include video and pictures that show real images and it is not Visual merely because it is shown on a screen. You want the whole picture so you are probably holistic rather than reductionist in your approach. You are often swayed by the look of an object. You are interested in color and layout and design and you know where you are in your environment. You are probably going to draw something. Aural Strategies (A): Key words: listening, discussing, talking, questioning, recalling Description: This preference is for information that is spoken or heard and the use of questioning is an important part of a learning strategy for those with this preference. You prefer to have this document explained to you. The written words are not as valuable as those you hear. You will probably go and tell somebody about this. If you have a strong preference for learning by Aural methods (A = hearing) you should use some or all of the following: INTAKE To take in the information: Attend classes Attend discussions and tutorials Discuss topics with others Discuss topics with your teachers Explain new ideas to other people Use a tape recorder Remember the interesting examples, stories, jokes Describe the overheads, pictures and other visuals to somebody who was not there Leave spaces in your notes for later recall and filling' SWOT - Study without tears To make a learnable package: Convert your "notes" into a learnable package by reducing them (3:1) Your notes may be poor because you prefer to listen. You will need to expand your notes by talking with others and collecting notes from the textbook. Put your summarized notes onto tapes and listen to them. Ask others to hear' your understanding of a topic. Read your summarized notes aloud. Explain your notes to another aural' person. OUTPUT To perform well in any test, assignment or examination: Imagine talking with the examiner. Listen to your voices and write them down. Spend time in quiet places recalling the ideas. Practice writing answers to old exam questions. Speak your answers aloud or inside your head. Read/Write Strategies (R) Key words: lists, notes and text in all its formats and whether in print or online. Description: This preference uses the printed word as the most important way to convey and receive information. You like this page because the emphasis is on words and lists. You believe the meanings are within the words, so any talk is OK but this handout is better. You are heading for the library. If you have a strong preference for learning by Reading and Writing (R W) learning you should use some or all of the following: INTAKE To take in the information: Lists Headings Dictionaries Glossaries Definitions Handouts Textbooks Readings - library Notes (often verbatim) Teachers who use words well and have lots of information in sentences and notes Essays Manuals (computing and laboratory) SWOT - Study without tears To make a learnable package: Convert your "notes" into a learnable package by reducing them (3:1) Write out the words repeatedly. Read your notes (silently) repeatedly. Rewrite the ideas and principles into other words. Organize any diagrams, graphs into statements, e.g., "The trend is" Turn reactions, actions, diagrams, charts and flows into words. Imagine your lists arranged in multiple-choice questions and distinguish each from each. OUTPUT To perform well in any test, assignment or examination: Write exam answers. Practice with multiple-choice questions. Write paragraphs, beginnings and endings. Write your lists (a, b, c, d, or 1, 2, 3, 4). Arrange your words into hierarchies and points. Kinesthetic Strategies (K) Key words: senses, practical exercises, examples, cases, trial and error. Description: This preference uses your experiences and the things that are real even when they are shown in pictures and on screens. You want to experience the exam so that you can understand it. The ideas on this page are only valuable if they sound practical, real, and relevant to you. You need to do things to understand. If you have a strong Kinesthetic preference for learning you should use some or all of the following: INTAKE To take in the information: All your senses - sight, touch, taste, smell,