Using VARK Approach for Assessing Preferred Learning Styles of First Year Medical Sciences Students: A Survey from Iran

Abstract

Background: Preferred learning styles of learners are different, which depend on tastes, mentality preparedness, as well as physical condition, in terms of sensory modalities. Identifying and employing appropriate learning styles could play an important role in selecting teaching styles, which can improve education ultimately. Aim:The present study aimed to assess the diversity of learning styles amongst medical students of a medical sciences university which was located west of Iran, in 2010. Methods:A cross-sectional study which employed VARK learning style's questionnaire was done on 141 first year medical sciences students at Ilam University of Medical Sciences in 2010. Data was collected with use of VARK questionnaire. The validity of the questionnaire was assessed on basis of experts' views and its reliability was calculated by using Cronbach's alpha coefficients (α=0.86). Data were analysed by using SPSS software and Chi-square test.Results: Overall, 41.6% of the samples preferred to use a single learning style (Uni-modal). Of these, 17.7% preferred the Aural style, 17% preferred Reading and Writing, 6.4% preferred Kinesthetic style and 0.7% preferred Visual styles. Among the rest of the 82 students who preferred more than one style (multimodal), 17% chose two modes (bimodal), 13.5% chose three modes (tri-modal), and 27.6% chose four modes (quad-modal). There was a significant difference between educational levels and majors on one hand and choice of quad modal of VARK styles on the other hand (p=0.008). A significant association was also found between participants' genders and selection of visual and reading/writing styles (p=0.03).

Relationship between Learning Style and Academic Status of Babol Dental Students

“…Awareness about the learning styles of learners is very important in education systems and helps instructors identify and solve learning problems of learners. Furthermore, it helps learners learn more easily and efficiently (8). In this research the majority of students (98.9%) preferred to use multiple learning styles.…”

“…It is based on three principles: 1) Everyone can learn academic issues but has her or his own style; 2) The learners' motivation increases when their different learning styles are taken into account; and 3) Educational concepts are learned through utilization of senses and different perceptions (8). According to VARK's perspective, students acquire knowledge through four sensory channels based on interaction and response to their learning environment: 1) Visual: In this style people learn best by observation and visual presentation; 2) Aural or auditory: Learners learn best through listening and verbal instructions; 3) Reading-Writing: In this style people learn best by taking notes during reading written or printed texts and lectures; 4) Kinesthetic or practical: Learners learn best by carrying out physical activities (8,9). There are some published data on learning styles among medical students, but few studies have investigated the relationship between learning styles and the mean of students' final exam scores.…”

“…The field of dentistry is combined of theoretical and practical courses; therefore, it is important to recognize students' learning style preferences in order to design an effective educational curriculum and provide learning opportunities. In Iran, although several studies utilizing the VARK questionnaire have been conducted among different fields of medical sciences (5,8,(11)(12)(13), few studies have been done to identify the learning preferences of dental students. This study was conducted to determine the relationship between the mean of final exam scores and learning style preferences of dental students at Babol University of Medical Sciences.…”

The Impact Of Matched Preceptorship-Relations On Midwifery Education Students' Self-Efficacy

“…However, no literature examining this relationship was found in the field of midwifery nursing education. Although the VARK questionnaire has been used to identify types of learning styles for the last 30 years (Peyman et al, 2014), so far, no studies have examined the connection between matching preceptor-preceptee learning styles and self-efficacy. The present VARK instrument presents 16 daily-life situations which require learning, but these situations are not relevant for nursing education in general and for the discipline of midwifery in particular.…”

Vark Questionnaire Online Platform as a Spearhead for the Effectiveness of Styles and Methods of Teaching Teachers

“…a student will master a material when reading or writing a material that has been displayed by the teacher; (4) kinesthetic, a disciple will understand a material when they are in motion, such as reading while moving the hand, reading while walking, demonstrating an understanding through gestures. Vark Questionnaire Online is an online website that has a high credibility related to the results of its sensitivity to an answer that has been filled correspondents, in addition to the online Questionnaire Vark many become a referral to Determine the appropriate learning methodology for an individual when learning to be seen from its popularity in various countries [7]. Vark Questionnaire online in determining which learning method is suitable for an individual is to provide a simple question-shaped questionnaire with multiple choice answers, which is then filled by respondents according to their interests.…”