Learning styles is a term used to refer to the methods of gathering, processing, interpreting, organizing, and thinking about information. Students have different learning styles, which shows up in the classroom in the different ways that students acquire information. (Marcy, 2001).

There have been various models developed to explain different learning styles. These include models described by various educationists such as Dunn and Dunn, Felder-Silverman, Salmes, Honey and Murnford, Kolb and VARK. (Othman and Amiruddin, 2010).

The acronym “VARK” is used to describe four modalities of student learning that were described in a 1992 study by Neil D. Fleming and Coleen E. Mills (Fleming and Mills, 1992). The VARK inventory was developed in an effort to improve faculty development and to help students become better learners (Marcy, V., 2001). VARK is an acronym, which stands for visual, aural, read/write, and kinesthetic preference modalities. This learning style classifies students into four different learning modes, each mode based on different preferred senses used in information gathering namely visual (V), aural (A), read/write (R), and kinesthetic (K) (Fig.1).

The VARK© inventory includes a questionnaire that identifies a person's sensory modality preference. The VARK model has been validated by Dr. Walter Leite from the Research and Evaluation Methodology program at the University of Florida (Lejte et al.,2010). Assessment for the VARK guide to learning styles involves answering simple questions about preferences for learning. The easily accessible Web site, located at http://www.vark-learn.com, asks only 16 questions, which are then analyzed to determine the test takers favored learning style. The instrument is available in several languages.

These different learning styles were identified after thousands of hours of classroom observation. The authors also created an accompanying questionnaire for educators to give to students to help them identify and understand their own learning preferences.

Visual learners (V) learn by looking at image intense figures, graphics, and videos. They like to use symbolic tools such as arrows, flowcharts, graphs, models, and hierarchies, which represent printed information. They teach concepts to others by drawing an image orpicture (Murphy et al., 2004).

Aural learners (A) give particular attention to words delivered by teachers (Drago and Wagner,2004). They prefer to listen than taking down detailed lecture notes; they like discussions and seminars and like listening to mp3 recordings of lecturers. (Othman and Amiruddin, 2010). Aural learners can remember information through loud reading or even low volume mouthing when reading (Fleming, 1995).

Read/Write learners (R) read printed texts to gain information.They like lecture notes, handouts, and text books. Besides, they are keen note-takers (Drago and Wagner, 2004).

Kinesthetic learners (K) prefer hands on experience, practical application, use of models, and real life experience. They like experiential learning and prefer to apply touch,movement, and interaction to their learning environment. They dislike merely listening even in an image intense environment; typically kinesthetic students are passive in the classroom setting (Drago and Wagner, 2004).

A variety of methods, modes, andmaterials should be available, but the best opportunities for learning are created from anawareness and use of individual learning styles. A summary of the VARK learning stylecharacteristics and suggested teaching strategies are presented in Table 1

Table 1. VARK learning styles, characteristics, and teaching strategies. (URL-2)

For teachers, it’s extremely important to understand learning styles and how they impact the students in the classroom. Each student will have their own preferred learning style, and teachers can help create activities that cater to different learning styles to help more students learn effectively. Learn more about the visual learning style and how you can implement it in your classroom.

The visual learning style is fairly self-explanatory. It’s all about seeing things in order to learn them. This can take many forms, from spatial awareness, colors and tones, brightness and contrast, and other visual information. Visual learning examples include watching a video or in-person demonstration of cooking a meal, following a diagram to build furniture, looking at a graph to understand statistics, writing instructions on a white board for people to follow, and more. Visual learning focuses on what we can see, so anything that is looked at or watched is part of visual learning (URL-3).

Learners who gravitate toward visual learning appreciate seeing things in order to help them learn, rather than hearing or experiencing them. Understanding learners who prefer to be taught visually is important for teachers who want to create lesson plans that help all their students (URL-4).

Visual learners have specific characteristics that make their learning method unique. In school, visual learners typically (URL-3):

• Remember what they read rather than what they hear
• Prefer reading a story rather than listening to it
• Learn from seeing things written out on a chalkboard
• Use diagrams and charts to understand ideas and concepts
• Take notes during class or while listening to presentations
• Study by looking over things
• Are good at spelling
• Use color to organize information
• Need quiet study time
• Often prefer to work alone rather than in groups
• May not understand verbal instructions
• Ask a lot of questions to seek clarification
• Need to be able to see the teacher

Teachers can work to implement many visual learning strategies in their classrooms to help visual learners thrive. It’s vital for teachers to work to implement these kind of visual techniques into their classroom so students have many opportunities for learning. Some of these strategies include (URL-4):

