to ask whether you know how you learn?

[shudup]

One popular theory, the VARK model, identifies four primary types of learners: visual, auditory, reading/writing, and kinesthetic.

I've been strongly academic because of books, but I have had this testing done on me in a couple of workplaces and I come out really weak on auditory (which is what most lecturing consists of) and very strongly kinesthetic.

I learned over the years, but didn't realise I was doing it until it was pointed out to me, that I would have to write what was being said and that was enough to get something into my head (writing was enough of kinesthesia). But hearing something? You might as well be talking to a hole in the wall for all that I absorbed.

Anyone else had this done?

You do know that theory is a load of bollocks right?

I know that I can't learn anything by auditory means. This has been borne out in 3 tests done by separate companies. It is borne out in my experience of life.

Since you're an expert on bollocks, perhaps you can tell me how you learn?

I’m very much like you OP.
If you tell me how to do something I space out and don’t listen. If you show me I can only absorb it by making notes. I’m ok with written instructions as I can then visualise myself doing it but it won’t stick until I actually do it IYSWIM

Ooh I’m a very visual learner. Lots of drawings and those cloud note things etc. Flash cards etc

Definitely not auditory - I don’t take anything in that I hear!

It’s made up-everyone learns different things in different ways.

I’m definitely better at learning but seeing and doing. If it’s listening alone then it just doesn’t go in!

I am strongly visual in the way I absorb info.

I think this has now been largely discredited? In that we all learn in different ways, with different elements rather than fitting neatly into these specific types?

I need to write things down or they don't go in. Have been on quite a lot of courses where the trainer has said "you don't need to write this down, it's there in the hand out" which I find irritating!

im see it write it learn it

Yep. I did a post grad in my 40s. I'm reading and writing.

you don't need to write this down, it's there in the hand out"

Me too! I'm like 'unless you expect me to go home and write it all out, nothing is going in unless I write it while you're blustering there'.

Never heard of that theory but I’ve always known I’ve learned much better by seeing things and by writing things down. I love things like maps and when reading a book with lots of different destinations I will repeatedly bring up google maps so I can “see” their journey.

If you tell me how to do something I space out and don’t listen.

A neighbour has recently tried to arrange something with me 3 times and told me the days they are available. I’ve forgotten the days each time as soon as I go in the house! he keeps catching me when I’m out without my phone otherwise I’d have them straight in the calendar.

Writing it down helps me.

For exams I would invent mnemonics to help remember - but not sure that counts as "learning" cos I memorized and forgot once exam over.

As some PPs have said, if you are looking for academic rigour then my understanding is that this model doesn't have a robust evidence base and is, in effect, just assertion. It may chime with what how you think you learn but that doesn't give it rigour or validity.

I'm visual. Writing things down doesn't help me at all, I have to colour code or draw diagrams/mind maps or doodle around things - that way I can recall them eg I can 'see' how many stalks are on the mind map.

It's not just about learning though, it's also just memory....I have to use many different file colours at work, because I'll know (for example) something is in a red folder, then I only need to look at the 3 red folders, not the other 12 on the desk

People in general are very bad at identifying how they learn. For example, most people feel they have learned more in one four-hour teaching session than in four one-hour sessions, but almost everyone does better in tests on things they've learned in shorter periods. There are individual differences in learning but people are more similar to each other than they are different.
OP, your auditory memory may be poorer than your visuo-spatial memory but writing notes is something that benefits most learners, not just you. It's a helpful way to engage with material that benefits most people (although maybe not everyone - people with dyslexia might struggle with the increased cognitive load).
The VARK model is really not helpful because people generally learn in similar ways, and it highlights tiny differences in preference that might impact perception of learning, but not the reality.

This has largely been discredited. My employer still insists it's carried out with each student. The students usually are quite interested in the results and the more switched on realise it's situation dependent.

I definitely learn by reading and writing.

Yes I’m a visual learner, if I see something once I’ll remember it forever but if someone tells me something it’s gone in seconds. I’m worst with names as most people tell you their names but until I’ve seen it written down, I can’t remember it and of course it’s rude to forget!

You don't learn in just one way. It is completely situation dependent and easily subject to confirmation bias.

The studies have been widely discredited in education circles (the evidence is easily googlable).

It is interesting as a theory and you can see how bits might fit in to your learning but it's dangerous to jump on the bandwagon to the exclusion of other things.

You do know that theory is a load of bollocks right?

Off topic but I hate this rude question form that some people use as a response. Just had to let it out!

Visual btw.

I learn by doing. I can waste a whole day going for training involving a PowerPoint presentation and end up retaining 1or 2 facts

Yep, the theory is complete bunkum. Read John Geke's analysis "Vak or Vakuous?" for a complete take down of the theory. I studied under Geke in the early 2000s and he (and others) had pretty much destroyed the theory by then. No scientific basis for the theory at all.

@soundsystem I went on a lecture day for my OU degree and the lecturer was so perplexed that I took notes and said similar, we ended up having a discussion about it as he said he never takes notes and never has, whereas for me I take them as I remember things better for writing them down (but I don't look back over them, which is what he found most odd!)