How to Use Learning Styles to Help Your Academics

Educational psychologist Walter Burke Barbe and colleagues proposed three modalities of learning: visual (V), auditory (A), and kinaesthetic (K). Visual learning involves absorbing information by sight, auditory learning by sound, and kinaesthetic learning through movement. Whilst entirely changing the way you learn based upon your own individual learning style is not encouraged - and indeed has been criticised in research literature (e.g.: Newton, 2015) - ‘thinking about thinking’ (i.e. reflecting on your preferences and strengths in terms of learning strategies) is certainly beneficial.

The Visual-Auditory-Kinaesthetic (VAK) learning style model can be a helpful starting point for thinking about different ways of learning and how you can diversify your studying techniques. With this in mind, this article will guide you through the research on VAK learning styles and how you can become a more well-rounded learner.

More About The VAK Learning Styles

VAK learning styles refer to the channels through which information can be perceived: vision, audition, and kinaesthesia. According to Barbe and colleagues, individuals may have distinct strengths and preferences concerning learning modalities; that is, you may learn more through a certain medium, but prefer another. Barbe also underlines that ‘modality strength’ is not a fixed characteristic.  This means that the medium you learn best through changes over time and likely through practice. 

This is really important as this suggests that students should not entirely change their learning to suit a particular learning style. Firstly, individuals cannot be identified as a single type of learner, but rather as a combination of all three. Secondly, as noted by Barbe, our strengths can change over time and through practice, suggesting that we should in fact learn to study through all modalities. For instance, if you learn best through auditory sources, you should perhaps practise with visual modalities so you are better able to learn this way when you are required to. 

Whilst understanding that you should not only focus on one learning style , distinguishing between visual, auditory and kinaesthetic learning modalities can be a fruitful way to think about different ways to learn, and help you get more creative with your studying strategies! Have a look at the strategies listed below to help you reflect on how you currently learn and what you could change.

VAK Learning Strategies:

Visual learning strategies might include:

• Colour-coding notes

• Creating mind-maps and diagrams

• Planning work with neat to-do lists or timetables

• Highlighting and annotating

Auditory learning strategies might include:

• Reading your revision notes aloud

• Recording yourself speaking and listening back

• Listening to podcasts and YouTube videos on a subject

• Discussing with peers

• Creating rhymes or songs to help you memorise

Kinaesthetic learning strategies might include:

• Associating gestures with pieces of information

• Studying while moving around

• Highlighting or underlining when reading a piece of text/notes

Thinking About Thinking

Reflecting on how you learn is certainly beneficial for your studying, for example by informing the activities you use for revision. Having read our list of suggestions for visual, auditory and kinesthetic learning strategies; consider firstly (1) how you learn at the moment and what learning styles you use both inside and outside the classroom, (2) what modalities and activities you enjoy, and (3) in what contexts you learn the most effectively. Thinking about these questions should help you identify your currently dominant strategies, your strengths and preferences. Then you should consider (4) what activities and modalities you have not tried, and would like to try; and (5) which modalities you find challenging, which could be areas to work on.

Final Advice

You should aim for diversity in the ways that you learn and revise - with some common themes.  You should know how your final exam is taken - is it a written exam, a listening exam or an oral exam. This should guide your learning and revision.  It is crucial that you practise the way that you will be tested and examined.

However, beyond this thinking about VAK learning styles can be a helpful starting point for thinking about how you absorb information, and how you can develop a more integrated approach to learning. If you think you could benefit from personalised guidance on how to diversify your learning strategies, our tutors are happy to provide guidance built on years of personal experience studying, as well as professional experience in tutoring.

Are you looking for support with your learning, or your child’s? Get in touch, we’re always delighted to chat!