Learning Styles Are a Myth: What Actually Works

For years, a popular idea in education has been that each person has a specific “learning style” - usually categorized as visual, auditory, kinesthetic, etc. According to this idea, some of us learn best by seeing, others by hearing, others by doing. It’s an appealing notion (who doesn’t like to learn “the best way” for them?), and many people dutifully take quizzes to find out their style. However, extensive research has debunked the learning styles myth. The truth is that labeling yourself as a certain type of learner and trying to only learn that way can actually limit you. So let’s unpack this myth and then focus on what actually works for effective learning.

The Myth of Learning Styles: - The core claim of learning style theory is that if you receive information in your preferred style (visual, auditory, kinesthetic, reading/writing, etc.), you will learn it better than if it’s presented in other styles. For example, an “auditory learner” supposedly learns a concept better by hearing it explained than by reading or seeing a diagram. - This has been studied extensively, and the overwhelming conclusion from psychologists and educational researchers is: there’s no strong evidence to support the idea that matching teaching to a learner’s style improves learning outcomes. In experiments, groups of students labeled with different preferred styles were all taught using various methods. If the theory were true, the students should do best when taught in their preferred style. But that’s not what happens consistently - often, all students tend to do better with certain methods (like a mix of visual and verbal instruction), regardless of their supposed style. - It turns out people may have preferences (you might like videos over text, or vice versa), but that doesn’t mean you can’t learn well from other formats. And it certainly doesn’t mean you should only stick to one. In fact, our brains generally learn best when we use multiple modalities together - seeing, hearing, doing - because each mode reinforces the other. Think about learning to play a sport: you wouldn’t say someone is a “visual sports learner” and thus only let them watch videos of basketball without ever shooting a hoop, right? They need to see it, hear coaching, and physically practice. Similarly, for academic or intellectual skills, a blend of approaches tends to be most effective for everyone. - Another problem with the learning styles concept is that it can pigeonhole people. If you’ve been told “you’re a visual learner,” you might feel discouraged from engaging with materials that aren’t primarily visual, even if those materials are really good. You might also attribute struggles to the format instead of addressing study habits or gaps in understanding (“I failed that test because the teacher talked instead of showing pictures, and I’m not an auditory learner”). It can become an excuse, inadvertently. - The reality: How well you learn something depends on factors like how motivated you are, how much you already know (prior knowledge), how clear the explanations are, and the strategies you use to practice and review - not on a fixed learning style.

What Actually Works: So if tailoring everything to a learning style isn’t the key to learning, what strategies are proven to work for most people? There’s a whole field of cognitive science and educational psychology that offers insight into effective learning techniques. Here are some of the top evidence-based practices:

Active Learning (Don’t Just Re-read or Listen Passively): The more actively you engage with the material, the better you’ll understand and remember it. This means instead of just re-reading notes or highlighting (which are fairly passive), do something with the information. For example:

Quiz yourself on the key points (retrieval practice). Try to recall information from memory - it’s okay if you struggle, that struggle actually helps reinforce the learning.

Explain the concept in your own words as if teaching someone else (often called the Feynman technique). This forces you to confront any gaps in your understanding.

Solve problems or answer questions without looking at the solution first.

Discuss the topic with a friend or study group. Active learning is powerful because it transforms you from a passive receiver to an active participant, which makes the brain form stronger connections.

Spaced Repetition: Our brains retain information better when study sessions are spaced out over time, rather than crammed in one go (cramming leads to quick forgetting). If you want something to stick, review it multiple times with gaps in between. For instance, if you learn a concept today, revisit it tomorrow, then a few days later, then a week later, etc. Each time you review, try to recall it from memory rather than just reading it. This spacing effect has a strong research backing. Many successful learners use spaced repetition flashcards (like the Anki system) for things like vocabulary, formulas, or facts - these tools algorithmically space out reviews at increasing intervals just before you would forget. But even without fancy tools, you can plan your study schedule to cycle back to old material regularly.

Interleaving: Instead of practicing one type of problem or topic for a long time (blocked practice), mix or interleave different topics or skills in one session. For example, if you’re doing math, rather than doing 20 geometry problems then 20 algebra problems, try alternating a few geometry problems with a few algebra problems. If you’re practicing sports, rather than 50 forehand shots then 50 backhands, mix them up randomly. Interleaving can feel a bit more difficult than blocking (because your brain has to keep figuring out what approach to use, rather than being on autopilot), but that difficulty is beneficial. Studies show interleaving improves your ability to transfer learning to new problems and helps with long-term retention, because it forces you to truly differentiate and understand the problem types rather than just using muscle memory.

Elaboration: This means asking “how” and “why” questions to deepen your understanding of a concept and connect it to what you already know. For example, when learning a historical event, don’t just memorize the date and facts - ask why did it happen? How did it lead to other events? When learning a scientific concept, explore its implications or analogies (“This chemistry principle is like…”, “How does this apply in the real world?”). Elaborative interrogation is basically about not taking information at face value, but digging a bit deeper and making meaningful associations. This greatly enhances comprehension and recall because the knowledge isn’t in isolation, it’s woven into a bigger web in your mind.

