How do you learn best? Do you learn best by looking at information in charts and graphs? Do you learn best by listening to information? Or do you learn best by manipulating objects with your hands? These three learning styles – visual, auditory and kinesthetic, are the backbone to many teacher lesson plans and the basis for numerous teacher training days. Unfortunately, despite the widespread agreement on the issue, the idea of learning styles is not supported by scientific research and may in fact not be the best method for teachers to focus instructional methods.
Learning Styles the Result of Faulty Research
According to the APS (Association for Psychological Science), there is no evidence to support the theory of different learning styles. A report published in Psychological Science in the Public Interest by Hal Pashler, Mark McDaniel, Doug Rohrer and Robert Bjork show through a review of literature that the studies showing multiple learning styles do not follow proper protocol and are not credible (“Learning Styles: Concepts and Evidence” December, 2009).
To properly test the theory of multiple learning styles, studies must be randomized. Likewise, the results of properly preformed studies must be able to be repeated. The handful of studies that followed proper protocols had conflicting results which in effect debunks the idea that individuals learn best through different modalities (visual, tactile or auditory).
The Impact of Learning Styles Research on Education
The first and most frustrating impact of this research is that teachers and administrative staff have spent precious time and money on training and planning lessons around the concept that different students learn best in different modalities. According to Psychologist Dan Willingham from the University of Virginia, it is a better idea to focus lessons and training on those similarities that students have rather than on the differences.
One way he suggests doing this is to mix things up more – an idea that is scientifically supported to boost attention. Additional studies show that the more students pay attention, the better they learn, according to Willingham. He also suggests that the brain retains information better over a longer period of time, so it is important for teachers to spread learning out as much as possible.
This information flies in the face of many teachers and educational professionals, but in the effort to improve education by using research based ideas, it is important to recognize where we have gone wrong and focus our efforts on new ideas.
Jennifer Wagaman - Jennifer is a mother of 2 and has both public, private and administrative experience in the education field.
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