VARK Questionnaire: Study Strategies
There are many strategies that can be used to help students study efficiently. After participating in the “VARK Questionnaire” the results revealed that I have multimodal preferences. (A multimodal learning preference is a preferred way of learning new information or material that incorporates several different styles of learning. Different modes of learning are combined such as, visual and auditory). Two of my strongest points in studying are reading/writing and kinesthetic. As I don’t use one specific strategy, I have many different study strategies. A very common technique is writing down information using the internet as a source. Most of the research that I provide is aided by the internet. I like to take notes on the research so that it will be easier to summarize the information. Another common strategy I use involves reviewing the information I have gathered repeatedly. Even though I tend to understand certain difficult topics with visual aids but I still use memorization as a key method. In most of my school related environments, memorization was a technique which was used influenced by instructors the most. Visual presentation, diagrams and charts are also very helpful in the studying process (VARK, 2013). When I am studying complicated and/or lengthy topics visual and physical representations are very essential. The use of visual aid helps me process the information more efficiently and remember the material. Some topics can be very complex and harder to understand, when you have situations of this type I address them with another individual.
Some recommendations made by the “VARK Questionnaire” were to use different variations in studying. There is no” helpsheet” provided for individuals that have multimodal preferences which means I have habits that belong in all four categories (VARK, 2013). One strategy the reading and writing category suggests includes taking notes (INTAKE), reduce the amount of notes (SWOT), study for tests using multiple choice questions and by writing information in bullet form (OUTPUT). Another suggestion made by the visual study techniques is using posters, diagrams, flow charts, graph, symbols, and pictures. Aural strategies addressed that discussing topics with others, using a tape recorder, remembering interesting examples, reading summarized notes aloud, spending time in muted areas to recall ideas and speaking answers aloud.
Using the “VARK Questionnaire” is a great way to help you excel in your education and changing your current study habits are the first step in making the change.
In the book The Examination by Malcolm Bosse two brothers travel across China in their journey to pass the Imperial Exam. The brother’s names are Chen and Hong. Chen is very intelligent and is taking the Civil Service Exams hoping to pass. Hong on the other hand, is a known cricket fighter and joins the White Lotus Society along with the army. The Examination takes place in Song Era and is very accurate about what Chinese life and society was like in that time. This book depicts ideas and technologies and religious structure of ancient China. In the book The Examination by Malcolm Bosse, the author depicts ideas and technologies such as the civil service exam, junk ships, and porcelain as well as the religious structure of
One of my studying techniques is to have one of my family members verbally assess me on the topic of examination based on information in my textbook for the given subject. This compares to what I have just learned because I sometimes alter the location of study during these sessions, such as one time in the dining room and one time in another room of the house. However, I would always stay on one subject for a long time, which may not have been a very good idea. Another studying technique that I used to have was studying the night before or the morning of the exam because I thought (with the influence of a girl from my fifth grade class) that the information would be easy to retain since it was so recently reviewed. This compares to the article since all of the material comes back to me, but is mostly forgotten long after I take the examination. This goes along with the scientific study mentioned in the article that students who had two studying sessions did exceptionally well on a test given right after the sessions, but gradually forgot the material (Carey, 2010). An additional studying condition I have is to do practice problems and tests on the material I will be tested on. This connects to the reading for the reason that I am being exposed to a variety of problems, which, according to the text, is a brilliant way to review. My studying habits will be adjusted to
The top three highest learning style results were: social (at ten points) and physical and solitary (tied at nine points each). I was surprised at the social learning style result the most. I personally believed that, depending on the subject matter, I tended to focus more on the tasks at hand if I study on my own. However, upon further introspection, I have concluded that I do much better most of the time if I have at least one study partner. I am less likely to take unnecessary breaks, get distracted by my cell phone, or zone out. However, there is a limit to my social learning capabilities: if I have more than 2 partners in my study group, I am inclined to become more distracted and less focused. A group setting also helps me in regards to the physical aspect of my learning style. While visual aids do help me, I am very much a hands on learner. Especially in regards to topics like science, being able to use my hands and sense of touch greatly increases my understanding and retention of the subject matter. This also means that I feel restricted in a traditional lecture style class. I had noticed this about myself, and over the years have employed several tricks to help keep my focus. One of the most successful one I have experienced is also one that is suggested in the assessment results: extensive note taking. I hadn’t thought to employ tricks in my study habits to help with the trapped feeling, and the suggestions provided were very helpful. I have now started to use flash cards, brainstorming diagrams and even educational toys to help with my more difficult classes – like anatomy and physiology. Being able to handle the materials is extremely beneficial, and utilizing different mediums and techniques prevents me from being bored and losing
After taking the Personal Survey of Assessment Literacy, I learned a lot about myself and what I do know about assessments, and what I don’t. This survey allowed me to reflect on the process that I take to plan, develop, and administer tests in my class and what I need to do with the results. When I went through the criteria of all of the topics in the survey, I honestly did not know what the survey was talking about or what it meant. This was really concerning to me because I like to think that I do a pretty good job when it comes to instruction of my class and how I assess their knowledge of the material. I learned from this survey that there are a lot of things I do well during assessments and that there is still a lot that I need to learn to be an effective classroom leader. After scoring the survey, I noticed that I scored myself the highest in the section of During Test Administration with a perfect average score of 5 and scored an average of 4 in the section After Testing. The two lowest sections I scored in where in the General Considerations with an average score of 3.3 and in the section of Prior to Test Design with a score of 3.5.
