Learning Styles in Higher Education: VARK Model and Criticisms

This report discusses the VARK model of learning styles, which includes four types of learners: visual, auditory, kinaesthetic, and reading/writing. It explains how each type of learner can benefit from different teaching methods. The report also covers some criticisms of the VARK model, including its potential to restrict and categorize students, and its limited validity. The subject is higher education, and the course code, name, and college/university are not mentioned.

Skills Required for
Higher Education

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION ..........................................................................................................................3
TASK ..............................................................................................................................................3
Discuss the four learning styles included in the VARK model..................................................3
Explain some of the criticism of the VARK Model....................................................................5
CONCLUSION ...............................................................................................................................6
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................7

INTRODUCTION
Learning styles are one of the most famous idea in the education as well as in the
psychology which are apt to understand how individuals can learn appropriately (Chang-Tik,
2018). In addition to this, the VARK framework of learning style states that the main types of
learners are of four types. Such learners are visual, auditory, kinaesthetic and reading/ writing.
There are several methods of separating the learning styles but VARK model which was
introduced by Neil Fleming's is the main as well as the popular one. This model was introduced
in the year 1987 which was aimed to design in order to support the pupils and other people to
learn more about their personal preferences of learning. The following report will cover about
the the four learning styles included in the VARK model as well as some of the criticisms of the
VARK model is also included in this report.
TASK
Discuss the four learning styles included in the VARK model.
 Auditory Learner – These learners are the people that learn better at the time when they
gather in data as well as information as it is spoken or heard from the people. These
learners are more prostate to sort their thoughts after they speak instead of thinking
opinion by earlier. Since, to the learners, speaking out things loudly assist them to
understand the idea. These learners learn appropriately at the when data is represented to
them through several techniques which includes speaking these methods can be lectures
from teachers, group discussions and many more. They can take advantage from
repeating old lessons, possessing the lectures recordings as well as group practices which
need fellow mates showing their opinions, ideas and thoughts. Moreover to this, Aural
learners appropriately learn by listening to the information. They apt to bring the great
deal through the lectures and also they are good at memorising the content which are told
to them. If a person wants to be an aural learner then they can consider these questions
which are mentioned below:
 Do a person make a song in order assist remember information?
 Does loud reading assist a person to appropriately remember the given information?

 Do a person prefer more to listen to their lectures in the class instead of reading it
from the notebooks?
 Would a person prefer more to listen to the recordings of their lectures of class or the
several podcast instead of going over their class notes?
 Visual Learners:- the visual learner may be define as those individuals who prefer to
increase their knowledge or take in their information by seeing (Trifirò, and Laing, 2021).
This can be done with help of maps, graphs, diagrams, charts, and others. These
individuals do not respond necessarily well to the the photos and videos, they only take in
the information with the help of using different visual aids such as patterns and shapes.
Te best way which are present in front of a teacher to present a visual learner is that by
showing them an effective relationship between the different ideas of visual. For example
like when an scientific professor explain a scientific process, then they use flow chart to
explain in a very effective manner. The visual learner prefer this type of learning rather
then see information which are present in the written form. If an individual want to
become an visual learner then they have to considered the following questions:-
◦ Are art, beauty, and aesthetics important to an individual?
◦ Does visualizing information in an individual mind help them remember it better?
 Kinethesthtic learning style:- these learner are basically to individuals who prefer to in
take the information by doing the things. They enjoy a hands- on experience. The most
important benefit of this learning style is that individuals more in touch with the reality
and always feel connected with the reality (Abad, 2019). Along with this the individual
who prefer Kinethesthtic learning style require the utilization of tactile experience which
help them in understanding something better. There are different types of way by which a
teacher present new information to a Kinethesthtic learner like personal experience,
practice, examples, or simulations. For example like an experiment can be remember by
them by recreating it themselves. If an individual want to become an Kinethesthtic
learner then they have to considered the following questions:-
◦ Are an individual good at applied activities such as painting, cooking, mechanics,
sports, and woodworking?
◦ Do an individual enjoy performing tasks that involve directly manipulating objects
and materials?

