• Home
  • Courses by Subject
    • Accounting
      • Accounting
      • Bookkeeping
      • Payroll
      • Xero
    • Administration
      • Administration
      • Business Administration
      • Medical Secretary
      • Personal Assistant
      • Secretarial
    • Animal Health & Wellbeing
      • Animal Care
      • Dog Grooming
      • Vet Assistant
      • Zoology
    • Building & Construction
      • Construction
      • Landscaping
    • Business & Finance
      • Banking
      • Business
      • Business Communication
      • Business Management
      • Consultancy
      • Excel
      • Finance
      • Logistics
      • Sales
      • Supply Chain Management
      • Trading
    • Design
      • Gardening
      • Graphic Design
      • Interior Design
      • Web Design
    • Digital Skills
      • Analytics
      • Artificial Intelligence
      • Blockchain
      • Cloud Computing
      • CompTIA
      • CompTIA A+
      • Computer Science
      • Cryptocurrency
      • Cyber Security
      • Data Science
      • Ethical Hacking
      • IT
      • IT Support
      • Networking
      • Penetration Testing
    • Ecology
      • Sustainability
    • Education
      • A-Level
      • Teaching
      • Teaching Assistant
    • Fashion & Beauty
      • Hair & Beauty
      • Massage
      • Nail Technician
    • Health & Safety
      • Construction Health & Safety
      • Work Health & Safety
    • Healthcare
      • Care
      • Childcare
      • Counselling
      • Criminal Psychology
      • Disability
      • Health
      • Healthcare Management
      • Mental Health
      • Nursing
      • Nutrition
      • Personal Training
      • Psychology
      • Public Health
      • Social Care
    • Hospitality & Events
      • Event Management
      • Floristry
      • Hospitality
      • Wedding Planner
    • HR
      • CIPD
      • Human Resources
      • Learning & Development
    • Law & Justice
      • Criminology
      • Forensic Science
      • Governance
      • Law
      • Legal
    • Management & Leadership
      • Agile
      • Change Management
      • Leadership
      • Lean Six Sigma
      • Management
      • Operations Management
      • Personal Development
      • PRINCE2
      • Project Management
      • Quality Management
      • Real Estate
    • Marketing & Communication
      • Digital Marketing
      • Marketing
      • Media
      • Music
      • Public Relations
      • Social Media Marketing
    • Microsoft
      • Microsoft
      • Microsoft Azure
    • Programming
      • App Development
      • Cisco
      • Cisco CCNA
      • Coding
      • Programming
      • Python
      • Software Development
      • SQL
      • Web Development
    • Tourism
      • Travel & Tourism
    • University
      • Business Management
      • Business
      • Criminal Psychology
      • Criminology
      • Finance
      • IT
      • Law
      • Marketing
      • Psychology
    • Blended
    • In-class
    • Online
    • A-Level
    • Advanced Certificate
    • Advanced Diploma
    • Award
    • Bachelors
    • CertHE
    • Certificate
    • Certified
    • CPD
    • Diploma
    • ELCAS
    • Extended Diploma
    • Foundation
    • Level 1
    • Level 2
    • Level 3
    • Level 4
    • Level 5
    • Level 6
    • Level 7
    • Level 8
    • LLB
    • LLM
    • Masters
    • MBA
    • MSc
    • Postgraduate
    • Practitioner
    • Short
    • Undergraduate
    • University
  • Courses by Providers
    • Acudemy
    • Avado
    • BARBRI
    • Brunel University London
    • CIPP
    • Course2Career
    • DLC Training
    • DPG
    • Hudson
    • ICS Learn
    • Institute of Supply Chain Mana
    • International Career Institute
    • ITonlinelearning
    • Learning People
    • London Academy of Trading
    • London College of Contemporary Music
    • London Governance & Compliance Academy
    • London School of Business and Finance Online
    • Next Level Impact
    • Online Courses Learning
    • Open Study College
    • Samuel & Co
    • The Career Academy
    • TPT Consultancy & Training
    • University College of Estate Management
    • University of Essex Online
    • University of Liverpool Online
    • University of Roehampton Online
    • Walbrook Institute London
    • How To Become
    • The Workforce Training Hub
    • Career Advice
    • Study Tips
    • Quizzes
    • Resources
    • Industry Insider
  • Top Courses
  • Become a Partner
  • Contact us
 

Published 17 Sep 2023

Do Learning Styles Matter? The Truth Might Surprise You

by CoursesOnline Contributors

Browse All Courses

Finding your preferred style of learning could boost your academic performance, according to the popular theory of learning styles.

