Introduction
The learning process can be complicated by the inappropriately chosen learning strategy. People have different learning styles, so it is necessary to consider the peculiarities of each person and apply the correct learning strategy to assure the best effectiveness of the learning process. The Visual (V), Aural / Auditory (A), Read/Write (R), Kinaesthetic (K) (VARK) questionnaire was developed to determine the individual learning styles. Considering the results of the test using VARK questionnaire, the paper is aimed at summarizing the author’s learning style, specifying the preferred learning strategies, comparing them to the identified strategies for the author’s preferred learning style, and exploring how the awareness of individual learning styles, preferences and strategies is capable of influencing the processes of teaching and learning.
Visual Learning Style
The test results have shown that the visual style of learning is the most appropriate for the author. Visual perception of information forms a visual learning style. It includes the presentation of information in the following shapes and forms: “maps, spider diagrams, charts, graphs, flow charts, labeled diagrams, and all the symbolic arrows, circles, hierarchies, and other devices …” (Stellar Leadership Academy, 2015). However, it does not consider such visual representations of information as movies, presentations in PowerPoint, or videos. Various designs, patterns, and formats are the basic concepts for the visual learning style.
Preferred Learning Strategies
The following strategies are preferred in terms of having a visual learning style. It is preferable to use a variety of visual materials like graphs, maps, and many others to have information presented visually. It is also important to see the body language of a tutor as well as observe facial expressions because it helps to understand information better. Illustrated books also should be used as they provide the necessary volume of additional information put into illustrations as supportive materials. Finally, the schematization of some concepts and ideas is preferable in class to memorize them better and to be able to explain later. These strategies fall into the category of the strategies for the visual learning style in full (Eison, 2010; Vakos, 2015). There are more of them in the list of strategies used, but such strategies as the use of quiet places to study and use of color for highlighting something are not suitable.
Teaching and Learning
The awareness of individual learning styles preferences and strategies influence teaching and learning processes substantially. If a tutor tries to present information in the form different from the most effective one for a student or most of the students, the learning process becomes slow and ineffective (Eison, 2010). It looks like the effort to teach students something using specialized jargon – they will understand the meaning of the words and possibly phrases, but it will take too much time. Students will have the information they will not be able to use in full. It is very important to apply appropriate tools, and the correct teaching strategy is one such tool. People are different, and these peculiarities should be considered to have the best effect of teaching and learning.
Conclusion
Summing, the paper summarized visual learning style, specified the preferred learning strategies, compared them to the identified strategies for the author’s preferred learning style, and explored how the awareness of individual learning styles, preferences, and strategies is capable of influencing the processes of teaching and learning.
References
Eison, J. (2010). Using active learning instructional strategies to create excitement and enhance learning. Web.
Stellar Leadership Academy (2015). The VARK questionnaire – how do I learn best? Web.
Vakos, P. (2015). Why the blank stare? Strategies for visual learners. Web.