VARK Analysis Paper

A learning style is a technique through which learners collect, search through, interpret, organize, make conclusions, and preserve knowledge. Learning styles are grouped as per sensory approaches; namely, visual, aural, read or write, and kinesthetic (Whitney, 2018). Visual learning style is whereby learners understand by use of visual tools while in aural, they understand well when they listen to instructions. The read or write learners learn best through reading or writing while in the kinesthetic group, learners gain knowledge and understanding when they are allowed to touch and feel (Whitney, 2018). The purpose of this paper will be to explore learning styles and strategies for learners. I will include a summary of my learning style as per the VARK questionnaire and the importance of identifying learning styles for educators and in health promotion.

Personal Learning Style

My learning style preference, according to the VARK questionnaire, is Strong Kinesthetic (VARK 2019). Kinesthetic preference is described as one that a learner uses experiences and real things even when they are displayed as images and on screens. My VARK results were as follows: visual-0, Aural 4, Read or Write- 3, and Kinesthetic 9 (VARK 2019). As per my learning style, I prefer to have more experiences to enhance understanding of concepts.

Preferred Learning Strategy

My preferred learning strategy is using practical experiences and real-life case studies to solve problems. By using a practical approach, I understand the concept better and also retain it for an extended period. Besides, I consider ideas to be valuable if they sound real, practical and relevant to me.  I also need to do things practically to understand. Furthermore, I prefer a feedback that involves a face-to-face discussion whereby I am shown examples of projects that demonstrate success or failure. Moreover, I prefer trainers who use examples of real-life occurrences when explaining a point since I remember the examples and relate them with the concept learned. When assessing my understanding, I look at case studies and try to solve them with the gained knowledge to determine if the theory is valuable to real-life situations.

My learning style is in line with the identified learning strategies identified for individuals with a kinesthetic strategy. According to the VARK results, people with my learning style preference like to be trained or learn through practical exercises, examples, experiences, case studies, trial and error, and using things that are real (VARK 2019). They prefer learning from autobiographies and documentaries and applications before studying theories. Besides, they prefer to have demonstrations done before applying what they have learned and like having conversations about the real things in their lives (VARK 2019). Their own experiences are more valuable than the experiences of others, and they prefer undertaking activities with others through actions and making things happen (VARK 2019). Furthermore, they enjoy working on practical problems where they gain problem-solving techniques.

Importance of Identifying Learning Styles for Learners as an Educator

An individual’s learning style determines the degree to which one acquires knowledge and skills since individuals understand better either by visualizing, hearing, reading, or being hands on (Whitney, 2018). Further, individuals learn better when the teaching style used suits their learning style hence making them memorize what they learned during the educational activity. When educators promote a learning environment that addresses the learning styles of learners, the latter can study better and feel more comfortable in their unique styles rather than having to adapt to the changing teaching styles used by the former (Bastable, 2017). Educators need to identify the learning styles and preferences of learners since it helps not only the educator but also the learner in being more effective in the learning process. 

By understanding a learner’s learning style; an educator can determine the type of teaching method, resources and teaching methods to use. For instance, auditory learners will best learn through discussions, tape recordings, seminars, and discussions, and they will probably enquire on what they have not understood (Bastable, 2017). Besides, tests for auditory learners will be best conducted using oral examinations. Moreover, by making learners aware of their learning style, educators can empower them to identify the necessity of each learning style for various disciplines.

Learning Styles and Health Promotion

Health providers need to identify the learning styles of individuals when conducting health promotion to ensure that they will learn, understand and practice the health messages provided to promote better health outcomes. Individuals tend to be interested in health education messages when their learning style is considered during health promotion (Kangovi & Asch, 2018). Learning styles affect behavior change as individuals modify their behaviors based on what they saw, heard or practiced in the health promotion programs.  An individual’s learning style determines the possibility of modification of behavior as the patient understand and master information faster and easier when their learning preferences are utilized (Kangovi & Asch, 2018). The different learning styles can be accommodated in health promotion by targeting all the senses when providing health education (Sharma, 2016). For instance, when educating individuals on the prevention of diseases, lectures and seminars can be held which target auditory learners and images and videos can enhance the sessions to target visual and kinesthetic learners. In addition, health education pamphlets can be administered for individuals to read further, which targets read and write learners (Sharma, 2016). During health promotion sessions, case studies can be presented for the learners to discuss and come up with solutions which can suit kinesthetic and auditory learners. 

