Learning Styles Essay

Submitted By nmnelson46
Words: 916
Pages: 4

Assessing an Acknowledging your Learning Strategies: A Key to Success
Nicole Nelson
Grand Canyon University: NRS-429V Family-Centered Health Promotion
September 12, 2014

This paper will summarize a student's specific learning style by listing and comparing the student's preferred learning strategies, as well as discuss awareness of an individual's learning styles, preferences, and strategies that influence teaching and learning. “Learning strategies are used by students to help them understand information and solve problems. A learning strategy is a person's approach to learning and using information. Students who do not know or use good learning strategies often learn passively and ultimately fail in school. By being aware of one's own learning process it allows you to work effectively and efficiently” (Learning Strategies, 2014).
Summary of Learning Styles
VARK is a questionnaire that provides insight on how someone learns. After completing the questionnaire you are given a number score in four different categories. The highest number correlates with your strongest method of learning, here are the results as follows: Visual-4, Aural-8, Read/Write-5, and Kinesthetic-6. Aural learners tend to remember ideas that are spoken an are deemed great listeners, a lecture would be the preferred environment. Recording a lecture and replaying the tape helps the aural learner retain concepts. Kinesthetic learners enjoy an active learning environment. They use movement to help concentrate and are considered poor listeners. If the student was required to attend a lengthy lecture there would have to be breakout sessions in order for her to maintain focus. Studies show that 60% of the population has multiple preferences when it comes to learning (Fleming, 2011). Having multiple styles of learning is considered an advantage to this student because not all professors teach the same. This allows the student to use adaptive learning skills in order to comprehend information that is being presented in multiple fashions.

Preferred Learning Strategies The score this student received was somewhat shocking. She definitely falls into the multiple preference statistic but was surprised to see the visual score so low and the aural score so high. She agrees that her listening skills are up to par but becomes easily distracted when extensive listening is required, which is a characteristic that visual learners possess. This student suspected that the kinesthetic learning style would've prevailed. She prefers direct involvement when learning a new skill, by repeatedly preforming a task this action becomes second nature to her. The student believes that interactive and kinesthetic learning styles go hand in hand. She finds a small group discussion stimulating and informative. Communicating with other people provides her with others insight and point of view, she can then piece together what information she agrees with and form her own individualized approach. The student's preferred learning strategies are learning by consistent repetitive actions, observing, and discussing what is not understood. The identified strategies for the student's preferred learning style corresponds for the most part. The student is aware that it is imperative to have regular attendance to class. During class there is often time taken to discuss course material. During an after her notes are completed she reads the information aloud which is vital for comprehension. Kinesthetic learning strategies come into play when the student is able to apply material to a specific life experience or event. Using an array of examples while taking notes helps paint a vivid picture. The student has never recorded a lecture and taken notes from the recording this a suggestive tool that VARK supplied and she will have to try it out. “Most students can learn how to use strategies more effectively; when they do so, they become more self reliant and better able