This article indicates a keen interest in acquiring knowledge and improve your skills. However, while you might enjoy perusing textual content, it’s worth considering whether this represents the most effective learning approach for you.

Would you benefit more if we presented this information visually or audibly, maybe as an infographic or flow chart, or through a podcast or video?

What Is the VAK Learning Styles Model?

Psychologists created the VAK Learning Styles Model in 1920s to identify the most prevalent ways that people learn. According to the concept, most of us prefer to learn in one of three ways: visual, auditory, or kinesthetic (though in practice, we “mix and match” these three types).

Visual: A learner with a preference for visual input comprehends and memorizes information more effectively when it is conveyed using visual aids such as images, diagrams, and charts.

Auditory: An auditory learner tends to listen to what is being resented. He or she responds best to voices, such as those heard during a lecture or group debate. Hearing his own voice repeat something to a tutor or trainer can also be useful.

Kinesthetic: A kinesthetic learner admires a hands-on experience. She prefers a “hands-on” approach and benefits from being able to touch or feel an object or learning assistance.

Reading/Writing: A learner with a reading or writing inclination employs word repetition and written exercises as their primary learning methods. There is evident overlap with visual and auditory styles, given that words and writing encompass both. However, typically, an individual favoring this approach enhances their memory and organization by taking down notes.

Understanding Learning Preferences

You’ll probably already have an excellent idea of your learning style because it’s been present since your first days of school. Is your default response to a problem or challenge, for example, to draw something on paper (visual), talk about it (auditory), or make a model or physical representation of the situation (kinesthetic)?

If you are still confused about your learning style, the following examples may help you identify it:

Think about how you complain: When you complain about anything, chances are your emotions are running high, and you’ll resort to your preferred communication style. Do you want to see the whites of someone’s eyes (visual), shout at them on the phone (auditory), beat your fists on the table (kinesthetic), or send a terse email (reading/writing)?

Imagine yourself in an uncomfortable situation: Imagine you’re in an unfamiliar city at night, and you need to navigate to your destination. How would you go about it? Would you rely

on a map (visual), approach someone for directions (auditory), or simply continue walking until you figured out your whereabouts (kinesthetic)?

What style of presentation do you prefer? Reflect on the most recent presentation you participated in. What aspect of it left the strongest impression on you? Was it the visual elements like charts and visual aids (visual), the choice of words employed by the speaker (auditory), or any interactive engagement with the audience (kinesthetic)?