Hi, team! I want to share a nugget of knowledge that’s sparking discussions all over: learning styles! Is there a “right” or “wrong” way to learn? Or a style that’s a perfect fit for each of us? Let’s dive into this topic together with information backed by reliable sources!

Whether you’re a teacher looking to improve your lessons, a parent supporting your child’s studies at home, or a student searching for your learning superpower, this chat is for you! Understanding learning styles can be an incredible tool... but, like any powerful tool, it needs to be used wisely—without falling into any pitfalls!

What, exactly, are these learning styles?

The idea behind learning styles is that people process and understand information in different ways. This premise has led the educational community to adopt classifications to understand how students learn, with the goal of addressing their individual needs. Well-known models have emerged in an effort to organize this diversity.

One of the best-known models is VARK, which generally includes four main categories—and sometimes a fifth: visual, auditory, reading/writing, and kinesthetic—with the addition of “multimodal” for those who fit into multiple styles. But there are other models, such as those by Kolb (who discusses experiencing, observing, conceptualizing, and experimenting), Honey-Alonso (active, reflective, theoretical, pragmatic), Dunn and Dunn (with six aspects), and Honey and Mumford (activists, reflectors, theorists, or pragmatists). This variety of theories already gives us a clue: there is no single consensus—which should already raise a red flag!

Let's take a quick look at the most frequently mentioned styles:

• Visual (or graphic) style: People with this preference learn best by seeing. They love using maps, symbols, diagrams, flowcharts, photographs, videos, and image-based presentations to understand or organize information. They tend to get distracted easily by movement and may remember faces better than names. They prefer to use symbols to communicate rather than just words.
   
• Auditory learning style: Learning by listening is our strength here. These people benefit from lectures, debates, group discussions, and audio tutorials. They tend to ask questions and sometimes even answer them for themselves to process the information. Audio messages and fluid communication—as if they were talking face-to-face (even via text)—work well here. They tend to get distracted by sounds.
   
• Reading and Writing Style: Learning takes place through reading and writing. People with this style prefer to receive and communicate information through manuals, summaries, essays, and notes. Taking notes, reading before class, and jotting down ideas are common practices. This style is often the most preferred by students and teachers in academic settings and tends to be more highly valued.
   
• Kinesthetic learning style: the key is to experiment and practice. These individuals need to connect knowledge to real life, learn by doing, interact with their environment, and use concrete examples. Practical assessments, workshops, and demonstrations are ideal for them. Learning occurs most effectively through their own experiences, not just through the experiences of others.

Did you identify more strongly with any of these styles? Notice how you feel most comfortable when interacting with new information.

Identifying Your Style (Carefully!)

Discovering your learning preference can be an interesting process of self-discovery! There are questionnaires (such as the VARK), observing your own behavior, and reflecting on which methods work best in different situations.

For teachers and families, observing how students interact with different activities and content can provide valuable insights into their preferences. A visual learner might spend more time looking at slides; an auditory learner might actively participate in discussions; a reading/writing learner might constantly take detailed notes; and a kinesthetic learner might be the first to want to try out a hands-on activity.

However—and here’s the important part—while taking these quizzes can be fun (like finding out which Game of Thrones character you’d be!), the results shouldn’t be taken so seriously that they become the only model for learning. Professor Neil Fleming, one of the creators of VARK, said that the model is not an accurate diagnostic tool.

How about trying a different way to learn something today, even if it seems like it's outside your comfort zone? It might be a surprise!

Debunking the "Myth" of Learning Styles

Now, let’s address a crucial point that the sources highlight: science has not found strong evidence to prove that studying exclusively according to your preferred learning style leads to significant improvements on tests. Although you may have a preference (finding a video lecture more “enjoyable” than a book, for example), that doesn’t mean that learning exclusively through that method is the most effective.

Several studies and experts in cognitive psychology refute the idea that strictly aligning the teaching format with each person’s supposed learning ability leads to better results. On the contrary, other factors matter much more. For example, reading proficiency is essential for learning from written material. If you have difficulty reading and interpreting a text, it is not because you are a “visual” learner, but rather because your reading skills need to be developed.

