In the News: The Myths That Persist About How We Learn – by Education Next

On Friday’s episode of Science Friday, three researchers discussed learning styles.

The idea of “learning styles” has been around since the 1950s, and the theory is still widely believed by educators and the public, according to a recent study in Frontiers in Psychology. But there’s not much evidence that indicates the theory is true.

The new study found that the theory of learning styles was endorsed by 93% of the public, and 76% of educators.

Dan Willingham, one of the researchers who was on Friday’s program, has written a blog entry explaining what’s wrong with the theory of learning styles and why the theory remains so widely accepted.

Willingham has written for Education Next about problems with a theory that is often used by educators to support their belief in learning styles, the theory of multiple intelligences.

Howard Gardner, who developed the theory of multiple intelligences, has himself complained about educators who have tried to link his theory with that of learning styles.

— Education Next

Source: EducationNext