There’s a common concept that we all have different learning styles. Recently I came across a guide by Veritasium that debunked the theory and found it pretty surprising that most of us have grown up with an idea that doesn’t really make sense.
Today we’ll uncover the four learning styles and why we should let go of this long-held theory.
What Are the Learning Styles aka VARK?
The VARK model consists of 4 different types of learners:
- Visual- Learning from images, videos and demonstrations.
- Auditory- Listening to explantions, e.g-lectures.
- Read/write- Reading or writing text.
- Kinesthetic- Learning by doing things.
Based on this model, we can select study methods and teaching styles to suit our preferences.
But wait, if our preferences determine which style is best for us, they have the ability to change.
So is this a system that we entirely assume? Is it really evidence based?
Evidence that this model isn’t evidence based
Learning styles is not an evidence based technique, so it’s safe to say that it isn’t much effective either.
Let’s look at a study by Rogosky, Calhoun and Tallal in 2015.
Rogosky and his colleagues closed up on two major learning styles: visual and auditory. They looked at the impact of VARK on a visual learner’s ability to read and an auditory learner’s ability to listen.
A group of college students were seperated into auditory and visual learners based on which learning style suited them best.
In the first stage, the researchers used this information to give each student a test in either written or verbal format.
In the second stage, they randomly allocated students to 1 of two groups: one recieved information from an audiobook and the other from an online text. The students completed a written test immediately and again after two weeks.
Results from both stages showed no significant relationship between learning style and performance.
Other studies have proved the same thing, so the concept isn’t very popular with neuroscientists.
What helps?
The system may be flawed, but it gives us a clear-cut approach so we can express how we like to recieve information.
When it comes to learning, a ‘one size fits all’ approach is better; we can all interact with any form of material. Using a combination of words and pictures can support our learning far more than being reluctant to engage with material that doesn’t follow our learning style.
Creating lists or stories in our minds allows us to easily make connections between pieces of information.
So the takeaway message is that it’s not how the information is presented that matters, but what happens inside a learner’s mind.
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