LEARNING STYLES
VARK – Neil Fleming
Mind Styles – Dr. Anthony Gregorc
Multiple Intelligence – Howard Gardner
GOALS OF THE UNIT…
• To understand the different learning styles
• To identify your individual learning preferences
• To identify study techniques based on your learning preference
VARK Notes
How do you learn best?
VARK (Acronym)
Why VARK is important
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when a teacher lectures?
when a teacher writes on the board?
from a textbook?
working together in a group?
• Developed in 1987 by Neil Flemming
• Represents four types of learning styles:
V-isual
A- ural/Oral (British)
R -ead/Write
K –inesthetic
Understanding how you learn helps to define how
you should study.
VARK
V = Visual
Visual Learners rely on:
• Learners who have a preference for viewing
information in terms of graphic images.
• - Maps (traditional, GPS)
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Does NOT include:
Strategies/ Tips:
Outlines
Diagrams
Charts & graphs
Designs & patterns
• movies, videos or PowerPoint.
• Practice transferring words into...
(Ex): times-lines, Venn-Diagrams, character charts.
• Use color in your notes… (Ex): highlighter
VARK
A = Aural
• Prefer information "heard or spoken”
(Auditory)
Learn best from:
Strategies/ tips:
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listening to lectures and presentations,
watching tutorials,
debates
tapes,
group discussion,
email, and texting
Discussing concepts and talking things through
(includes talking out loud to yourself!)
• Study out loud with others, verbally quiz
yourself, and write down your thoughts
VARK
R = Read/ Write
Drawn to:
Strategies/ tips:
• Prefer information displayed as words;
• Reading and writing of all forms (academic skills)
•
-- PowerPoint,
– the internet,
– lists,
– books, magazines, journals
– dictionaries and thesauri
– Quotations and words, words, words...
• Re-write your notes longhand without symbols
and abbreviations.
• Write out the main point of diagrams in words.
• Make flash cards with lots of info and vocab.
VARK
K = Kinesthetic
• Preference to experience, move, touch, and do…
(5-senses)
• Connect through personal experiences, real-life
examples, practice and hand-on.
Includes:
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demonstrations,
simulations,
videos and movies of "real" things,
Role-play.
Field Trips
INTERESTING NUGGETS…
• Q: Are there differences in the VARK preferences of men and
women?
• A: Yes, Men have more Kinesthetic responses, Women score higher in
read/write responses.
• Q: Does knowing about your learning style contribute to improved learning?
• A: No. Think: Does knowing you have a disease cure the disease? …
Weighting yourself does not fix obesity. It is the next step that is important.
When people make changes to their learning based on their VARK preference, only
then will their learning will be enhanced. They do this by using strategies that align
with their preferences. It is what you do AFTER you learn of your preference that
has the potential to make a difference.
Journal Entry
Put your knowledge into practice. Take a current homework
assignment, or one that you can predict you will have, and write
out how you will complete this assignment utilizing your learning
style preference.