Teaching and Learning Handbook (A Best Practice Guide)
Teaching and Learning Handbook (A Best Practice Guide)
The VAK Model
The VAK model has been developed by a number of educational theorists, most notably Dunn and Dunn. It divides learning preferences into three main types:
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Visual |
Auditory |
Kinaesthetic |
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Students with this learning preference respond best to information they can see. |
Students with this learning preference respond best to information they can hear. This could include the spoken word or music |
Students with this learning preference respond best to information they can discover through physical activity. This could include role play or a building task. |
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Teaching Activities : Reading texts Note taking Comprehensions Mind-mapping Demonstrations Making lists Closing eyes to recall Watching a film |
Teaching Activities: Formal lectures Reading aloud Group discussions Using background music Recording a topic summary Presentations Interviews / Mnemonics
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Teaching Activities : Role play Visits Practical experiment Acting Simulation Puppetry Building ‘Jigsaw’ Activity Interviews Study groups |
More recently a fourth category of Tactile has been added. This refers to students whose learning is based on use of the hands and has similarities with the kinaesthetic category. Typical activities include underlining, taking notes and handling objects to get a sense of them.
Some of the appeal of the VAK categorisation is its simplicity and easy application in teaching strategies. In Coleg Powys it is easy to diagnose students quickly from completing the BKSB and Learning Styles computerised assessments. Possibly the greatest benefit of this kind of testing is that it encourages our students to think about the process of their learning. The danger of it is that it has the potential to 'pigeon-hole' students in one category rather than stressing it is a preferred style. Students should be encouraged to develop all styles of learning.