Dual Coding: While strict “visual vs. verbal learner” categorization is false, it is true that combining verbal (text or spoken words) with visual representations (like pictures, diagrams, charts) can reinforce learning. This is dual coding theory - the idea is that if you encode information in multiple ways, you have multiple retrieval cues later. So a practical tip: when studying, draw it out. Making a quick diagram or mind map of what you’re learning, or finding a visual that illustrates it, can help you understand and remember it. Likewise, if there’s a visual (say, a graph), make sure you also put it into words - explain what the graph shows in sentences. By linking the two forms, you deepen your grasp.

Feedback and Correction: One crucial aspect of learning effectively is getting feedback. If you practice something over and over but never check if you’re doing it right, you could be reinforcing mistakes. So, doing practice quizzes or assignments and then checking the answers, or having a teacher/coach review your work, is key. When you get something wrong, don’t gloss over it - spend time to understand why you got it wrong and how to correct your thinking or technique. This ties back to journaling and reflection - understanding your errors and difficulties leads to improvements. It’s not about being perfect on first try, but about iterating with feedback.

Varied Practice: If you want to develop a skill in a flexible, robust way, practice it under varied conditions. For instance, if you’re learning a language, practice listening to different speakers, not just one voice; practice speaking about varied topics, not just one script. If you’re learning art, try different subjects and styles. This prevents a narrow “context-dependent” learning where you only know how to do something in the exact scenario you practiced. By varying practice, you train yourself to adapt and truly learn the underlying principles. This also tends to be more engaging and less monotonous, which can keep motivation up.

Attention and Engagement: Regardless of method, if you’re not paying attention, you won’t absorb much. This seems obvious but is worth emphasizing because in our multi-tasking culture, many try to study while half-distracted (e.g., with TV on or toggling to social media). There’s no special style or hack that replaces good old focus (as we covered in the Focus Mastery section). If you ensure you’re fully engaged - like actively thinking about the material and not doing something else - you optimize whatever study technique you employ. A short focused study session can beat a long distracted one. So, minimizing distractions and perhaps using some of the focus strategies (like Pomodoro) is a big part of “what works.”

Motivation and Meaning: Finally, a factor often more important than any so-called learning style is your level of motivation and the meaning you attach to the learning. If you care about what you’re learning or have a clear goal, you’ll naturally put in more effort and find ways to overcome obstacles. While this isn’t a “technique” per se, it’s something to cultivate. Try to connect what you’re learning to your interests or goals. Even if a topic is mandatory or dry, set personal challenges or gamify it to spark interest. A motivated brain simply learns better - it’s more alert, it processes deeper, and it persists longer. Techniques like setting goals, rewarding yourself, or studying with peers can boost motivation.

Embrace a Multi-Faceted Approach: Given these strategies, the common theme is variety and active engagement. Humans are not one-trick ponies; we are capable of learning in many ways. In practice, a good learning session might incorporate multiple methods. For example: you start by reading (verbal), then you sketch a quick summary diagram (visual, dual coding), then you quiz yourself on it (active recall), then you explain it to a friend or imaginary audience (elaboration, active), then a day later you revisit and do a few practice problems (spaced practice) and check your answers (feedback). Notice how none of that required saying “I’m a visual learner so I’ll only look at pictures” or such. You utilized various modes and proven techniques. This approach works broadly for most people because it’s aligned with how memory and comprehension actually function.

The Danger of the Myth (and Letting It Go): It’s worth noting that the learning styles myth persists in part because it gives a convenient narrative (“I learn this way”). But once you understand it’s not grounded in evidence, you’re free to explore more effective methods. It can actually feel liberating to not box yourself in. You might discover that you can enjoy and benefit from methods you thought weren’t “your style.” For example, maybe you considered yourself a hands-on learner and avoided reading textbooks, but then you try some of the reading strategies above and find you can learn a ton from text. Or vice versa - perhaps you always thought you only learn by reading and were hesitant to watch tutorials or get hands-on, but then you try them and see great results. By dropping the strict style mindset, you can become a more versatile learner.

Conclusion: There’s no secret shortcut hidden in a personal learning style. What actually works for learning effectively are approaches that engage your mind actively and repeatedly over time, combined with clear instruction and feedback. Everyone sees, hears, and does - and the best learning often blends these together. So instead of focusing on whether you’re a visual or auditory learner, focus on being an active learner. Test yourself, discuss ideas, mix up your practice, and connect new knowledge to old. Instead of asking “Is this teaching in my style?”, ask “Am I using good strategies to learn this?” This shift in mindset will serve you far better. Learning is a complex, rich process - and humans are built to learn in more ways than one. By utilizing proven techniques and staying engaged, you’ll find you can master skills and understand concepts more deeply, no matter how they’re presented. In short, forget the myth and embrace the methods that truly make a difference - your brain will thank you with better results.