Humans have distinct perspectives on the world. Similarly to how an educator may have a particular teaching approach, different students gravitate toward different learning styles. Neil Fleming, an educational theorist, created the VARK model in 1987 to assist explain how different people receive and remember information. The term VARK refers to the four most widely accepted learning styles: visual, auditory, reading/writing, and kinaesthetic.
VARK is still regarded as a fundamental framework for determining how a learner prefers to learn. The cognitive, emotional, and experiential variables that influence a child’s chosen learning style are often intertwined. However, not every youngster will fall neatly into one of these categories. In fact, some people may have a predilection for a variety of learning methods. Nonetheless, they continue to be a valuable resource for teachers to use in the classroom. If you’re a parent, these suggestions can assist you in creating a more conducive learning environment for your child.
Visual Education
Visual learners learn best by looking at things. This indicates that when knowledge is presented in the form of images such as photographs, mind-maps, and diagrams, the youngster understands it better. These students may also benefit from visual clues, such as color-coded text or simple infographics. They can also benefit from presentation slides and movies to help them understand. Students can doodle illustrations of new concepts on the whiteboard in the classroom, for example, to make sense of them in their own way. At home, you can engage your child in activities such as drawing or finger painting.
Learners who learn through audio
Aural learners, also known as auditory learners, are quick to pick up knowledge by sound. Instead of reading, he or she may prefer learning circumstances such as discussing a concept in a group with peers. Aural learners generally find that using memory devices (such as rhyming) is a useful study approach, and that reading aloud helps them retain knowledge better. Taking turns reading aloud with your child is another option. To help understanding, have the young learner verbally paraphrase topics in his or her own words, as learning through hearing and speaking comes effortlessly to such students. Children’s audiobooks are a good example of learning resources for aural learners.
Students who are learning to read and write
Learners who prefer to read and write are usually most at ease when they are working with text. Reading and rereading notes, converting schematics into simple words, and a propensity for long-form writing are only a few examples of textual interactions. Consider devoting some time each morning or evening to daily journaling or quiet reading at home. Educators can take use of a child’s inherent inclination for textual expression in the classroom by assigning creative writing exercises or teaching new vocabulary using flashcards. Although there are some similarities between reading/writing and visual learners, the former are more drawn to written expression.
Learners who are kinaesthetic
Kinaesthetic learners thrive on hands-on learning. These youngsters are tactile learners who enjoy using their hands to assimilate knowledge. Conducting a simple science experiment may be the most effective way for a kinaesthetic learner to grasp scientific concepts. Holding an ice cube in one’s hand, for example, might teach a child about the different stages of matter. Skits or role play may also be beneficial to your child’s learning of subjects. One strategy to engage these students is to incorporate movement into the lesson through dancing or games. Invite him or her to play out sequences from a text to genuinely put themselves in the shoes of a character. This is also a fantastic technique to stimulate the child’s imagination.
Learning is a personal experience.
The premise that learning is personal is at the heart of the VARK approach. We all have different ways of understanding, processing, and remembering information.
You will be better equipped to cater to your child’s individual learning abilities and select the most appropriate enrichment courses and learning tactics tailored to him or her if you have a deeper awareness of different learning styles.
