We had another professional development session where learning styles were emphasized, and I was advised to incorporate elements for all learning styles into my lessons. Despite the belief among 70% of teachers that learning styles significantly impact learning, there is no credible evidence supporting this claim; numerous studies have shown minimal to no effect.
What truly impacts learning? Adapting the teaching style to suit the content effectively.
Especially in K-12 education, numerous companies seek profit by promoting unnecessary products. Learning styles have been particularly lucrative, generating millions despite lacking substantial research backing. I encourage you to conduct your own research on various styles and theories, as many educational trends lack empirical support. Here’s a link to begin exploring this topic further
I at most times acknowledge what research says, but it is hard to square with my personal experience. I can say that I quickly absorb and recall information that I have read, and I always find it hard to absorb and recall information that I have only heard. When I am assigned a video for a class, I usually turn the captions on and focus on those, because otherwise, I will have to watch it several times and still end up remembering less than if I just read it in the first place.
I just don’t see any reason not to provide access to information in different modes, now that I am a teacher. Maybe learning styles as a fixed set are not supported by research, but there are people with dyslexia and processing disorders and, yes, preferences. Why not just accommodate all and make sure the information can be read seen and heard when possible?
Am wondering here who the hell decided that phonics was “alt-right”? Maria Montessori built her language series based on phonemic awareness leading to phonics and then building whole words phonetically and she was pretty much the OG anti-fascist (like, she told off Mussolini and fled Italy while he had everything she’d built up until then destroyed)
It is almost like phonics and politics have nothing to do with each other.
The number of times I have heard a student say “I am not a (insert learning style) learner” is numerous and this actually leaves me to wonder what is the fate of this current education system.
Let me say this although this will put me in some hot soup. Learning styles is a just myth. Do your personal research about your students. If they want to learn you can’t stop them hence teach them. On the other hand, if they don’t want to learn you can’t force them to learn. That simple.
I don’t usually teach learning styles, but I always make sure to incorporate a variety of different approaches to any given lesson.
In my opinion, I believe that is what every educator should do in class, as that is what all the replicable research on how human beings learn indicates.