The research suggests that what really matters is aligning the teaching methodology with the subject matter, rather than with the student’s individual preference. When teaching geometry, a visual approach benefits all students, even those who think they learn best by listening. For poetry or literature, more verbal methods may be more effective for the group. When the nature of the content is aligned with the teaching method, learning improves for everyone.

Labels can be limiting! If you convince yourself that you can only learn one way (e.g., “Oh, I’m an auditory learner—I can’t learn by reading PDFs”), you may end up not trying other methods that could be effective or even faster for certain types of content. What you tell yourself about your abilities greatly affects how you respond to a situation.

Teachers and families, when planning or supporting studies, ask yourselves: "What is the best way to present this material so that everyone can understand it better?" For students: "What is the best tool for this subject right now?"

Making the Most of Your Style (No Magic Formulas!)

So, if focusing on a single style isn’t the key, how can we use this understanding to learn better? The answer lies in diversity and flexibility!

• For teachers: Varying teaching techniques is crucial—not to “force-fit” students into a single model, but to create learning opportunities and foster different skills within the team. Use slides and videos (visual), facilitate debates and discussions (auditory), assign summaries and writing activities (reading/writing), and include hands-on activities and projects (kinesthetic). A class that combines different approaches can accommodate and benefit as many students as possible. Remember: your own teaching style should not limit students’ learning opportunities.
   
• For students and families: instead of sticking to a single method (“I only learn from video lessons!”), make use of the tools at your disposal based on the content and your goals. For math, a video lesson can be great for following the line of reasoning. For constitutional law, written material might allow you to progress faster, even if it requires further development of your reading skills. Active learning—which involves practicing and teaching others—is considered very effective for retaining content. Combine methods: read and watch, listen and take notes, practice and discuss. Don’t shy away from methods that are challenging; they can be essential (like reading the exam on test day!).
   
• Ongoing assessment: Assessment should not be viewed as a final snapshot of learning, but rather as an ongoing way to monitor progress and understanding at a given moment. This helps identify areas that need more attention, regardless of one’s “preferred” learning style.

Learning takes place within a context of experiences, interactions, and opportunities. Unless there are significant physical or emotional barriers, your ability to learn is more closely tied to developing and fostering new skills than to focusing on a single learning style.

See also:

• The Urgency of Addressing the Themes of Netflix's "Adolescence" in Schools
• The Silent Crisis in Brazilian Education: Challenges, Alarming Statistics, and the Urgent Need for New Approaches
• Cell Phones and Education: The Dilemma of the Connected Generation

I challenge you to plan a study activity or a class that intentionally combines at least three different learning styles. How would that change the experience?

Why is this important to our team?

Understanding learning styles—and especially the myths associated with them—is essential to fostering a more effective and inclusive educational environment.

• For teachers: It frees you from the pressure of having to “assess” and teach individually to accommodate dozens of different learning styles. Instead, it shifts the focus to pedagogical diversification that benefits everyone. It allows you to plan lessons that meet the needs of different students by aligning methodology with content, thereby maximizing each student’s potential.
   
• For students: it eliminates the excuse (“I didn’t learn it because the teacher didn’t teach it my way!”). It empowers you to explore and master a variety of learning tools, choosing the ones that work best for each situation. It encourages the development of essential skills (such as reading and interpretation) that are crucial for academic and life success, even if they aren’t initially your favorites. It boosts self-confidence and self-understanding.
   
• For families: It helps guide your sons and daughters to become more flexible and resilient learners. It allows you to support their studies by encouraging them to try different methods and by understanding that struggling with one approach can be an opportunity to develop a new skill—not a permanent limitation.

At the end of the day, what matters most isn’t the label of the style, but the learning journey itself. It’s about discovering what works for you at different times and for different challenges, keeping an open mind and your toolbox always full!

Talk about this article! Teachers, discuss it with your colleagues. Families, talk to your sons and daughters. Students, talk with each other and with your teachers. How can we work together to create more diverse and effective learning environments? Let’s talk about learning!

I hope this chat was helpful and inspiring for the team! If you want to learn more about effective study methods, the sources suggest there’s a lot of cool science behind them!

About the author:

Share on social media: