Learning Styles: Debunking the Biggest Myth in Education

Why you should stop believing in learning styles and what to do instead

Have you ever seen those “what’s your learning style” tests? Maybe you even discovered that you’re a visual learner, so you bought highlighters of every color to mark your writings and readings. Or you started charting mind maps that didn’t help you much.

Here’s a twist — the whole concept of learning style might be fake.

Let’s go into detail about learning styles. You’ll be surprised how easily this myth can be debunked. But I can’t let you leave empty-handed. You’ll know what actually helps learning when you’re done reading.

What Are Learning Styles All About?

The whole point of the learning styles concept is that everyone is different, so learning styles should be personalized. Depending on the source, you can find three or four main categories of learners:

• visual,
• auditory,
• kinesthetic,
• and reading/writing.

*There are also several extra categories, such as deep and surface learning, intuitive and thinking, analytic and imaginative.

According to the theory, if people use their learning style, the results will be impressive. And the opposite — if you use techniques of a different one that does not suit you, you won’t remember much of the material. The concept has become so popular that schools and colleges started modifying their curriculum to fit certain learning styles.

Common Myths About Learning Styles

At first, it seems like the concept of learning styles is harmless. It explains individual differences between learners to help them get better results. However, over the years, some myths about learning styles have made their way into the system.

MYTH#1 — You Have One Distinct Learning Style

There’s no sure way of knowing what style is yours. But those little online tests can put you in one of the four categories. You end up either being a visual learner or a kinesthetic. And it kind of limits you — as a visual learner, you must use pictures and make mind maps to be successful. That’s not true.

Reality: Every person has many characteristics that mix up and require different methods for different tasks. Saying that there are only four learning styles is a huge oversimplification.

MYTH#2 — Your Learning Style Is Set in Stone

Many people think that learning style is given to you at birth. They also believe that it predicts your academic and career success. Is it true? Not really. But what matters is the effects of such beliefs.

Reality: Professional skills or learning styles are not written in the stars! Studies show that the learning style is an ever-changing thing. Your learning style can fluctuate even within one lesson!

MYTH#3. Matching Instruction to Style Boosts Learning

One of the main ideas of the learning styles theory is that the outcomes are improved if the learner follows their recommended style. However, no reliable studies have proven this theory.

Reality: Students get better academic results from using mixed-style learning techniques than using only one of the four. Moreover, following only the preferred style might do more harm than good. Sometimes, students are told they are auditory learners, so they mainly use audio-learning materials. Eventually, it might worsen their perception of written materials because they don’t exercise reading.

The Real Science Behind Learning

Now, it is more evident that learning styles are not that solid of a concept.

But is it totally useless?

Nope, we can make it work for us. Let’s see what science says about the benefits of personalized styles and effective learning.

We Have Learning Preferences, Not Styles

One of the things that learning styles theory got right is that we have our preferred ways of obtaining information. For example, I love reading books. You might choose audiobooks. Your friend might be a fan of video lectures. But our preferences don’t impact the efficiency of learning. Enjoying a particular way of perceiving information doesn’t guarantee memorizing. Moreover, sometimes, we don’t even acknowledge our learning preferences. A study showed that most students hadn’t considered related recommendations after determining their preferred learning style.

Individual Differences Matter

So, if learning styles are a myth, should everyone learn similarly?

Absolutely not! There are too many factors affecting the quality of learning for each individual:

• personal experience,
• motivation,
• opinions and bias,
• interests and goals,
• culture,
• cognitive abilities,
• environment.

Researchers say that prior knowledge plays a significant role in how we learn. For example, first-year students might need detailed instructions and extra examples to complete assignments. On the other hand, senior students might rush to solve tasks because that’s how they learn the best. Thus, one must consider their background when picking learning methods.

Multisensory Learning Is Key

Simply put, multisensory learning implements two or more learning styles simultaneously. Students listen to the lecturers, observe graphs and pictures, and conduct experiments. This approach activates more brain parts than traditional methods that only use one instrument at a time. Educational outcomes are also believed to increase as students’ comprehension and motivation improve.

Some Learning Strategies Are Universal

Despite all the individual aspects that we need to consider, there are a few universal techniques that will do their job of elevating your learning experience:

1. Spaced repetition. This approach includes several short study sessions. It allows your brain to process the new information step-by-step.
2. Chunking. Chunking is simply breaking down information into smaller pieces.
3. Retrieval practice. This method helps recall already learned information and contributes to long-term memorization.
4. Meaningful connections with the material. This technique helps connect new information with experience and knowledge, enhancing your understanding of a subject.

Practical Takeaways for Your Studies

Let’s see what we can start doing today to make the study process more beneficial:

✔️ Don’t put yourself in a box. Labeling yourself as a visual or auditory learner is too restrictive. Refer to different learning styles on different occasions.

✔️ Focus on what works for you. Consider your background and all the other individualities when choosing learning techniques.

✔️ Space out your study sessions. Spaced repetitions are an excellent tool for memorizing practically any information. The optimal intervals seem to be a week apart. Review each session in 1 day, in 7 days, in 16, and 35 days.

✔️ Break down information into smaller chunks. It’s easier to work with any type of information when split into small parts, like lists and categories.

✔️ Practice retrieving information. To effectively memorize, you need to practice. Use flashcards, quizzes, and tests to remember loads of information.

✔️ Tie new information to what you already know. Link new information to what you already learned.

Final Thoughts

How does it feel knowing you don’t have to tie yourself to a specific learning style? You only need to listen to yourself and pick whatever works for you. Make sure to try the alternative learning strategies I discussed above. If you found this article helpful, share it with your friends. You can find even more valuable articles on our IvyPanda study hub; you’re welcome there!