Different Learning Styles

The Visual-Auditory-Kinesthetic learning styles model or 'inventory', usually abbreviated to VAK, provides a simple way to explain and understand your own learning style (and learning styles of others). 'Learning style' should be interpreted to mean an individual mixture of styles. Everyone has a mixture of strengths and preferences. No-one has exclusively one single style or preference. Please bear this in mind when using these ideas.

Learning Style                    Description

    Visual                          Seeing & Reading

   Auditory                       Listening & Speaking

 Kinesthetic                     Touching & Doing

Visual : Visual learning style involves the use of seen or observed things, including pictures, diagrams, demonstrations, displays, handouts, films, flip-chart, etc.

Auditory : Auditory learning style involves the transfer of information through listening: to the spoken word, of self or others, of sounds and noises.

Kinesthetic : Kinesthetic learning involves physical experience - touching, feeling, holding, doing, practical hands-on experiences. The word 'kinesthetic' describes the sense of using muscular movement - physical sense in other words. Kinesthesia and kinesthesis are root words, derived from the Greek kineo, meaning move, and aisthesis, meaning sensation. Kinesthetic therefore describes a learning style which involves the stimulation of nerves in the body's muscles, joints and tendons. This relates to the colloquial expression 'touchy-feely' ('kineo-aisthesis' = 'move-sensation').

Click here to take a Career Assessment Test to identify your Learning style.