Learning Styles

In the Specialist Centre, we talk about the way people learn. One of the simplest ways to think about this is by thinking about whether you are a visual, auditory, read/write or kinaesthetic learner.
You can check how you learn by doing a simple questionnaire.  Have a go at answering the questions on line. Click here to open the VARK questionnaire.  Alternatively, click here to print out a copy of the questionnaire.

© Copyright Version 4.1 (2004) held by Neil D. Fleming, Christchurch, New Zealand and Charles C. Bonwell, Green Mountain Falls, Colorado 80819 U.S.A.
 
GOOD WAYS TO LEARN, REMEMBER AND REVISE – VARK
Visual Learners
Learn by 'seeing'
Good ways for you to learn or revise are;
  • Mind maps
  • Watch films and videos
  • Make pictures in your head
  • Add pictures to your notes
  • Highlight your work
  • Label diagrams
  • Make brightly coloured check lists
  • Make drawing, pictures and charts of your work
  • Make drawing of points to remember and explain them to a friend
  • Close your eyes and try to remember how things look on the page
  • Write out words and check that they ‘look right’
Auditory Learners
Learn by 'hearing'
Good ways for you to learn are;
  • Read notes out loud
  • Revise with a friend or parent – discuss, or they ask you questions
  • Make a tape
  • Create rhymes and songs about topic
  • Ask someone to give your key words and you explain them
  • Talk through a mind map of a topic
  • Ask someone else to read out notes to you
  • Read notes, say what you remember to a friend
  • Explain notes to someone who doesn’t know about the topic
  • Listen to music while learning
Read/Write
Learn by 'reading and writing '
Good ways for you to learn are;
  • Label diagrams
  • Redraw a mind map from memory and check with original
  • Draw a poster to illustrate main points
  • Makes a list of questions that could be asked
  • Read a chapter of text book and compare with own notes
  • Re-write notes
  • Summarise notes onto cards and file in box
Kinaesthetic Learners
Learn by 'doing'
You need to be physically active while you learn
Good ways for you to learn are:
  • Work for short periods of time
  • Juggle while reciting
  • Walk up and down steps – remember a fact for each step
  • Place notes/lists around your room
  • Create lists of key points to say while skipping
  • Clock game
  • Write brief notes on cards and keep them in your pocket
  • Discuss work with a friend or parent
  • Make a test for a friend
  • Write spellings in the air or on paper with finger
  • Practice in rough and then write in neat