The learning styles myth

The belief that learning styles may predict academic and career success is a myth and undermines the education process.

The learning styles myth
learning styles

Main titles

  • 80% to 95% in the U.S and other industrialized countries believe in learning styles and their effectiveness.
  • Many studies have disproved the concept of learning styles. What's more, focusing on learning styles can undermine the education process.
  • Many people, including educators, believe that learning style is set at birth and predicts success both academically and in careers.
  • Learning styles vary and can be visual, auditory or tactile.

learning styles

“We found that some people are more likely to believe that students inherit their learning style from their parents and that learning styles affect brain function. We also found that educators who work with younger children are more likely to hold this essentialist view. Many parents and educators may be wasting time and money on products, services and teaching methods that are geared toward learning styles.”  - Shaylene Nancekivell, PhD

  • 90 % of people in the study believed in learning styles. This percentage was split into two groups, the essentialists that believed in heredity and non essentialists who believed more in malleability and environmental factors.

“My biggest concern is that time is being spent teaching young children maladaptive strategies for learning. It is important that children from a very young age are taught with the best practices so they will succeed.” - Shaylene Nancekivell, PhD

Source: apa.org