Learning Styles: Fact, Fiction or Both? Margaret Mellinger OSU Libraries Instruction Roundup August 15, 2013

Where we’re going today 1. Share what we know about learning styles 2. Consider assumptions re: learning styles 3. Take a simple learning style inventory 4. Look at claims and evidence 5. Talk about what we can do in IL instruction

1 minute write Side1: How do you define “learning styles”? Side 2: What is your learning style?

How do we learn?

Read this “ Learners are different from each other, these differences affect their performance, and teachers should take these differences into account.” Riener & Willingham p. 1

Learning Style Theories How many are there? at least 70

Learning Style Theories - Types Constitutionally-based Visual, auditory, kinesthetic Personality-based introvert, extrovert Information-processing

Learning Style Theories - Types Environmentally-based Visual, auditory, kinesthetic

Learning Style Theories - Types Constitutionally-based Visual, auditory, kinesthetic Personality-based introvert, extrovert Information processing

Myers-Briggs Type Indicator ISTJ ISFJ INFJ INTJ ISTP ISFP INFP INTP ESTP ESFP ENFP ENTP ESTJ ESFJ ENFJ ENTJ

Learning Style Theories - Types Constitutionally-based Visual, auditory, kinesthetic based Personality-based introvert, extrovert Information-processing

Take one of these . . . . What is Your Learning Style? http://www.edutopia.org/multiple-intelligences-learning-styles-quiz Assessment: Find Your Strengths! http://www.literacyworks.org/mi/assessment/findyourstrengths.html

Talk to your neighbor Have you tried to mesh your instruction to student learning styles ? How have you done it? What was the result? http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gears.JPG

Now, for the controversy There is no credible evidence that learning styles exist. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Moonbeam_UFO.JPG

Listen to this NPR report

Summary of issues Too many models, terms, definitions, no unifying theory Context is missing Validity is unproven Costs outweigh benefits

Bottom line “The contrast between the enormous popularity of the learning-styles approach within education and the lack of credible evidence for its utility, is in our opinion, striking and disturbing. If classification of students’ learning styles has practical utility, it remains to be demonstrated.” (Paschler, et al., 2008)

“We therefore advise against pedagogical intervention based solely on any of the learning style instruments.” Coffield, et al., 2004

What does this mean for our instruction?

Summing up (NPR report) All students benefit from variety it boosts attention and retention of learning It helps to learn something twice first in one modality, then in another It helps to spread learning out over time, rather than cramming it in

Summing up (Willingham) Present information in the most appropriate manner for the content and for the level of prior knowledge, ability and interests of a particular set of students.

Summing up (Paschler, et al.) Teachers should focus on good educational practices that have been tested and proven to work for (nearly) all learners.

Thanks!