Conclusion

In summary, learning styles, according to VARK, include visual, aural, read or write, and kinesthetic. Learners learn best when the teaching style is tailored to suit their learning style. It is, therefore, essential for educators to identify their learners learning style to promote a comfortable learning environment and enhance their understanding. It is also essential for health educators to understand the learning styles of individuals, including their patients during health promotion programs. Modification of behavior is enhanced by the utilization of appropriate teaching styles that suit learner’s preferences. Besides, different learning styles can be incorporated during health promotion programs to meet the preferences of all learners.

References

Bastable, S. B. (2017). Nurse as educator: Principles of teaching and learning for nursing practice. Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.

Kangovi, S., & Asch, D. A. (2018). Behavioral phenotyping in health promotion: embracing or avoiding failure. Jama, 319(20), 2075-2076.

Sharma, M. (2016). Theoretical foundations of health education and health promotion. Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Publishers.

Whitney, S. (2018). Teaching and learning styles. Health promotion: Health and wellness across the continuum. Retrieved from https://lc.gcumedia.com/nrs429vn/health-promotion-health-and-wellness-across-the-continuum/v1.1/#/chapter/4

VARK Learn Limited. (2019). The VARK questionnaire. Retrieved from

http://vark-learn.com/the-vark-questionnaire/

Topic 1 DQ 1

Describe the nurse’s role and responsibility as health educator. What strategies, besides the use of learning styles, can a nurse educator consider when developing tailored individual care plans, or for educational programs in health promotion? When should behavioral objectives be utilized in a care plan or health promotion?

Nurses play a vital role in the patient experience and their overall well-being, from the first point of contact during admission to discharge planning, nurses are involved. As nurses begin their assessments, they should strive to establish a trusted relationship with not only the patient but their families and caretakers as well. This is an important component to begin as soon as possible since it can significantly impact the patient’s perception of the nurse and the willingness of the patient to participate in the education segment of the plan of care. Nurses in all settings teach and counsel patients by promoting behavior change in current lifestyle practices and encouraging them to reduce behaviors that put them at risk and can lead to illness or worsening of chronic diseases (Whitney, 2022).

Patient education cannot begin until the nurse understands the needs of the patient, and this is done by effective communication and feedback with the healthcare team and collaborative efforts with the patient directly. By obtaining both subjective and objective data, the nurse can determine how best to approach the teaching and by which method. Information such as previous health status, health history, physical limitations, language barriers, and even education, culture, and socioeconomic status should all be considered when educating a patient.

Patients can be overwhelmed by the amount of information as well as the nature of the questions asked. They will interact with multiple nurses, physicians, and other interprofessional healthcare team members during a 24-hour period (Blevins, 2023). This can dissuade the patient from learning and accepting important education about their treatments and health that promote favorable outcomes. By utilizing a behavioral objective model, the nurse can more accurately implement strategies that acknowledge patient deficits and strengths.

The nurse will identify a measurable objective and an unmeasurable objective. For example, the patient will walk 50 steps without assistive devices and demonstrate proper safety techniques, which would be a measurable objective determined by the nurse. The unmeasurable objective would be the patient will acknowledge physical limitations and reduce their risk for falls. This of course, is just one approach to patient education and how the nurse can utilize strategies based on the individual patient. But the goal ultimately remains the same and that is, to promote patient safety and well-being.

