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VAK (VisualAuditoryKinaesthetic) Probably because of its simplicity and practicality, VAK theory is widely recognised by teachers particularly those who advocate Accelerated Learning techniques but the idea that we receive information via different “modalities” has been around considerably longer than that and can be traced back to the work of Grace Fernald ("Remedial Techniques in Basic School Subjects") who promoted kinaesthetic learning techniques; Samuel Orton’s work on dyslexia; Anna Gillingham’s subsequent work on developing multisensory approaches; and the holistic educational philosophy of Maria Montessori. Normally, we each have five senses. There is an increasing realisation that we respond subconsciously to our sense of smell. Aromatherapy is based on the principle that aromas can help to create mood. More simply, manufacturers of household products usually try to make them "smell nice". More subtly, perfumers make a living from concocting alluring and enticing odours. Recent research has shown that men and women produce pheromones (body odours) that enhance their attractiveness to the opposite sex in myriad subtle ways. Similarly, our sense of taste is very important to us and is one of the first to be developed in the young. It is one of the reasons why babies put everything in their mouths (although they also use their mouths as a kinaesthetic sensory organ). Nevertheless, we do not normally associate our senses of smell and taste as being useful for communication purposes leaving us with three methods (or modes) of receiving and processing information. This is often referred to as the VAK model. VISUAL AUDITORY KINAESTHETIC Each of us has a natural preference for the way in which we prefer to receive, process and impart information. This is largely genetically determined but is also susceptible to development, particularly when we are young (whilst our neural pathways are still being established). There are various ways in which preferred processing modes become apparent and some simple ways in which we can enhance the effectiveness of our communication once we are aware of them. One way to detect a person's preferred processing mode is to watch their

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  • 4/17/2015 VAK

    http://www.brainboxx.co.uk/a3_aspects/pages/VAK.htm 1/4

    VAK(VisualAuditoryKinaesthetic)

    Probablybecauseofitssimplicityandpracticality,VAKtheoryiswidelyrecognisedbyteachers particularly thosewhoadvocateAcceleratedLearning techniques but the idea that we receive information viadifferent modalities has been around considerably longer than thatand can be traced back to the work of Grace Fernald ("RemedialTechniques in Basic School Subjects") who promoted kinaestheticlearning techniques Samuel Ortons work on dyslexia AnnaGillinghamssubsequentworkondevelopingmultisensoryapproachesandtheholisticeducationalphilosophyofMariaMontessori.Normally,weeachhavefivesenses.Thereisanincreasingrealisationthatwerespondsubconsciouslytooursenseofsmell.Aromatherapyisbased on the principle that aromas can help to create mood. Moresimply,manufacturersofhouseholdproductsusuallytrytomakethem"smell nice". More subtly, perfumers make a living from concoctingalluringandenticingodours.Recentresearchhasshownthatmenandwomen produce pheromones (body odours) that enhance theirattractivenesstotheoppositesexinmyriadsubtleways.Similarly,oursenseof taste isvery important tousand isoneof thefirsttobedevelopedintheyoung.Itisoneofthereasonswhybabiesputeverythingintheirmouths(althoughtheyalsousetheirmouthsasakinaesthetic sensory organ). Nevertheless, we do not normallyassociate our senses of smell and taste as being useful forcommunicationpurposesleavinguswiththreemethods(ormodes)ofreceivingandprocessing information. This isoften referred toas theVAKmodel.

    VISUAL

    AUDITORY

    KINAESTHETIC

    Eachofushasanaturalpreferenceforthewayinwhichweprefer toreceive, process and impart information. This is largely geneticallydetermined but is also susceptible to development, particularly whenweareyoung(whilstourneuralpathwaysarestillbeingestablished).Therearevariouswaysinwhichpreferredprocessingmodesbecomeapparent and some simple ways in which we can enhance theeffectivenessofourcommunicationonceweareawareofthem.Oneway todetectaperson'spreferredprocessingmode is towatch their

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    eye movements, particularly when they are thinking or answering aquestion.

    VISUAL

    thinkerstendtolookupwards

    AUDITORY

    thinkerstendtolookstraightahead

    KINAESTHETIC

    thinkerstendtolookdownwards

    Ofcourse,inpractice,itisnotquiteassimpleasthis.Additionalfactorsaffecteyemovementssuchaswhether theperson is trying to recallrealorimaginarycircumstances(inotherwords,aretheytellinglies?)There are also vocabulary clues that can help to detect preferredprocessingmodes.

    Visual thinkers willtend to use andrespond to termssuchas:

    IgetthepictureIseethatnowFrom myperspectiveWhat's yourview?

    Auditory thinkerswilltend to use andrespond to termssuchas:

    I get themessageThatringsabell

    That strikes achord

    Sounds OK tome

    Kinaestheticthinkerswill tend touse & respond totermssuchas:

    How does thatgrabyou?

    A grasp of thebasics

    It certainlyfeelsright

    I can relate tothat

    Even a very basic understanding of different processing modes canhelpyou tocommunicatemoreeffectively. Understandingaperson'spreferredmodeenablesyoutotailorthewayyouaddressthemsothatitsuitstheir"style".

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    Youcouldsketchadiagramforvisual

    thinkers.

    Youcouldstresskeywordsforauditory

    thinkers.

    Youcouldusea

    "handson"approachforkinaestheticthinkers.

    Whenaddressinganaudience,youcanensurethatyourmessagewillreach a greater proportion by using all three modes. A goodpresentationshouldincludeinputsthatare:

    Visual

    suchasdiagrams,charts,pictures.

    Auditory

    suchasstories,anecdotes,jokes,

    puns.

    Kinaesthetic

    withactivitiesandopportunitytomove

    about.

    Ofcourse,onceyouhavedevelopedabasicunderstandingoftheVAKmodel and seen the effects of translating it into practice, you will bekeentounderstandtheprinciplesingreaterdepth.

    Discoveryourpreferredlearningstylewiththissimplequestionnaire

    FindouthowtoMakethemostofyourlearningstyle

    ExploretheseTeachingandLearningActivities

    FindoutaboutMindmappingforvisuallearners

    "Letsgetphysical"anddevisesometechniquesforkinaesthetic

    learners

    Haveyoueverthoughtaboutusingtraininggames?

    Simpletipsforusingdramaacrossthecurriculum

    "WaysofLearning"AlanPritchard

    LearningStylesandInclusionGavinReid

    TheLearningStylesHandbookforTeachersandTutors

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    ClicktobuyonAmazon

    ClicktobuyonAmazon

    GailMurSonbuchnerClicktobuyonAmazon