VARK Learning Style Analysis

2.1 VARK questionnaire

2.1.1 About VARK – 215

VARK learning style questionnaire was developed by Neil Fleming in 1987 when he was at Lincoln University and it is one most common test to help people identify the learning preference. VARK is an acronym for visual, aural, read/write and kinesthetic which also represented four different type of learning style (Fleming & Baume, 2006).

The brief descriptions of these four types are as following (Brown, Rich, & Holtham, 2014):

1. Visual - visual Learner is preferred to depict the information into charts, diagrams, and graphs. They learn best by seeing.

2. Aural - aural learner has preferred the instruction that is spoken or learns by heading. They learn best by hearing.

3. Read/Write – read/write

I agree with the result of read/write and visual. When I was a student, I prefer to take note in the lecture in order to deepen memory. When preparing the HKCEE examination, I wrote the note with many chart and diagram, then read it and write it again and again, I found it is easier for me to remember all the information and to comprehend the theory.

In working place, I prefer to analysis the data with different chart as it is clearer for me to follow up and track the process (Drago & Wagner, 2004). For example, I used to create the chart for production status and bulk order quantity record. I can quickly recall the detail of order and found the information when my supervisor asked for it.

Based on Fleming’s statement, I recognize I can take the information by using the graph, different colors highlighter and write / read out the notes to strengthen my memory. Moreover, I should arrange the information into hierarchies and practice to turn the visuals back to words in order to obtain the better performs in any tasks and examinations (Fleming N. D., 2006).

One of my college mates, Zoe, thought the result matches my learning preference. She said I always write the whole lecture note again and draw own chart, she concurs that can improve my speed of learning and

, 1982). They depicted a learning cycle in four stages, first is having the experience, then is reviewing and third is concluding from the experience and last stage is planning for the next steps (Caple & Martin, 1994).

The result can be defined into four characteristics of the learning style: activist, theorist, pragmatist, and reflector. The definitions below are a summary from “The Manual of Learning Style’ produced by Honey and Mumford (Honey & Mumford, 2006):

 Activist – Learners who are learning by doing and seldom think of the consequence of action. They usually are flexible, open-minded and optimistic about change.

 Theorist – Learner who are perfectionists and analysis the problem step by step before making the decision. They prefer to follow the concept and theories that have background information to support.

 Pragmatist – Learner who like try out the new method and idea to see if they work in practice in a better way. They are practical and like to plan the next step to complete every