Whitney, S. (2022). Teaching and learning styles. In Grand Canyon University (Eds.). Health promotion: Health & wellness across the continuum. Retrieved from https://bibliu.com/app/#/view/books/1000000000585/epub/Chapter1.html 

Blevins, S. (2023). MEDSURG Nursing, 32 (2), 125-126. Journal of Adult Health,(n.d.). Login.lopes.idm.oclc.org. Retrieved May 17, 2023, from https://oce-ovid-com.lopes.idm.oclc.org/article/00008484-202303000-00011?sequence=1&clickthrough=y

VARK Questionnaire Analysis

The VARK questionnaire is a learning style assessment tool that was developed by Neil Fleming in 1987 (VARK Learn Limited, 2023a). The acronym VARK stands for Visual, Auditory, Reading/Writing, and Kinesthetic, which represent the four main learning modalities or styles. The primary design of the questionnaire is to help individuals understand their preferred learning style(s) and use this knowledge to enhance their learning experience. The VARK questionnaire consists of 16 multiple-choice questions that assess an individual’s preferred mode(s) of learning.

The relevance of the VARK questionnaire lies in its ability to help individuals tailor their learning strategies and techniques to their preferred learning style(s), resulting in more effective and efficient learning outcomes (VARK Learn Limited, 2023a). Understanding one’s learning style can also help individuals communicate better with educators and peers and improve teamwork and collaboration in various settings. This paper will focus on my personal VARK results and how they are in line with my learning outcomes.

Summary of Learning Styles

The results from the VARK questionnaire shows my scores as Visual 5, Aural 6, Read/Write 2, Kinesthetic 14. Based on the VARK results, it appears that my preferred learning style is Kinesthetic. A very strong kinesthetic means I learn best through physical activities and experiences. I also tend to prefer hands-on learning, such as performing experiments, engaging in role-play, and using practical applications. Additionally,  the learning style also is also related to my preference to move around while learning or take frequent breaks to avoid feeling restless or bored. On the other hand, I may find it challenging to learn through traditional methods such as lectures or reading. Inclusion of movement and tactile experiences into my learning can help me retain information more effectively.

Preferred Learning Strategies

My preferred learning strategy is through movement, and hands-on experiences which makes me a strong kinesthetics learner. As a kinesthetic learner, I benefit more from activities that involve manipulating objects or using their bodies to explore concepts. Kinesthetic learners tend to prefer learning through practical applications. The practical aspects could mean applying concepts to real-world problems or using technology and multimedia to engage in virtual simulations. I also tend to learn better when I am moving.

Movement could mean taking frequent breaks to stretch or walk around or incorporating physical movement into learning activities, such as using hand gestures to represent ideas. Unlike other learning styles that are either based on auditory or visuals, Kinesthetic learners enjoy engaging in activities that allow them to experience concepts firsthand. For instance, I can learn better through role-playing, acting out scenarios, or participating in debates as a means to retain more information. Since I am a Kinesthetic learner, it is essential to tailor my learning strategies to my preferences.

Over time, I have learned that I benefit more from incorporating movement into my learning activities or engaging in hands-on activities to reinforce concepts. Additionally, I realized that virtual simulations or practical applications can help me to retain information more effectively than traditional methods like reading or lectures.

Impacts of Learning Style

Individual learning styles can significantly impact the ability of a learner to understand and perform educational activities. Each learner has a unique set of preferences and tendencies, and catering to these preferences can improve their engagement, motivation, and overall learning outcomes. For instance, a Kinesthetic learner may struggle to grasp abstract concepts presented through traditional lectures or reading materials but may excel when given hands-on learning activities or practical applications (VARK Learn Limited, 2023).

It is therefore crucial for educators to identify individual learning styles and preferences when working with learners to ensure that they can create effective learning environments that cater to each student’s needs. This approach can improve the understanding and performance of a learner, leading to better academic outcomes and greater satisfaction with the learning process. A definitive and better learning style can support a more inclusive and supportive learning environment where learners feel seen, heard, and valued, ultimately improving their overall educational experience.

Learning Styles for Better Health Promotion

Understanding the learning styles of individuals p