Education and Vark Questionnaire Essay

Submitted By pattyann472
Words: 931
Pages: 4

VARK Questionnaire: Best Learning Practices.
Patricia Mayer
Grand Canyon University

NRS 429V

February 8, 2015
VARK Questionnaire: Best Learning Practices.
According to Khanai, Koirala, and Shah Students have different learning styles, which is why there is so much diversity in the classrooms in regards to how students acquire information (Khanal, Shah, & Koirala, 2014, p. 1). To help assist students and teachers in creating a more favorable learning environment the VARK Questionnaire was created. VARK is a learning inventory categorized into instructional preference learning strategies model (Khanal et al., 2014, p. 1). The VARK Questionnaire will allow the user to learn, through answering questions, what their learning preferences are, and how to use them to increase their learning potential. The questionnaire consists of sixteen questions that ask the test taker about the ways they want to take-in or give-out information ("VARK FAQs," 2015).
Summary of Preferred Learning Strategies
There are four categories of learning styles, they are Visual, Aural, Read/Write, and Kinesthetic. Each category represents a way an individual learns best. The first category, Visual is best used by people who learn best by using visual aids or different formats of visual items such as graphs, charts, diagrams, maps, and plans. The second category, Aural is best used by individuals who learn best through discussions, stories, and speakers. The third category, Read/Write is best used by the individual us likes to learn by using lists, notes, and texts in all formats. The fourth category, Kinesthetic is best used by an individual who learns the most through their senses, practical exercises, examples, cases, and trial and error. ("VARK FAQs," 2015).
Identified Learning Strategies
This student learns best from the kinesthetic learning style. After doing some research reading on the topic at hand, this student will then apply what was learning through the reading to then perform the skills, or task that needs to be completed. Physically doing a task helps this student to better grasp the ideas and purpose of the skill while also doing the skill and learning proper techniques for the skill. Hands on performance allows this student to see where mistakes can happen, and where improvements can be made. This student also learns better in an environment where discussions or conversations about the topic can take place so that ideas and thoughts can be shared amongst peers.
After completing the VARK Questionnaire this student received the following results: Visual 1, Read/Write 3, Aural 4, and Kinesthetic 8 ("VARK Questionnaire," 2015). With a score of 8 out of 16 on the VARK, it was found that kinesthetic learning strategies are best used to create a good learning environment for this student. When used correctly, this student can use the kinesthetic learning to practice through hands on learning the topic and more information will be retained by the learner. When administered correctly the VARK model found that most students will have “multimodel learning preferences” meaning more than one learning strategies should be used to ensure that the student is learning the best possible way for them to gain the most knowledge (Prithishkumar & Michael, 2014, p. 185). In the instance of this student, the top two learning styles were aural and kinesthetic. It is agreed that these top two results on the VARK Questionnaire reflect what this student also believes their learning strategy strength are. This student stated they learn best by doing the skill or action, and by discussing it with their peers so that they can retain the most knowledge about the topic at hand. So for this student, the VARK Questionnaire seems to be very accurate and also