Students opt for various tactics like flashcards, listening to professor’s recorded lectures, or using complex mnemonic devices to learn the study material at hand.
Students usually fight over the best learning method, but the truth is that not one learning method can suit everyone. Different methods have been developed by scientists and psychologists to understand how different people learn.
Out of many models for different types of learner, the VARK model is the most popular model to describe various types of learner. According to this model, there are a total of four types of learner such as visual, auditory, reading/writing, and kinesthetic. Each learner responds in a different way to a different type of teaching.
There are several factors, such as their emotional and cognitive factors, and also the environment they brought up in, on which learning style of students depend. A teacher has to develop different classroom strategies and incorporate various teaching methods to teach students effectively.
The VARK model assists teachers to do this. The VARK model is built on the idea that each student perceives and process information in a different way and have “preferred learning method” which helps them to learn and retain information.
The confidence of students increases when they can access information in a way, they are comfortable. It has been observed that students who have identified their learning style are generally more confident and score better than students who have not identified a learning method that works for them. In this article, you will learn about the four different types of learner classified according to the VARK model.
1) Visual
This type of learners usually prefers to acquire information using maps, charts, diagrams, graphs etc. Teachers can use images to explain ideas and concepts to teach visual learner.
Visual learners cannot learn from photographs and videos; however, they can grasp very quickly when information is presented to them using shapes and patterns, or other visual teaching aids. One should avoid written or spoken words to teach a visual learner.
The best way is to use graphic organizers while teaching in a classroom along with traditional teaching techniques. For example, a science concept can be explained properly with the help of flow charts.
2) Auditory :
Auditory learners can acquire and retain information better when information is presented to them in audio form. Therefore, auditory learners learn better by listening to lectures or participating in group discussion or debates. This type of learners usually records lectures to listen to them later to revise lessons.
The learner of this preference sort things by speaking out rather than first sorting ideas and later speaking them out.
To teach this type of learners, a teacher should indulge class in activities which requires discussion or explaining concepts by speaking such as group discussion, presentations etc. other than that teachers can also upload audio of lectures on their websites so that students can use them to learn better.
3) Reading/writing preferences :
Learners with reading/writing preferences are called intrapersonal learners. This type of learner learns better when information is presented to them in written form. Learners who have reading/writing preferences love to read and perform better on written assignments like writing stories, book report, or summaries.
They lay emphasis on text-based input and output of information in reading or writing form and a great way to teach them is to make them read things out loudly or make them describe things from charts or diagrams in written form.
This technique will help them to retain information for a long time and they can also make the use of their notes for revision.
4) Kinesthetic :
This type of learners makes the use of tactile experiences to learn something and use the information in physical activities to understand it better. Kinesthetic learners are active learners.
They connect everything with reality to put it in practice. This type of learners have an active imagination and they learn things either by simulation or by creating scenarios in their heads. To teach this type of learners, the teacher should give them working examples of an idea, or concept or better give them a task to recreate experiments to explain a concept.
Other than these four types of learners of the VARK model, there are three more types of learners who use different methods and techniques to learn something. Read further to learn about them.
5) Logical learners :
Logical learners are organized learners. They make a list of tasks and always try to connect one piece of a puzzle to another piece of the puzzle.
This type of learners usually fit for subjects like mathematics, science or other logical subjects in college or school. These learners voluntarily take on the leader’s role in lab assignments, because of their nature of putting think in order and neat way. Sometimes these students are difficult to teach because they are out of box thinking. They seek and trust on facts than relying on sentiments.
They can be seen winning chess matches or defeating their opponents in mathematics tournaments. They are good at debates because of their love for facts. Logical learners usually opt for professions like an engineer, mathematics or science teacher, or other related careers. The best way to teach logical learners is by tossing puzzles on them to solve or asking them to crack a mystery.
The best way to utilize their logical ability is by challenging them mentally and push them to go out of their comfort zone. It is challenging for teachers of this type of learners to make them use their creative side of the brain and to make them believe that things aren’t always right or wrong; there is sometimes opinion also.
6) Social learners :
This type of learners learns better in a group and can be found almost everywhere in school. They are part of all activities be its extracurricular activities, sports, debate, band, or mingling with fellow-students or teachers throughout the day.
They are always active in class and don’t hesitate to talk about their views or thoughts about the topic being discussed in the class.
To teach this type of learners, teachers should find creative ways to keep them engage and serve them as they thrive by indulging them in various activities from reading out loud to acting out a scene from plays or dramas.
7) Solitary learners :
This type of learners is usually considered shy and introverted because keep to themselves most of the time. They are sometimes mistaken as being rude and harsh because of their unsocial nature.
They usually tend to avoid group activities and perform well when given a chance to solve a problem on their own. Their solitary behavior should be celebrated and fostered. Give them time to be comfortable in their skin and come out of their shell to take part in group or class activities.
Teachers should make extra efforts to keep them engaged in the class by asking them questions because this type of learners usually have a habit to get lost in their own world. This type of learners is very serious about their goals in whatever they do. Therefore, teachers should be ready to answer all their queries and help them to learn beyond the curriculum.
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