◦ Do an individual have to actually practice doing something in order to learn it?
◦ Is it difficult for an individual to sit still for long periods of time?
 Reading and Writing Learners:- read and write learner are basically are those learner
which prefer to take in the information that are present or displayed in the form of words
and text (Van Der Wege, 2020). It has been observed that text is being considered as the
most powerful as compared to visual or auditory representation of an idea. Individuals
who prefer this style perform very well in the written assignments. For example, rather
then describing them in the form of chart and diagrams information can be given by
taking written statements, take written quizzes on the topics, or give them written
assignments. If an individual want to become an Reading and Writing learner then they
have to considered the following questions:-
◦ Do an individual enjoy making lists, reading definitions, and creating presentations?
◦ Do an individual find reading their textbook to be a great way to learn new
information?
Explain some of the criticism of the VARK Model
From the already above VARK model is basically a learning style which is used by
educational institute for increasing the performance of each and every students effectively. In
this model basically four elements are considered by institute which I already discussed above.
But after the full analysis of above model it is understood that due to applying this method
students must face lot of problems in their study and also produced negative impact in their
minds for long duration. Those negative impact are -
Firstly, categorizing, no dought that this model makes work easy for the student or
individual person. But during the time of making work easy some specific problems are
developed for students such as options are highly reduced and uniqueness are also decreased in
their work. Due to decreasing uniqueness the value or importance of their work are highly
decreased at the time of their study. After decreasing their importance chances are highly
decreased for getting job in reputed company. In this way the overall productivity of students are
also decreased.
Secondly, restrictive and it is the other reason which comes under the category of
drawback. Because according to this model institutes are able to use any one type of style for
increasing the students performance. But fact is that one type of learning style is not suitable for

all categories of students. Due to using one type of learning style some kind of restrictions or
barriers are created for students and due to these barriers mind of the students are not develop in
fast manner. It also leads to decrease the internal skills and performance of the each students at
higher rate.
Thirdly, Implantation and in this phase students did not receive right and reliable
directions from their professors which is not good for their career growth (Retrosi, Morris, and
McGavock, 2019). Due to receiving wrong knowledge and directions from their tutors their
concepts are not cleared in long term. Due to keeping unclear concept in mind by students their
work are not done systematically or in attractive manner during the time of their study or doing
job. Due to receiving wrong education chances are also increased for damaging relationship
between students and teachers. Therefore effective implementation of their various course by
educational institute is very important with help of using other learning styles for increasing the
career growth of students.
Fourthly, Validity, and in this phase it refers to how long the effectiveness of this model
is sustained in minds of students. But fact is that due to using this model the talents and skill of
the students are not effectively developed for long durations. It leads to decrease the reputation
of institution is short duration.

CONCLUSION
From the above report it has been concluded that style of learning are one of the essential
concept in the learning technique as well as in the education and in the psychology that are tend
to know that how the person can learn more better. In addition to this, the VARK framework can
be utilised by the lecturers in order to assist with the techniques of how appropriately to plan and
promote learning of students which is based on their kind of the style of learning.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Abad, J., 2019. Learning Styles of Grade 10 Students in Mathematics: A Basis for the
Development of Instructional Activities and Programs. Ascendens Asia Journal of
Multidisciplinary Research Abstracts, 3(2F).
Retrosi, G., Morris, M. and McGavock, J., 2019. Does personal learning style predict the ability
to learn laparoscopic surgery? A pilot study. Journal of Laparoendoscopic & Advanced
Surgical Techniques, 29(1), pp.98-102.
Van Der Wege, M., 2020. VARK: Linking Teaching Strategies to Preferred Learning Styles.
Reynolds, A., 2018. How to Know Annyeonghaseyo: Analysis of Korean Online Language
Learning and Individual Learning Styles
Trifirò, C.E.V. and Laing, G.K., 2021. Learning Styles and Cognitive Traits in an On-line
Learning System. E-Journal of Business Education & Scholarship of Teaching, 15(3).
Chang-Tik, C., 2018. Impact of learning styles on the community of inquiry presences in multi-
disciplinary blended learning environments. Interactive Learning Environments, 26(6),
pp.827-838.