Investigation of VARK learning styles of pre-service science teachers in terms of various variables

In this study, to reveal the VARK learning styles of pre-service science teachers, to examine them in terms of grade level and gender variables and to get their opinions about VARK was aimed. The study was conducted as triangulation design. 178 (144 women, 34 men) pre-service science teachers were studied. To collect data, the VARK scale and semi-structured interviews were used. In terms of VARK learning styles, a significant difference was determined between 1st and 2nd grades in favor of 2nd grades, between 1st and 3rd grades in favor of 3rd grades and between 2nd and 4th grades in favor of 2nd grades. Also, kinesthetic learning style was the most dominant in all grade levels. However, no significant difference was found in terms of gender. The PSTs prefer to learn a subject by reading and writing and to teach the lesson with actions that will make the student active, and that they learn more through reading and writing activities while studying for an exam. Their visual memory was generally good, their tendency to forget what they heard, read and wrote was high and they learnt better when they did a task themselves. Also, they understand a subject more easily by reading from the source, they benefit from writing while expressing their ideas, they learn better by doing a job themselves, and they have more kinesthetic and visual learning styles. The study will contribute to the PSTs to be aware of their own learning styles and to guide their students with different learning methods and techniques when they start to work.