LEARNING STYLES – MYTH OR FACT?

Mariel Lyka D. Tambut

One of the principal elements that make teaching and learning possible is the learners. They are the key participants in the learning process. Learning is defined as a lifelong learning process of gaining and straightening knowledge, behaviors, and skills, by means of experience and study. All learners are equipped with cognitive and appetitive faculties. From this time, every teacher must show creativity in diversifying education techniques in a class by being sensitive to students’ learning needs. Learners differ in the degree to which they are utilized and expressed on account of their abilities, interests, values, attitudes, and most especially their desired learning styles.

The term “learning styles” refers to the concept that individuals may be different in what mode of instruction or study is the most effective for them. Stewart & Felicetti (1992) define learning styles as those “educational conditions under which a student most likely to learn”. If the learners have knowledge of their learning styles, they can see their weak and strong sides in regard to their learning (Dag & Gecer, 2009).

However, there are only a few reliable sources and pieces of evidence to support these claims. That is why up until now it has been a great debate whether learning styles really do matter especially when it comes to the academic performance of a child. Moreover, due to the limitless paper works of teachers, they tend to overlook the importance of diversifying the learning process inside the classroom. Also, because most the public schools have reached the maximum number of learners per class it is really hard for teachers to create multiple tasks for each group.

Indeed, learners have different ways and styles to learn. Since a 21st-century educator does not rely anymore upon the traditional way of teaching, a teacher should create individualized instruction for every activity that is congruent to the students’ learning styles. Teachers may categorize their learners based on their Multiple Intelligences Assessment Result and craft differentiated instruction for them where they can show their full capabilities and talents. Some researchers believe that allowing students to access information in terms they are comfortable with will increase their academic confidence; thus, may enhance their academic performance on the subject.

How about you? What is your stand on this topic? Do learning styles really matter? Are these styles really significant or not?

The author

is Teacher

--oOo-

I at Nabuclod Integrated School