VARK Questionnaire

In last week’s workshop we discussed how different people learn in different ways and took a look at the different ways people take in and process information. As part of this, we all completed the VARK Questionnaire.

For those not familiar with the VARK Questionnaire, it is a study to try and ascertain what type of learner you are. There are four main different types of learner according to the questionnaire - Visual/Aural/Read-Write/Kinaesthetic. I have ascertained from completing the exercise that I am indeed a kinaesthetic learner.

What being a kinaesthetic learning basically means is that I am a practical learner who learns best by physically doings things and experiencing things in the real world rather than sitting at a desk reading textbooks or having someone lecture things at me. I believe this to be extremely true as I have always preferred being out and about doing things and exploring how things work, taking things apart, breaking things etc.

I can remember back to when I was about 5 or 6 wiring a plug and a light switch up for the first time. I was really chuffed as I thought it was a massive achievement. I had watched my dad do it and wanted to do it myself - I got the polarity of the wires correct and everything (and even tested it without him watching). I had learnt that from watching my dad do it and then doing it myself - no text book, no guide, nothing.

My two main interests, IT and the technical side of the entertainment industry (which I am currently employed in both areas) have always been, and will always be, very hands on areas. I find myself doing a lot of practical work as that is what the job entails. There is a lot of paperwork at times, but a majority of the work I do is practical and hands on and I have found myself comfortable in this surrounding as I know I learn things far better trying them for myself and doing it rather than trying to simulate it or read it from a text book.

I'll admit, I've broken a lot of stuff in the process of learning, but you always get a bigger buzz knowing that you know the system/whatever it is far better through exploring it practically than when you first set out.

Outside of uni I have quite possibly the two best jobs I feel I can do and I'm extremely happy and comfortable with the employment I have. I work as a freelance computer engineer (in layman’s terms I'm a computer repair bloke) and I work in a theatre as a theatre technician (that boils down to mainly doing lighting/sound/fixing things/hanging lights etc...you know).

I'm a practical person - I work best and I learn best being out there using my hands and brain to explore the world around me, and not being stuck in a classroom. This was one of the reasons why I had to think long and hard about university. I'm not a uni person – although I did well at school I'm not an academic person so I know uni will be hard (writing essays etc) but I know I'm capable of doing it although I appreciate it will be a struggle.

JR