WHAT IS YOUR LEARNING STYLE ?

vak learning styles

The Visual-Auditory-Kinesthetic learning styles model or 'inventory', usually abbreviated to VAK, provides a simple way to explain and understand your own learning style (and learning styles of others).

'Learning style' should be interpreted to mean an individual mixture of styles. Everyone has a mixture of strengths and preferences. No-one has exclusively one single style or preference. Please bear this in mind when using these ideas.

Alternatively the model is referred to as Visual-Auditory-Physical, or Visual-Auditory-Tactile/Kinesthetic (or Kinaesthetic). The model is also extended by some people to VARK (Visual-Auditory-Reading-Kinesthetic) or VACT (Visual-Auditory-Kinesthetic-Tactile), and you can decide yourself about the usefulness of such adaptations.

The original VAK concepts were first developed by psychologists and teaching (of children) specialists such as Fernald, Keller, Orton, Gillingham, Stillman and Montessori, starting in the 1920's. VAK theory is now a favourite of the accelerated learning community because its principles and benefits extend to all types of learning and development, far beyond its early applications. See also Kolb's learning styles model, and Gardner's Multiple Intelligences model, in which section you'll find more information about VAK, VARK and VACT learning styles theories. Katherine Benziger's methodology is also useful and relevant, as is the various material on the Personality Styles section. These models provide additional perspectives of the way we each think and relate to the world, and where are natural strengths lie. The Visual-Auditory-Kinesthetic learning styles model does not overlay Gardner's multiple intelligences, or Kolb's theory, rather the VAK model provides a different perspective for understanding and explaining a person's preferred or dominant thinking and learning style, and strengths. Gardner's theory is one way of looking at thinking styles; Kolb is another way; VAK is another. The more perspectives you have, the better you see and understand your own personality and learning styles, and the learning styles of employees, colleagues and staff.

vak learning styles
learning style description
Visual  seeing and reading
Auditory listening and speaking
Kinesthetic touching and doing
N.B. Kinesthetic style is also referred to as 'Physical', or 'Tactile', or 'Touchy-Feely'.
According to the VAK model, most people possess a dominant or preferred learning style, however some people have a mixed and evenly balanced blend of the three styles.

As already mentioned, it is also helpful to look at Kolb's learning styles model and Gardner's Multiple Intelligences model.

visual-auditory-kinesthetic learning styles

The VAK learning styles model provides a very easy and quick reference inventory by which to assess people's preferred learning styles, and then most importantly, to design learning methods and experiences that match people's preferences:

Visual learning style involves the use of seen or observed things, including pictures, diagrams, demonstrations, displays, handouts, films, flip-chart, etc.

Auditory learning style involves the transfer of information through listening: to the spoken word, of self or others, of sounds and noises.

Kinesthetic learning involves physical experience - touching, feeling, holding, doing, practical hands-on experiences.

The word 'kinesthetic' describes the sense of using muscular movement - physical sense in other words. Kinesthesia and kinesthesis are root words, derived from the Greek kineo, meaning move, and aisthesis, meaning sensation. Kinesthetic therefore describes a learning style which involves the stimulation of nerves in the body's muscles, joints and tendons. This relates to the colloquial expression 'touchy-feely' ('kineo-aisthesis' = 'move-sensation').

The VAK Visual-Auditory-Kinesthetic model and the free test below provides a free quick easy way to assess your own or other people's preferred learning styles. Please note the test below is a simple indicator of preferred learning styles - it's bloody good for free, but it's not meant for rigorous scientific research. This VAK assessment tool is a good basic guide to personal learning styles, but it's is not a scientifically validated instrument - otherwise it would probably not be free.
vak (visual-auditory-kinesthetic) learning style indicators and free self-test

Here is a free VAK learning style indicator, which can be used as a questionnaire or 'test' to assess your own preferred learning style or styles, or the VAK learning styles of your people. Score each statement and then add the totals for each column to indicate learning style dominance and mix. Your learning style is also a reflection of the type of person you are - how you perceive things and the way that you relate to the world. This questionnaire helps you to improve your understanding of yourself and your strengths. There are no right or wrong answers. (See also the free quick VAK test - short version)

You can use various scoring systems to suit your purposes:

Method 1 - Simplest and quickest - select one from each line and add the total selections for each column. The totals will indicate your relative learning style preference and mix.

Method 2 - More subtle measurement - takes longer, but probably worth it - score each option either 1, 2 or 3 points. Clearer indication will be produced if no options in a single line are scored the same, but it's up to you. You get out what you put in. Decide whether to allow equal scores or not, and most importantly then apply the rule for the whole of the questionnaire.

Method 3 - Re-structure the matrix into a multiple choice-style questionnaire - takes longer, but is more likely to avoid 'leading' or influencing the person being assessed because the format is less transparent. Each of the 30 questions would be structured as per this example, and could either ask for a single selection or to score each option 1, 2, or 3:

Q1 When operating new equipment for the first time I prefer to..

a) read the instructions
b) listen or ask for an explanation
c) have a go and learn by 'trial and error'

(A scoring grid would need to be created so as to enable calculation of totals for all a's b's and c's.)

Free VAK learning styles test - multiple-choice questionnaire (MSWord doc)
Free VAK learning styles test - multiple-choice questionnaire (PDF)
Method 4 - As method 3, but mix up the order of the options within each question, so as to reduce the transparency of the options and which style they relate to - this takes even longer and is a pain in the backside to score because 'a, b, c' would no longer correlate to 'V, A, K', so you'd need quite a clever scoring grid to achieve this, and a reasonably serious project to justify the effort.
©VAK learning styles self-test: Victoria Chislett MSc and Alan Chapman 2005. Not to be sold or published. Sole risk with user. This learning styles self-assessment tool is a rough guide to individual learning styles only - it is not a scientifically validated instrument. With thanks also to Anita Mountain and Chris Davidson for their advice in creating this tool.