VARK Model: Exploring Four Learning Styles and Criticisms

This individual essay discusses the VARK model, which includes four learning styles - visual, auditory, reading, and kinesthetic. It explains how teachers can use this model to plan and promote learning experience for students. The essay also explores some criticisms of the VARK model.

Individual essay

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION ..........................................................................................................................3
1. Discussing the four learning styles included in the VARK model ........................................3
2. explaining some of the criticisms of the VARK model .........................................................6
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................7
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................8

INTRODUCTION
Learning is the systematic process of achieving new skills, knowledge, attitudes,
understanding and preferences so that students can attain goals. It is important for students to
gain deep understanding about models and theories which is helpful to attain learning
experience. The present report will be based on individual essay on VARK model which was
established by Neil Fleming in the year 1987. The learning styles will help learners to learn more
about their values and many more new things. By adopting VARK model students and learners
can accomplish their professional and personal objectives. In addition to this, it will increase the
potential of learners so that they can also improve their individual performance.
1. Discussing the four learning styles included in the VARK model
VARK model- This model is established by the famous expert Neil Fleming, he
suggested to this method in order to plan and promote learning experience for students.
Nowadays, mostly teachers used this method to help their students with new and effective
strategies of how best to promote and plan learning which is based on learning styles (Mirza and
Khurshid, 2020). Teachers in the universities used this technique to support their learners so that
they can understand styles of learning. It will also maximize their learning strategies by just
focusing on the advantages which is beneficial for learners.
Nowadays, students might find that understanding about their own values and learning
preferences can be beneficial for them, by using these methods in the classroom, people can
enjoy their studies and can learn better. For example- students in the art class, might need more
visual learning style and kinesthetic preference because they take information by seeing charts,
diagrams and videos. They learn new methods and techniques through this mode of learning
styles.
Learning styles and model are a popular concept which is used by teachers while
providing knowledge to students specially in educational field (Agusriandi, 2020). By using this
they can easily identify how people learn best about topics.

Source: (VARK model, 2022)
Visual learners- This type of method is used by students who learn best by visualizing
things or by seeing. The main example of this method includes graphs, diagram, examples,
videos and charts. These all are very useful learning tools for the students so that they can
understand by seeing things. Basically, Visual learners used this learning styles when they want
to learn information visually rather than in written form which needs more time to understand.
For example- in the classroom, visual learners learn from diagrams, create graphic organizers
and sketch notes which provides detailed information to understand quickly about topics.
Auditory learners- This learning styles is basically used by learners who prefer to
understand and learn things by hearing information. Auditory learners tend to understanding
things by listening things they are being told by teachers (Kim and et.al., 2018). For example-
students listen to class lectures given by teachers in the universities rather than reading or
watching things by videos.

In the classroom, students exchange ideas and knowledge by listening carefully and focus
on the tone. This type of learners have good listening skills, and they are more active in the
classroom. By using this method, teachers can develop skills and knowledge among students and
doing activities with students will be also helpful. Strategies like telephone used by most of the
teachers where they tell a story and then learners have to retell it in their own words and
represent in their own way to share details. By doing this type of activity teachers can lead
knowledge level among their learners and improve professional career.
Reading learners- writing and reading learners are basically used this learning style in
order to focus on the written word. By using this method they can easily understand topics with
the help of presentations, worksheets and assignment. For example- teachers give one particular
topic to students and tell them to provide presentation and worksheets. Basically, by using this
activity teachers develop learning experience among students by telling them to take notes and
perform strongly while doing assignment.
In the classroom, learners prefer to have the text in some format, and then they read over
their notes for reviewing, they interact effectively with their work. They may create diagrams
and then convert them into long statements or making it brief. They can also make list by
arranging them effectively in some type of hierarchy which is beneficial for them. Here, students
may take a large quantity of information and knowledge and later convert then into some
presentation structure (Movchun, Lushkov and Pronkin, 2021). They can use tool or resource
like power point, book creator and story bird and many more where learners can also create their
own digital book to understand things effectively. For teachers, it is essential for teachers to
make sure that their students have enough time to absorb written course material and provide
them good opportunity to get their knowledge level down on paper or any kind of device.
Kinesthetic learners- During course work, students learn best by using hands-on
experience. Here, they learn best with the help of learning opportunities based on hands-on
which is by touching or doing. This method is important for students who specially learn things
by touching or doing. This type of learners tend to work well in their educational career and also
in scientific studies.
Nowadays, this type of learners are easy to find, as they might need breaks during their
course work. Teachers can create learning games that motivates their students to move about the
classroom at various types of points in the lesson of particular topic (Covaci, 2019). In other

