VARK Analysis
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VARK Analysis
Learning styles involves the various strategies that one applies to approach learning based on their preferences. Completing the VARK questionnaire is essential in determining the preferred learning style (Rezigalla & Ahmed, 2019). Therefore, it is important to complete the VARK questionnaire, provide a summary of the identified learning style, describe the learning strategies under the preferred learning style, determine how learning styles affect the understanding and performance of an individual, and lastly, assess how understanding the learning styles of individuals participating in health promotion affect behavior change.
Summary of the Learning Style
After completing the VARK questionnaire, my learning style was Kinesthetic. It is important to note that the kinesthetic learning style prefers the use of experiences and real things. On the review of the corresponding link, I identified various learning preferences. They included documentaries and bibliographies, theories succeeding applications, working with others in tandem, completing tasks, being an active member of the team, preference of own experiences to others, and practicality in problem-solving. Moreover, being cognizant of different learning styles has enhanced my perception of the need for diverse teaching styles when learning to meet every person (Ojeh et al., 2017).
Description of the Learning Strategies
Kinesthetic learners utilize various strategies to take up information. It includes using all the senses, preference of hands-on experiences, analyzing vase studies, and watching videos that show real things. Other include attending laboratories and practical, engaging in interviews, field trips, experiencing real-life stories, implementing actions to enhance understanding, and assessing for the right opportunities for applying what has been learned, as in Awang et al. (2017). Every preference or characteristic listed in this learning style is congruent with my current learning strategies. I like watching videos, documentaries, and most of the time, I always benefit from them. Additionally, I like being engaged in practical and group works as much as possible, enhancing my understanding. Therefore, I prefer the kinesthetic learning style; however, I have to note the differences in individual learning styles within a group of learners. Some of the strategies that can be used include finding videos and engaging in role-playing as this creates the opportunity to have a hand on experience. Additionally, one can prefer simulations and consistent practice, recalling past events, tension and relaxation, examples, discussion, presentation, and writing. Moreover, it is important to stay in the current world and use a repertoire of details to argue. Therefore, the primary quote for this learning style is to apply, practice until it works, and the main baseline is that one needs to do things to understand (Rezigalla & Ahmed, 2019).
How Individual Learning Style Affects the Understanding of a Learner and Performance
According to Awang et al. (2017), various individuals have different learning styles, affecting how they learn and perform education activities. For example, some prefer the aural, visual, read, write, and multimodal. Most people will prosper if they accurately apply their preferred learning style strategies. Therefore, in classroom settings, the teacher should use diverse teaching strategies, styles, and media to accommodate all the learners’ learning styles. Application of a single teaching style such as lectures promotes aural, read, and writing learning styles. This will not favor the kinesthetic learners who may prefer the laboratory practical to enhance their understanding; hence, in the long run, the kinesthetic learner may register poor performances in classwork or have a poor understanding of what is being taught in class.
Ojeh et al. (2017) stated that learning is different in every learner despite being in the same educational environment. Thus the use of a single learning approach by an educator may affect the performance of those that are not well conscious of the learning style. To enhance the understanding of every learner’s performance, there is the need for a teacher or an educator to merge various kinds of teaching like presentations, lecturing, use of pictorial and case studies, practical and demonstrations. This will favor most of the learners and enhance their understanding and performance in educational activities.
Understanding the Learning styles of Individuals Participating in Health Promotion
Health promotion always involves health education activities being provided to a group or an individual. A person will only understand what is being taught in a health education program tailored to their needs and learning styles. Hence a nurse engaging in health promotion must identify the learning needs, readiness to learn, and the learning styles to effectively administer and education to make the participants change their behavior. When health education is not tailored to the participants’ learning styles, most of them will not understand what is being taught or the importance of the information being passed. This will lead to ineffective communication, poor decision-making, and, ultimately, a lack of adoption of the preferred behavior. Therefore, it is important in health education that the nurse or educator determines the learning styles of all participants and use diverse teaching strategies to ensure that they understand and assume the preferred behavior (Herval et al., 2010)
Different learning styles can be accommodated in health promotion. Specifically, the nurse can ensure that various health promotion or education styles are involved in the session. This consists of the use of consumer-related products like pictures, pamphlets, brochures, and charts. Additionally, there should be face-to-face education and various media like presentations, role play, demonstrations, group works, and coaching. This will ensure that most of the learning styles are accommodated in the plan (Ojeh et al., 2017).
Conclusion
Completion of the VARK question was essential in identifying the kinesthetic learning style and identifying various learning strategies. The specified learning style is congruent with my current learning preferences. Additionally, it is necessary to highlight the role learning styles play in understanding concepts, performance in education activities, behavior change, and various learning styles. Thus, it is imperative to identify the learning styles of every individual and accommodate all of them.
References
Awang, H., Samad, N. A., Mohd Faiz, N. Z., Roddin, R., & Kankia, J. D. (2017). Relationship between the learning styles preferences, and academic achievement. International Research and Innovation Summit, 226, 1-5. https://doi:10.1088/1757-899X/226/1/012193
Herval, Á. M., Oliveira, D., Gomes, V. E., & Vargas, A. (2019). Health education strategies targeting maternal and child health: A scoping review of educational methodologies. Medicine, 98(26), e16174. https://doi.org/10.1097/MD.0000000000016174
Ojeh, N., Sobers-Grannum, N., Gaur, U., Udupa, A., & Majumder, M. (2017). Learning style preferences: A study of pre-clinical medical students in Barbados. Journal of advances in medical education & professionalism, 5(4), 185–194. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5611428/
Rezigalla, A. A., & Ahmed, O. Y. (2019). Learning style preferences among medical students in the College of Medicine, University of Bisha, Saudi Arabia (2018). Advances in medical education and practice, 10, 795–801. https://doi.org/10.2147/AMEP.S219176