Learning Style

It is sometimes easier for pupils to understand how they learn in order to process information quickly and effectively, and helps to know what your preferred learning style is. Neil Fleming’s theory VARK (Visual, Auditory, Reading and Kinaesthetic) seems to have impressed educators and pupils, as they allow them to identify how exactly they learn best, and what they can do in future to insure they are learning at their maximum potential. For my own experience, I find it hard to concentrate if I were to read a plain text book for hours on end, especially if I didn’t have the sweet symphonies of Bach drowning my ears and keeping my thoughts of boredom at bay. This means that I’m firstly an auditory learner, and a low reading learner. Secondly I have found that I can process the information that is being presented to me if I can visually see the information in front of me (e.g. via projections or diagrams). This means I am able to adapt my surroundings to fit in the way I learn best, if I were to begin revising for an exam for example, preparations of using a computer for vibrant, stand out colours would be made, and some music on low volume playing in the background to keep me interested. This also means that although you may be stronger in one learning style than the other, you can be in multiple categories and can now take a test to find out which learning style is your preferred learning style. However, many dispute the use of the test and believe that the test could result in wrong information, and could make you believe that you are a Reader for example, but are actually Auditory. Articles such as ‘The Guardian’s’ Could tests to diagnose 'learning styles' do more harm than good? (Kingston, 2004) investigates some of the problems with knowing your learning style, and has left some wondering, Is it a good thing?