Adult Learning Styles: How the VARK© Learning Style Inventory Can Be Used to Improve Student Learning

Students have different learning styles and these can affect how they learn. Physician assistant (PA) programs can potentially improve student learning by administering an intervention such as a learning style inventory. The VARK© inventory (VARK is an acronym for visual, aural, read/write, and kinesthetic learning modalities) is one such tool that is easy to use and can give students information on how to maximize their learning. First-year Emory University PA students were asked to take the VARK inventory and then submit their results. This was followed with a presentation and discussion on how the VARK inventory works and how to integrate the information it provides into study skills. In addition, these students were asked to respond to a questionnaire regarding their thoughts on the VARK inventory. The students had a positive response to the intervention, and found it to be helpful. The use of learning style inventories appears to be beneficial and their usefulness should be further evaluated.