I find it easier expressing myself through words and understanding other individual 's thoughts and actions through speech and writing. By studying a piece of text I am able to retrieve a lot of relevant information from it, I find this an easy way to learn because I reflect back by making notes so I am able to look back on notes for situations such as assignments and revision for exams. This is why I find reading techniques such as skim and scan reading difficult because I need to read a piece of text, highlight the important information and make notes to ensure that I have gained a good understanding. I could possibly improve an approach for my reading by looking at step by step guides to skim and scan reading online. This could help for large amounts of reading which I have to read quickly in seminars and lectures and to draw only the important information
Technical 23- (use as needed) I agree with this completely. I typically find I work better with writing down things. The best way I study for tests or memorizing things is to repeatedly write it down. For, example I had to study a book to take a test. I went through that book and copied it word for word two or three times. This is just how studying works for me.
The different types of techniques we learned had helped improve our studying ways to be better and more efficient. One of my studying techniques is through body movement. I learn through body movement to help me retain most of the information I took from my classes. This helps benefits my grade by if a test is coming up, I know the study techniques I need to apply. However, I have to manage time through the day in order for me to study.
(c) Learners’ cognitive strategies employed in learning, memorization and comprehension. Different cognitive strategies such as practicing, illustrating
A review of the literature indicates that self- and peer-quizzing can enhance learning. With increased learning, students can improve their performance on tests. Students should start by creating their own study questions and answering them. Doing this action properly, the students will study the content in-depth. Then they should quiz themselves. This will help them identify concepts that they need to study further. Next, they should have reciprocal peer-quizzing. This collaborative activity will help students increase their understanding as they explain their questions and answers. They will not simply memorize the material for the test time, but the students will also retain the information for later retrieval.
Did you find it easier to understand a thing by reading or hear it from someone else or do your understand better by looking at the picture ? Some people may find it even harder to read a map. Things may difficulty for some peoples but others learn, it is because everyone learns in different ways. How people interprets or understand the information depends on how their learning style. Learning style may vary depending on factor that influence . While learning style has been defined as the way people learn, or how one interprets information. The most common learning style is the Visual, Auditory, Read/Write, and Kinaesthetic. Most of us may have some idea of how we learn better, but often we surprise to find out what our predominant learning style. In 1987 Neil D. Fleming, an experienced educator developed the VARK learning style as an effort to help students learn better. VARK contains 16 question that help identify a person's learning style. For some students they may have a preference for one type of learning, but also
Strategies or ways in which I can improve this type of learning is by studying important information by placing important facts on Q cards and reading the information on it while moving around. Studying without distraction from phones, and other technology items will also ensure success. Reading a variety of types of texts will also enable me to improve my marks for English and I will make sure to move around while studying or reading; during a time of
The VARK model is one of the most common methods that people use to categorise learning styles. It was made by a man named Neil Fleming. The VARK model “expanded on the Neuro-linguistic programming models” (16). It was launched by Neil Fleming in 1987, after he finished his work and studies at Lincoln University. Before Neil Fleming, the VAK model was the most commonly used method to categorise learning styles. The VAK model doesn’t include Read/Write. The Read/Write learning style was created by Neil Fleming after he realised that it was best to split the Visual learning style into Symbolic (Visual), and Read/Write.
Personal learning styles are highly complex and unique to specific individuals. It is often difficult to pinpoint an exact learning style. Though there are different categories, we often fine tune them to our own abilities. By examining our traits and tendencies we create a clearer understanding of how we process and learn information. With careful review, I have developed a specific analysis of my learning characteristics, including an evaluation of skill levels. Based on what I have recently learned and know from experience, I have also devised a structured plan for improvement of time management and study skills.
An important question to address when attempting to identify effective study strategies and their relationship with academic performance is, “What are study skills?” The term “study skills” can be defined as proficiency in identifying, organizing, memorizing, and using information in order to succeed academically (Proctor, Prevatt, Adams, Hurst, & Petscher, 2006). Activities identified as study skills include “time management, setting appropriate goals, selecting an appropriate study environment, employing appropriate note-taking strategies, concentrating, selecting main ideas, self-testing, organization, and managing anxiety,” (Proctor et al., 2006). When studying, college students employ a variety of these study strategies that they believe
For the ability to expand your knowledge you must be able to retain the information. The likelihood in remembering everything you sense is so low that approximately only 15 people claim they have the eidetic memory. While those fortunate individuals have ways in remembering multiple information effortlessly, the rest of us have to study to be able to retain most of the information we want to keep for any need. Many people will begin studying but by the end of it, they were only able to remember less than half of what they studied. This is difficult to accumulate because many of us will studies hours upon hours and yet we are unable to remember the majority. How can this be possible? Studies shows that people have different preference in learning and our brains remember most based on our strongest learning ability. The three types of learning abilities are auditory, visual, or kinesthetic. After knowing which will help you remember better, this will help you in the different styles of studying which are note taking, reading and marking, planning for a research paper, and time management. Knowing the best strategy and how are study style tied will help us make the best study style that fit us individually.