Learning Styles: An education myth debunked by science.

Many teachers and students believe that they have a specific learning style.  For example, some students will claim that they are, "visual" or "kinesthetic" learners.  This long held belief that students learn in specific fashions is apparently a myth.  According a Nature Reviews Neuroscience, by Paul Howard-Jones, the interconnections of the brain and numerous educational and lab studies fail to support teaching to student learning styles (2014).  Furthermore, neuroscientist and writer, Christian Jarrett writes, 
"surprisingly few studies of this format (learning preference) have produced supporting evidence for learning styles; far more evidence (such as this study) runs counter to the myth. What often happens is that both groups perform better when taught by one particular style. This makes sense because although each of us is unique, usually the most effective way for us to learn is based not on our individual preferences but on the nature of the material we’re being taught" (2015).

Rohrer & Pashler (2012), explain that this myth continues to hold credence with many educators and students because it is founded a basic ideas which are true.  For example, while some students are poor visual learners this does not imply that an anatomy textbook should have less diagrams.

Works Cited:

Howard-Jones, P. (2014). Neuroscience and education: Myths and messages. Nature Reviews Neuroscience.

Jarrett, C. (2015, January 5). All You Need to Know About the 'Learning Styles' Myth, in Two Minutes | WIRED. Retrieved January 22, 2015, from http://www.wired.com/2015/01/need-know-learning-styles-myth-two-minutes/

Rohrer, D., & Pashler, H. (2012). Learning styles: Where’s the evidence? Medical Education, 634-635.