Higher Education Teaching and Learning

One mental strategy may be much better suited than another to a particular task.

There's a long-held view that students have different learning styles and that teachers have to adapt their teaching to those styles.

There is little scientific support for this fashionable idea—and stronger evidence for other learning strategies

The belief in learning styles is so widespread, it is considered to be common sense. Few people ever challenge this belief, which has been deeply ingrained in our educational system. Teachers are routinely told that in order to be effective educators, they must identify & cater to individual students' learning styles; it is estimated that around 90% of students believe that they have a specific learning style but research suggests that learning styles don't actually exist! This presentation focuses on debunking this myth via research findings, explaining how/why the belief in learning styles is problematic, and examining the reasons why the belief persists despite the lack of evidence.

You’ve probably heard the claim that you learn better when information is presented in your preferred ‘learning style’. Where did this neuromyth come from? Dr Tanya Vaughan explains.

A popular theory that some people learn better visually or aurally keeps getting debunked.