But do learning styles matter or are they simply a myth? Read on to find out.

 



Where Did The ‘Learning Styles’ Concept Originate?

The concept of individual learning styles became popular in the 1970s, when Walter Burke Barbe; Raymond H Swassing and Michael N Milone published a book called Teaching Through Modality Strengths: Concepts and Practices.

In the book, the authors proposed the VAK model, which consists of three learning styles; visual, auditory and kinaesthetic. In 1987, Neil Fleming added writing/reading to create the popular VARK model.



The VARK Model


Visual Learners

learn more effectively via pictures, charts, diagrams, flow charts and maps

Auditory Learners

learn more effectively via lectures, tutorials, discussions, tapes, web chats or hearing their own voice repeating information


Reading/Writing Learners

learn more effectively via reading
text and writing notes

Kinesthetic Learners

learn more effectively via hands-on-activities, object manipulation and body movement



What Did The New Study Involve?

Carried out by researchers from the University of Indiana’s School of Medicine, the new study began with hundreds of undergraduate students taking an online VARK questionnaire in order to discover their dominant learning style. They were then enrolled in an anatomy class and asked to follow the study strategies given during the questionnaire.

At the end of the year, the researchers found that there was absolutely no correlation between the students’ dominant learning style and their grades. 67% of students didn’t even study in the recommended way and those who did, didn’t achieve better grades.

The team’s research revealed that there was no proper data to support the use of learning styles in education and that teaching ‘visual’ learners using visual methods doesn’t have any impact on how well they learn.



A Flexible Approach to Learning Styles

Pashler concluded that instead of categorising each student as a particular type of learner, educators should expose them to a variety of different learning styles. However, the choice of materials and teaching methods should depend on the content being studied. For example:

“The optimal curriculum for a writing course probably includes a heavy verbal emphasis, whereas the most efficient and effective method of teaching geometry obviously requires visual–spatial materials. “

According to Taylor and Francis Online, this flexible approach is also recommended by the authors of a study known as The Expertise Reversal Effect. The study states that teaching styles should depend on how much students know about a particular subject. Experienced learners find it easier to remember new information about a subject because it becomes part of an established pattern in their brain, so they should be encouraged to discover information independently. Learners who are new to a subject need a teacher who will present them with the essential information and point out any patterns that exist.

Ability is another factor that influences student learning styles. Studies have suggested that lower-ability students process information more easily in extremely structured environments with lots of input from teachers, while higher-ability students learn more in less structured environments, where they are able to work independently.

Some learning strategies have been shown to improve the results of all students, whatever their preferred learning style.



Successful Study Strategies


  • Retrieval practice through frequent tests and quizzes

  • Spacing the teaching and reviewing of a topic over time

  • Completing practice papers

  • Mixing up different problem types and topics, particularly for maths and science

  • Combining different activities (such as drawing) alongside more passive study



Do Learning Styles Really Pose a Problem?

According to The Guardian, 30 neuroscientists exposed what they described as the “neuromyth” of learning styles. They urged educators to reject the theory, claiming that it creates a “false impression of individuals’ abilities, leading to expectations and excuses that are detrimental to learning in general, which is a cost in the long term.”

The scientists were concerned that categorising each student as a particular type of learner would result in rigidity and lack of motivation. At a time when the world needs adaptable, confident learners, promoting the concept of learning styles could actually prevent students from developing these traits.

