Learning Styles Don't Exist (Video)

After watching our latest online video, entitled “Learning Styles Don’t Exist,” I will honestly admit that (at first) I didn’t know what to believe. In the video, Dr. Daniel T. Willingham, a professor of Psychology at the University of Virginia, examined the theory of learning styles and explained (as stated in the title) why they do not exist. According to Dr. Willingham, the learning style theory basically states that “…different people have different ways of learning. If you can teach in a way that is consistent with the student’s style, he or she should learn better.” Since high school, I have believed this theory. Yet, as he continued to explain the various proposals that have existed over the years (Broad vs. Narrow, Visual vs. Auditory vs. Kinesthetic, etc.), gave examples (building a house), described why the theory technically “works,” and then discussed his view on the theory (why it is wrong), I started to understand his reasoning.

While Dr. Willingham was explaining how teachers generally approach this situation, he made an interesting comment by stating “…when you’ve got something that you want students to learn that is especially visual (like the shape of a map) everyone needs to see a visual presentation, not just those people who have really good visual memory.” At this point I was beginning to recognize the flaws that Dr. Willingham saw in the learning style theory. In the classroom, although some students might be better visual, auditory, or kinesthetic learners, teachers must create lessons that will allow the content to be clear to all students, regardless of their learning style.

Out of all the statements made by Dr. Willingham, the most memorable was his closing. In it, Dr. Willingham exclaimed that “Good teaching is good teaching, and teachers don’t need to adjust their teaching to individual students’ learning styles.” Although I support his comment that “Good teaching is good teaching…” and the fact that not all students have a particular learning style, I do believe that at times adjustments are necessary. Teaching is never an exact science. What works for one student, may not work for another. Due to the class (size) or subject matter, it might be difficult to meet the needs of all students. Teachers should not base their lessons on the learning styles of their individual students, but should turn their attention to addressing the content in an appropriate manner. I believe that if the student is still struggling and requires additional attention, then the teacher should assist the student and focus on their specific learning style (if needed).

Not all students learn the same way, and it is our responsibility as teachers to recognize their differences and adjust our approach to ensure that all students are successful.