What Is Your Learning Style?

Auditory Visual Kinesthetic (AVK) modes of learning incorporate sound, sight, and touch into the learning process.  By incorporating all three modes together, it allows for more avenues of input to the brain, which make learning easier.  Most people have a particular strength (for example, mine is visual) but by incorporating as many modes of input together into a learning experience, it can not only strengthen the weaker modes but make long term recall of the information learned much easier.

I came across a questionnaire called the VARK (Visual Aural Read-Write and Kinesthetic) which is divided into four modes of learning.  There are 16 items in the questionnaire, and you are to check the answer(s) that best match your preference for each situation.  You are to check more than one box if the answer applies to you.  At the end of the questionnaire you are given the results of your learning style preference which may be multimodal (more than one mode), visual, aural, read-write, or kinesthetic.

After you complete the questionnaire, or if you prefer not to take the questionnaire, you can read the VARK Helpsheets which give you study strategies for each mode type.  I believe it is beneficial to understand your own mode of learning because you are then better able to understand the other modes of learning.  Whether you are homeschooling, teaching in the classroom, doing speech therapy, or just playing at home with your kids, by making a learning environment multimodal (AVK or VARK) you are much more likely to meet the needs and strengths of every child and create the success you desire.  Also, when age appropriate, I believe it is beneficial to take the time to teach each child about his own learning style and preferences.  You can then teach him the study strategies that will build on his strengths and make learning the easiest and most enjoyable for him.