So how can you avoid this if you’re looking to study one of our courses? It’s simple. Whether you think of yourself as a visual learner, an auditory learner or a kinesthetic learner, don’t stick to the same old study strategies. Try a few alternative learning styles and you’ll have a greater chance of unlocking your full potential.



Ready to begin learning? Why not check out our huge range of courses today!

Browse All Courses

Enjoy this article?

Subscribe now to receive articles like these straight to your inbox
CoursesOnline Contributors

Navigator Illustration
Not sure which course to choose? Let us recommend the best courses to suit you!
gator tooltip icon
Our course navigator helps refine thousands of courses into a personalised list that suits you. Click to answer each question, so we can provide you with the best possible courses, tailored to your preferences.
Not sure which course to choose? Let us recommend the best courses to suit you!

Try our navigator tool and find the right course.

Start Here
Navigator Illustration

Related Articles


Personality Test | Career Change Quiz: What Career Suits You Best? (With Examples)

Are you stuck in a career rut? Well, you're not alone. Caree...

CoursesOnline Contributors
Oct 12, 2024
Read More

Enneagram Career Quiz: What Career is Right for Me?

We choose a path, be that study or a career or a job, that w...

Claudia Reiners
Mar 1, 2019
Read More

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get expert advice, insights, and explainers on tricky topics — designed to help you navigate your learning journey with confidence.

By submitting this enquiry I accept the "Privacy Policy" and "Terms of Use"
  • Popular Subjects
  • Qualification Type
  • How to Become
  • Bookkeeping
  • Computer Science
  • Counselling
  • Hair & Beauty
  • Human Resources
  • IT
  • Networking
  • Payroll
  • Psychology
  • University
  • Supply Chain Management
  • Web Development
  • View More
  • Advanced Diploma
  • Bachelors
  • Certificate
  • Diploma
  • ELCAS
  • Foundation
  • Level 2
  • Level 3
  • Level 4
  • Level 5
  • Level 6
  • Level 7
  • Masters
  • MBA
  • MSc
  • Postgraduate
  • Short
  • Undergraduate
  • A-Level
  • Award
  • University
  • View More
  • How to Begin a Career in IT
  • How to Become a Bookkeeper
  • How to Begin a Career in Trading
  • How to Become a Change Management Consultant
  • How to Become a Cloud Architect
  • How to Become a Construction Health & Safety Officer
  • How to Become a Cryptocurrency Expert
  • How to Become a Forensic Scientist
  • How to Become a Financial Modeller
  • How to Become Java Certified
  • How to Become a Leadership Coach
  • How to Become a Manager
  • How to Become a Mentor
  • How to Become Microsoft Certified
  • How to Become a Psychologist
  • How to Become a Public Health Consultant
  • How to Become a Software Developer
  • How to Become a Software Tester
  • How to Start Your Career in Human Resources
  • How to Become Xero Certified
  • View More

Newsletter sign up

We'll email you updates on job trends, career advice, study tips, news and more.
Courses
  • All Courses
  • Online Courses
Education Providers
  • Our Providers
Resources
  • Our Blog
  • How to Become
About us
  • About CoursesOnline
  • FAQs
Contact us
  • Advertise your course
  • Become an Affiliate
Privacy Policy Terms of Use
Certified B Corporation
Tafecourses Facebook Tafecourses LinkedIn Tafecourses Instagram
Certified B Corporation
Copyright © 2025 Coursesonline.co.uk
All Rights Reserved.
Back to Top

Newsletter Sign Up

We’ll email you updates on job trends, career advice, study tips, news and more.

By submitting this enquiry I accept the "Privacy Policy" and "Terms of Use"

Coursesonline.co.uk uses cookies. By continuing you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Learn more.

GDPR - Logo
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

Strictly Necessary Cookies

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.

Additional Cookies

This website uses additional cookies to collect anonymous information such as the number of visitors to the site, and the most popular pages.

Keeping this cookie enabled helps us to improve our website.

Please enable Strictly Necessary Cookies first so that we can save your preferences!

Cookie Policy

More information about our Cookie Policy