The Individuality in Learning And Learning Styles

I have already written a little bit about learning styles and how a teacher could maintain from knowing them. In this blog I am not going to introduce the various concepts of learning styles more detailed since they can be found easily on Google. Anyway, the basics of learning styles are easy to adopt since they are mainly based on "common sense" and not heavily theoretical.  In other words: everyone can understand them. I think that is where the beauty of them lays, but we should not take them for granted!

I have already posted this video link on the blog (Willingham 2008). I watched it again, and it made me to search the subject more. I found interesting articles concerning learning styles. 

Research into educational applications of learning styles started in the 70s. Different concepts of learning style exist. However, the concept can be generally described as "the way an individual sets about learning something". Learning styles are seen consistent and relatively stable individual differences in the way people learn. There in no good or bad learning style, and it is seen important that education meets the specific strengths and weaknesses of learners. This is done by following guidelines based in the so-called "matching-hypothesis", which states that the latter will perform better, or at least appreciate the instruction to a higher extent, if a teacher matches instruction to the individual learning styles of his or her students. (In Search of Theoretical and Empirical Foundations for the “Learning Style Awareness” Hypothesis as Guiding Principle for Educational Applications of Learning Styles in University Education)

Nowadays the student is held more responsible for his / her own learning process and expected to be able to self-regulate the process. The "matching-guideliness for teachers" are seen less important and even unethical; the teachers are expected to help students to recognize their strengths in learning instead of trying to implement different strategies into teaching. The latest studies have questioned the impact of learning style awareness on the quality of learning. The impact must be reconsidered and certainly not be overestimated. (In Search of Theoretical and Empirical Foundations for the “Learning Style Awareness” Hypothesis as Guiding Principle for Educational Applications of Learning Styles in University Education)


In the article "In Search of Theoretical and Empirical Foundations for the “Learning Style Awareness” Hypothesis as Guiding Principle for Educational Applications of Learning Styles in University Education" the researchers state that "learning styles can play a role in stimulating metacognitive awareness of personal strengths and weaknesses in learning. It however appears from this study that some well-chosen questions can just as well boost these processes of self-reflection. A formal assessment does not seem necessary. It is also suggested that learning style measures can as well be bypassed. Knowing from this study that strictly adhering to results of a particular learning style instrument which are not considered very relevant by the students, might even cause resentment, the introduction of learning style information should always be carefully considered. It appears that if this information does not fit into the everyday experiences of the students, the risk exists that it will be rejected. Our results confirm that learning style instruments hold as much potential for harm as they do for good". (In Search of Theoretical and Empirical Foundations for the “Learning Style Awareness” Hypothesis as Guiding Principle for Educational Applications of Learning Styles in University Education.)

All in all, it seems like learning styles may not play such a big role in teaching and learning. At least they should be researched more and based on theories rather than common sense. Different concept of learning styles should not be mixed up with the theory of learning process. Also the risks of paying too much attention to learning styles should be recognized by teachers and tutors. As stated in the attached video link, teaching should be about "making sure that the students learn the meaning by using various but suitable and motivating teaching methods". "Good teaching is good teaching and teachers do not have to adjust their teaching to students' different learning styles."

References:

Willingham,Daniel. (2008)"Learning Styles Don't Exist." Youtube. Retrieved on July 5, 2012 from http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=sIv9rz2NTUk

"In Search of Theoretical and Empirical Foundations for the “Learning Style Awareness” Hypothesis as Guiding Principle for Educational Applications of Learning Styles in University Education." Retrieved on July 7, 2012 from http://users.ugent.be/~mvalcke/CV/desmedt.pdf (pp- 173-223.)