I nearly didn’t write this post. I’m going to write briefly about learning styles. But, learning styles as I know them.

I first became aware of the term when I was at college, as a thirty-year-old. The idea that learners may be aware of how they like to learn, and what works best for them was a revelation to me. Goodbye to the one-size-fits-all, and welcome to the person-centred learning of my dreams.

It reminded me of a time when I read a book called How To Make A Man Fall In Love With You by Tracy Cabot (image to the left, so you’re aware it was the 1980s). I don’t remember the full details but the man had some sort of preferred love language which appealed to their senses. But the listed senses were visual, auditory and emotional. In fairness, I think the book mentioned that some men may have have other preferred love languages, or a mixture but my overriding thought was Doesn’t everyone have a preferred love language? 

And I feel the same about learning styles. Yeah, great, thanks for the research but Doesn’t everyone have a preferred learning language?

Learning styles are an changeable and unique as the learner. For that reason, I believe there are probably are too many learning styles to list/analyse/define. When I meet critics of learning styles they seem only to focus on classroom learning, about schools and young children. It goes without saying that accommodating all learning styles in a modern classroom would be highly difficult.

But I’m talking about learning. Self-directed learning. Learning for interest. Learning out of choice. Learning on your own terms.

This has been my experience.