Does Knowing Your Learning Style Help You Learn Better? Science Says No

Whether you prefer visuals, audio, reading or writing, the concept of learning styles is the most widespread myth in education. Here are some science-backed alternatives.

By Carla Delgado
Oct 26, 2021 5:00 AM
Student studying
(Credit: Dragon Images/Shutterstock)

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Do you consider yourself a visual learner or a verbal learner? Perhaps you’re neither and instead you absorb information best by reading texts and taking notes on what you’ve understood. No matter which mode of instruction you prefer, you probably rely on techniques that suit your individual learning style.

Although there are more than 70 different learning style frameworks, the most prominent one is the VARK model. Introduced by Neil Fleming in 1987, it categorizes learners into four main types: visual, auditory, reading and writing, and kinesthetic.

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