• Using visual aids like images, diagrams, videos, etc.
• Grouping visual learners together during group projects so they can harness their strengths
• Allowing reflection time after lessons so visual learners can visualize their work
• Encourage visual learners to color code their notes (science teachers may see benefits from this)
• Incorporating color into presentations and assignments
• Giving written instructions for assignments (this can be particularly beneficial for math teachers)
• Write to-do lists and agendas on the white board so students who prefer visual styles can actually see the plan
• Give time for reading in-class so visual learners have the opportunity to learn better
• Show students how to make vocabulary flashcards
• Provide written feedback on assignments (a great option for English teachers)

Additional Visual Learning Videos:

References:

Drago, W.A. and Wagner, R.J. (2004), "Vark preferred learning styles and online education", Management Research News, Vol. 27 No. 7, pp. 1-13. Retrieved on July 29, 2021, from https://doi.org/10.1108/01409170410784211.

Fleming, N. D. and Mills, C. (2010), “Not Another Inventory, Rather a Catalyst for Reflection”, Improve the Academy, Vol. 11, 1992, Page 137. Retrieved on July 29, 2021, from researchgate.net/publication/241605288_Not_Another_Inventory_Rather_a_Catalyst_for_Reflection

Fleming, N.D. (1995), “I'm different; not dumb. Modes of presentation (VARK) in the tertiary classroom”, in Zelmer,A., (ed.) Research and Development in Higher Education, Proceedings of the 1995 Annual Conference of the Higher Education and Research Development Society of Australasia (HERDSA), Vol. 18, pp. 308 - 313

Leite WL, Svinicki M, Shi Y. (2010), “Attempted validation of scores of the VARK: Learning styles inventory with multitrait-multimethod confirmatory factor analysis models”, Educ Psychol Meas 2010;70:323-39.

Marcy, V. (2001), “Adult Learning Styles: How the VARK© Learning Style Inventory Can Be Used to Improve Student Learning”, Perspective on Physician Assistant Education, Vol. 12, No. 2. Retrieved on July 29, 2021, from https://journals.lww.com/jpae/Citation/2001/07000/AdultLearningStyles__How_the_VARK_LearningStyle.7.aspx

Murphy RJ, Gray SA, Straja SR, Bogert MC. (2004), “Student learning preferences and teaching implications”, J Dent Educ 2004;68:859-66. Retrieved on July 29, 2021, from https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/j.0022-0337.2004.68.8.tb03835.x?sid=nlm%3Apubmed

Othman N, Amiruddin MH. (2010), “International conference on learner diversity. Different perspectives of learning styles from VARK model”, Procedia Soc Behav Sci 2010;7:652-60.

URL-1: “VARK a Guide to Learning Preferences”. Retrieved on July 29, 2021, from https://vark-learn.com/

URL-2: “Assessing Learning Styles: Practical Tips for Patient Education”. Retrieved on July 29, 2021, from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/51523079_Assessing_Learning_Styles_Practical_Tips_for_Patient_Education

URL-3. “Visual Learning Style: Definition & Characteristics”. Retrieved on July 29, 2021, from https://study.com/academy/lesson/visual-learning-style-definition-characteristics.html.

URL-4. “Visual learning style and strategies for teachers”. Retrieved on July 29, 2021, from https://www.wgu.edu/blog/visual-learning-style-strategies2007.html#openSubscriberModal

Additional Resources about Visual Learning:

• Different Learning Styles: https://www.time4learning.com/learning-styles/
• 4 Different Learning Styles You Should Know: The VARK Model: https://educationonline.ku.edu/community/4-different-learning-styles-to-know
• Visual Strategies: https://vark-learn.com/strategies/visual-strategies/
• Visual Learning: 6 Reasons Why Visuals Are The Most Powerful Aspect Of eLearning: https://elearningindustry.com/visual-learning-6-reasons-visuals-powerful-aspect-elearning
• Visual Learning Style: https://www.time4learning.com/learning-styles/visual-spatial.html
• Do Teachers Have Preferences? https://vark-learn.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Do-Teachers-Have-Preferences.pdf

Additional Visual Learning Videos:

• TEDxManhattanBeach - Melanie West - Visual and Auditory Learning - How To Teach It: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KyAaxHvUGog
• Teaching Math Without Words, A Visual Approach to Learning Math: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7odhYT8yzUM

• Illusion of Visual Learning | Dr. Mikayel Minasyants | TEDxYSMU: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LbFHCEKDZz8

• Visual Learning Style: Definition & Characteristics: https://study.com/academy/lesson/visual-learning-style-definition-characteristics.html

• The Visual Learning Style: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qlqkjH3iSQo

• Teaching Strategies – LearningStyles: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNxCporOofo