What is a learning style?
Generally, learning styles are categories that describe the different ways that individuals learn. Each category is given a label that sums up its dominant learning characteristics (Rolfe & Cheek, 2012).
Learning Style Theories
Below is a list of important learning style theories:
Theorist: David Kolb (1984, as cited in Rolfe & Cheek, 2012)
Model: Experiential Model
Learning Styles: Concrete experience
Reflective observation
Abstract conceptualisation
Active experimentation
Theorists: Peter Honey & Alan Mumford
(1992, as cited in Rolfe & Cheek, 2012)
Model: Learning Cycle
Learning Styles: Activist
Reflector
Theorist
Pragmatist
Theorist: Neil Fleming (Fleming & Mills, 1992)
Model: VARK Model
Learning Styles: Visual
Auditory
Read/Write
Kinesthetic
Theorists: Richard Felder & Silverman
(Felder & Silverman, 1988)
Model: Index of Learning Styles
Learning Styles: Active
Sensing
Visual
Sequential
Theorists: John Schindler & Harrison Yang
(2005, as cited in Johnson & Broadley, 2011)
Model: Paragon Learning Inventory
Learning Style: Introversion-extraversion
Intuition – sensation
Thinking-feeling
Judging-perceiving
Which model?
We will be using the VARK model on this blog because it was specifically designed for Higher Education. The VARK model has four different learning styles (Fleming & Mills, 1992; Fleming, 1992, as cited in Becker, Kehoe, & Tennent, 2007):
Visual (V) - prefers to absorb information in graphic form
(diagrams, charts, images). They also use colour and
layout to understand and learn.
Auditory (A) - prefers to have things explained verbally, rather than
read and explore things by themselves
Read/Write (R) - prefers to absorb knowledge by reading about it and
making notes and lists
Kinesthetic (K) - prefers to actively “do” things to learn. They enjoy
practical learning activities.
Multimodal (MM) - possess a strong preference for two or more of the
four learning styles
Testing Tool
Most learning style models also have a testing tool to determine individual learning style.
Are you ready to find out your learning style?
Introduction Activity
1. Click on this link (Vark Learning, 2016):
http://vark-learn.com/the-vark-questionnaire/
2. Take the quiz.
3. Post a comment below, introducing yourself, your VARK result, and
whether or not the result surprised you.