Assessment Item 4 – Learning Preferences and Exam Performance
Lachlan Scott
Student #: 11730889
GEN173
VARK Quiz Results:
Reflection:
Neil Fleming’s creation of the V.A.R.K. self-assessment is a helpful way for individuals to examine how they best absorb information and their learning preferences. It can assist in not just educational studies but also vocational training and acquisition of life skills. The self-assessment provides individuals with an insight into whether they best achieve learning through visual, auditory, reading and writing or kinaesthetic means
The VARK self-assessment tool contains real world examples of learning within it which helps the individual taking it to understand how to apply its results in different scenarios. It allows the individual to streamline their learning practices through interacting with information they need to learn in their now clearly defined preferred learning style. This can be as simple as reading text aloud to encourage absorption through auditory means or instead reading a transcript of a lecture to retain it through reading and writing means. By clarifying and identifying an individual’s learning preferences they can optimise their time spent studying and revising, avoiding disinterest or confusion due to the information being in a format that doesn’t suit them. By interacting with the information relevant to upcoming exams in their preferred learning style, an individual can also improve their ability to recollect key information during the exam and collate it easier.
My results show that I am multi-modal with a strong preference towards auditory focused listening. In my daily life I do use podcasts to learn about my hobbies and also conversations or direct meetings to achieve vocational training. Prithishkumar (2014) states, “multiple modalities of information presentation are necessary to effectively cater to student learning preferences.” This is in light of a study conducted showing that of the students that completed the self-assessment, 86.8% were multi-modal. The CSU pathway course I am currently enrolled in has been very good at ensuring that all four forms of learning preference are catered to in each subject. However, when focusing in on my learning techniques there are many additional strategies, I can take to help me achieve in exams by focusing in on my auditory preference. Hussain (2017) lists some of these as “Use rhymes for recollecting things in a better way…activities such as brainstorming, jingles, songs, jokes and tales.”. Upon reflection I found that I undertake these strategies currently in the workplace already, in training and in regular work. To further excel in my current studies, I will need to bring these strategies across and implement them, which should be especially useful in the Sports Media field I am looking to transition into.
In conclusion I am reassured to find that the results from the VARK self-assessment and the recommended strategies associated with my preferred learning style are already found in my life outside of study and should hopefully be transferred to my studies in this and future courses.
Reference List:
- Prithiishkumar IJ, Michael SA (2014) Understanding your student: Using the VARK model. 60(2), 183-186. https://doi.org/4103/0022-3859.132337
- Hussain I (2017) Journal of Literature, Languages and Linguistics: Pedagogical Implications of VARK Model of Learning. 38, 33-37.