How a Teacher Could Use the VARK

Yesterday I took the VARK test. I started wondering how I could use the test as a teacher. Would it be worth asking the students to take the test in the beginning of the year ? That way I could plan the tasks and exams more carefully and support their learning better. This obviously requires teaching the same group for more than just one or two courses.

Or is it enough just to remember that there are different kind of learners in the class room? I think I'll give it a go and see if it gives any benefits to me as a teacher or to the students.

Taking the test made me notice something about my teaching: I avoid graphics and figures. I really have to pay attention to this in the future. Not learning from them myself doesn't give me the right to leave them out from my lectures!

How Do I Learn Best?

I took this test: http://www.vark-learn.com/english/page.asp?p=questionnaire

My result is: ARK.

I agree with this. I can use different kind of learning methods. Usually I learn best when I use at least two different methods at the same time.  But I'm not a visual person at all: give me a map and I'll get lost. I also jump over all kind of graphics in the books and just read the descriptions. I really dislike it if the figures are not explained well enough...

I recommend this test to everyone! It also gives you tips how to improve your learning.

Support from My Family

I'm lucky to have my family supporting me with my studies. I couldn't study in the evenings and at the weekends if my husband didn't help me out so much at home. He's really good with the kids and knows how the hoover works. He's a good chef as well! 

My mum helps me with the kids, too. She looks after them when we have contact days at the college. She even brings the kids to me during our lunch breaks so that I can feed my baby. Couldn't do this without her either.

So a big thank you to my family! 

In order to be successful with your studies you need two things: 1. Motivation 2. Support from your family. I'm lucky to have both.

How I Became a Student

I have been working quite hard for the last couple of years to get in to the local University of Applied Sciences to get vocational teacher's qualification in Finland. Five years ago I would have said "No thank you" to the idea of becoming a teacher (two teachers in a family is enough)! But then I started to work as a coordinator at the local vocational college, and found out that the kids and workmates are actually nice. Our director of the unit asked me to get the qualification, and here I am - studying.

This year I was able to apply for the first time. Earlier it was mandatory to have Master's degree, but the law changed and my Bachelor's degree is now enough. And to my big suprise I got selected! Our group is international and everything is taught in English. That suits me just fine since I want to teach in English in the future.

I got the great news when my son was only 7 weeks old. I had mixed feelings; I was happy and worried at the same time. How Am I going to find time to do my studies? I am already doing my MBA! But this is what I want! So let the show begin.