Learning styles & the importance of critical self-reflection (18 mins) https://youtu.be/855Now8h5Rs

 

In this TEDx Talk, Dr Tesia Marshik discusses the notion of learning styles.  She argues that learning styles “don’t exist”.  Dr Marshik provides some valid reasons for her thinking; however I am not entirely convinced.

 

Early career teachers are still widely taught the Multiple Intelligences theory of Howard Gardner.   As a classroom teacher, I can see these traits within students but I believe that there is one error commonly made in practice.  That is, that classroom teachers label students with one of these intelligences rather than acknowledging that students may (and usually do) have more than one preferred method of learning.  Also, there should be a clear distinction between multiple intelligences and learning styles.  These notions have also been clarified by Gardner himself in an article by Strauss (2013).  Perhaps it is time that we considered multiple intelligences as ‘learning strategies’ – just one of the many tools in the teacher toolbox (DeWitt, 2016).

 

Dr Marshik also suggests that we are wasting time and resources on promoting learning styles.  Once again, Gardner has clarified that teaching should be “individualised” to suit the learning needs of students, but also “pluralised” to reach a variety of learners.  I would propose that the majority of teachers do not compartmentalise every subject into every learning style anyway – this would definitely be time consuming!  Effective teachers teach in a variety of ways anyway and essential materials are regularly revised using a different teaching style correlating to the multiple intelligences.  For example, the teaching of multiplication may begin with tactile materials (kinesthetic) and then move to rote learning through song (musical), visualising arrays using pictures (spatial) and finally, working out algorithms (logical-mathematical).

 

In conclusion, whilst Dr Marshik raises some valid points about the “myth” of learning styles, I believe it is important for teachers to identify that students learn in a variety of ways and so need to be provided with a variety of opportunities.

 

Reference List

              DeWitt, P. (2016, August 16). Learning strategies, not learning styles. EducationWeek. https://www.edweek.org/education/opinion-learning-strategies-not-learning-styles/2016/08

Strauss, V. (2013, October 16). Howard Gardner: ‘Multiple Intelligences’ are not ‘learning styles’. The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/answer-sheet/wp/2013/10/16/howard-gardner-multiple-intelligences-are-not-learning-styles/