words, it is up and moving strategy used by most of the teachers. For example- Sphero long jump
is used by teachers in which they guide their students about what the long jump is all about and
how science can be used in this activity to maximize jumping distance. Here, learners could try
their own long jump activities in a safe location with the proper guidance of their teachers. After
that they can measure their distance which will help them to understand the concept of
kinesthetic learning style.
2. explaining some of the criticisms of the VARK model
Multimodal- It has been noted that not every students fits perfectly into single style of
learning. There are many students who fit best in all four categories of learning styles and some
of them fit best into three categories. For teachers sometimes, it is very difficult or critical to
classify their students into these four categories and determine learning strategies for them.
Teaching with multimodal – If teachers want to use this model of learning style within
classroom, it is sometimes hard for them to cater all the learners evenly. Due to its characteristic
of being multimodal, it can be more difficult to provide teaching in various learning styles.
Accommodation – This model basically presents a variety of tools which is used while
providing learning sessions to students, one of the major drawback here is that sometimes it can
be difficult to accommodate all styles of learning in one single frame (Pérez-Marín, Paredes-
Velasco and Pizarro, 2022). It can impossible to adapt material for learners that will perfectly
suit the type of style. The most difficult type of learning style is kinesthetic because it includes
large amounts of hands on learning activities which sometimes not possible for students and
teachers.
Time constraints- According to Jaballa, (2020), sometimes it is critical to address the
varieties of modalities in the learning method in the classroom.
Hindering learning – According to da Silva, Bilessimo and da Silva, (2020). labelling
students in the classroom based on the learning styles may hinder their experience about learning
because it guides the learners to learning a particular way to avoid various modalities.
Implementation – every student have different learning styles so it can be difficult for
teachers to classify their students and how to implement the model through specification. This
model does not provide enough direction to teachers and students because every learner have
different category.

Categorizing – As per Chandra, Mayarnimar and Habibi, (2018), this model is too easy
to categorize learners into 4 types of learning styles, this method is not having enough options
available as students are unique in nature, and they have different styles. Some research has
proven that students fit better into trimodal or bimodal style of learning. Thus, teachers needs to
have deep understanding and knowledge about how to categorize individual in the classroom.
Restrictive- According to Medina, García and Olguín, (2018), this theory is too
restrictive because only 39% of students who take part in VARK test fits best into one category
of learning style which needs to be taken into consideration while providing lectures.
CONCLUSION
To conclude, learning theories is helpful for teachers to quickly differentiating learners
into various categories. By using VARK model, teachers of the school, universities or college
can understand the type of their students learning experiences. The model says that it is
necessary to implement the right learning style for students. If student struggling during their
learning time, this model is unique which could be helpful for them to get back them on track.
Teachers can implement these learning styles in order to engage their student learning and
educational experience in the classroom.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Agusriandi, A., 2020. Peningkatan Kreativitas Matematika Melalui Model Vark-Fleming pada
Siswa Kelas VIII2 SMP Negeri 3 Mattiro Sompe. DIFERENSIAL: JURNAL
PENDIDIKAN MATEMATIKA. 2(1). pp.39-50.
Chandra, C., Mayarnimar, M. and Habibi, M., 2018. Keterampilan Membaca dan Menulis
Permulaan Menggunakan Model VARK untuk Siswa Sekolah Dasar. Jurnal Inovasi
Pendidikan Dan Pembelajaran Sekolah Dasar. 2(1).
Covaci, M., 2019. The Vark model investigated at the students from PPPE. Journal of Education
Studies (JES) Volume I, (1).
da Silva, I. N., Bilessimo, S. M. S. and da Silva, J. B., 2020. Use of the VARK Model for
Students of an Undergraduate Course in Systems Analysis and Development.
In Theoretical and Practical Approaches to Innovation in Higher Education (pp. 42-56).
IGI Global.
Jaballa, R. A. M., 2020. A case study for designing an adaptive learning environment by
applying Vark model (Master's thesis, Fen Bilimleri Enstitüsü).
Kim, R. H. and et.al., 2018. Learning preferences of surgery residents: a multi-institutional
study. Surgery. 163(4). pp.901-905.
Medina, A. M., García, F. J. C. and Olguín, J. A. M., 2018. Planning and allocation of digital
learning objects with augmented reality to higher education students according to the
VARK model. IJIMAI. 5(2). pp.53-57.
Mirza, M. A. and Khurshid, K., 2020. Impact of VARK learning model at tertiary level
education. International Journal of Educational and Pedagogical Sciences. 14(5). pp.354-
361.
Movchun, V., Lushkov, R. and Pronkin, N., 2021. Prediction of individual learning style in e-
learning systems: opportunities and limitations in dental education. Education and
Information Technologies. 26(3). pp.2523-2537.
Pérez-Marín, D., Paredes-Velasco, M. and Pizarro, C., 2022. Multi-mode Digital Teaching and
Learning of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) using the VARK Model during COVID-
19. Journal of Educational Technology & Society. 25(1).
Online
VARK model. 2022. [Online]. Available through: <https://blog.definedlearning.com/blog/what-
are-vark-learning-styles>