Incorporating ICT In Classroom Using 'VARK' Learning Model

VARK is a very commonly used learning model which stands for visual, auditory, reading/writing and kinesthetic learning styles. A brief explanation with examples and how to cater for each type of learner using ICT are described as follows.

Visual Learners 👀

When you see a word, do you happen to imagine what it looks like? Then you definitely have one of the characteristic of a visual learner. One surprising fact I learned about visual learners is that visual tools do not simply mean still pictures, photographs or slides. Some non-technical examples of visual aids include maps, flowcharts, action drawings, 'meaningful' pictures, patterns, colours and symbols.

With technological advances, a variety of visual teaching aids can now be used. In my daily teaching, I use PowerPoint presentations and videos projected onto a screen. However, upon learning more about this topic, I got ideas to use new tools such as spreadsheets, mind maps, data visualizers, blogs, portfolios, etc..

Auditory learners 👂

Talking aloud while performing a task is a typical behaviour of an auditory learner. For them, speaking or listening is an effective way to learn. Some of the learning techniques they use include lectures, discussions, self-talking, interviews and stories. 

Traditionally, it was the teacher talking and group chats that helped auditory learners. However, the introduction of audio-visual digital instruments into our classrooms made teaching and learning easier and better. As I dug deeper, I found out that audiobooks, recording/audio devices, podcasts and webinars are great tools to consider in teaching auditory learners.

A group work I did in ICT class about how to integrate ICT in lessons for different learners.
Photo by our Lecturer Mumthaz Miss

Reading/writing learners 📖✍

How often do you find yourself reading texts on the board/presentation rather than listening to your teacher? If it happens quite often, then you are most likely a reading/writing learner. As an educator and a learner, this is a more preferable style of learning for me as well as learners worldwide. This type of learners seek knowledge through reading text-based inputs such as books, essays, journals, manuals, etc.

Although reading/writing learners take more time in reading the presentations during class, it can be managed using techniques such as highlighting key points, making short notes or sharing links of texts so that they can read later. By doing this, I was not only able to save time during class hours for activities, but also open more opportunities for students to use digital learning tools.

Presenting a lesson plan in which activities are based using technology to cater for different learning styles.

Kinesthetic learners 👆👐 

As the word kinesthetic means, the learning is based on performing a task by action or practical involvement such as working on an experiment/project/demonstration or a role play. 

Therefore instead of pencil-and-book activities, this type of learners can be given on-hand tasks which involve movements targeted to the lesson objectives. Some ICT based activities for these students include preparing a presentation using software, designing models related to the topic, recording data on a system while performing an experiment, active way of answering questions (slido, interactive software, apps, etc.) 

Students in my class at Maldives Polytechnic using ICT tools

Understanding the learning style helps teachers to choose appropriate teaching pedagogies in classrooms. It improves students' capacity to learn and hence brings a positive impact on their achievement. Although these four learning styles are defined separately, one type can overlap the other. Learning through different styles is referred to as multi-modal. For many learners, one learning type alone is not sufficient for a successful learning. 

Learning strategies such as cooperative learning, class discussions and games can be effective and reasonable in classrooms to cater for multi-modal learners. Below are results of an online quiz taken by twelve students from my class to check their learning styles. This small-scale survey shows almost all of the students who did the quiz are multi-modal. The caption of the picture is the link to the online quiz. Find out your learning type too!

http://www.educationplanner.org/students/self-assessments/learning-styles-quiz.shtml