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I had a difficult time when reading through the article “Is learning styles-based instruction effective? A comprehensive analysis of recent research on learning styles” by Joshua Cuevas. I had such a difficult time with this article because it directly refuted what I learned in my Undergrad. In almost all of my education courses with my undergrad we were taught about learning styles and multiple intelligences. We had to complete assignments providing different lesson styles or activity options for students based off of their learning styles/intelligence. I remember spending numerous weekends working to make sure each part of my projects were correctly tailored for specific learning styles. So it was difficult to read this and realize that all of that was likely for naught.

I agree with what I read in Cuevas article. The fact that he could cite study after study that failed to properly show any sort of correlation between the learning styles and an increase in learning is hard to contest. He made valid points that textbooks do not report any empirical data to go along with the validity of these concepts. I do not recall ever reading about empirical data on the subject of intelligences or learning styles during my time in Undergrad. It was frustrating to read though and feel like the information that I was taught and the concepts that I was told to enforce are not even valid in terms of having proper data to back them. It makes me question what other aspects of the teacher education programs are lacking valid research. It also makes me question why it is still being taught as an imperative teaching concept if there is no evidence of this.

In the article, Cuevas states, “In a rather blunt assertion, Woolfolk argues that the research behind learning styles is suspect, the measures unreliable, and the claims inflated but does suggest that there is some value to learning styles, mostly in treating students as individuals and in helping them develop metacognition about their own learning.” I did agree with this. Although there may not be direct learning benefits from incorporating different learning styles and although it might not be as important as teacher education programs may lead pre-service teachers to believe, I do feel that it can help students see the different sides of learning. It can help them to realize more of who they are as an individual and things that they enjoy. Just because it might not increase their learning, does not mean that it cannot benefit them in other ways, or just keep them from being bored with how they are currently studying or doing school work. The text did say that while learning styles did not necessarily increase learning, one study showed it may decrease the time and increase the efficiency of the student which can be deemed as a benefit.

Ultimately the goal as a teacher is to be sure that students are learning and are being successful and however that may occur as long as it is beneficial to the students and helps to build them up is what is most important. Teachers should be sure to only use methods that they have seen to be successful and not to be wasteful of their time and energy with their students. 1 Corinthians 10:31 says “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” That is what we need to be striving towards. We need to be sure that we are glorifying God in all that we do and we can do that by doing our jobs to the best of our abilities. If learning styles have not been proven effective then maybe they should not be used.

Cuevas, J. (2015). Is learning styles-based instruction effective? A comprehensive analysis of recent research on learning styles. Theory and Research in Education,13(3), 308-333. doi:10.1177/1477878515606621

 
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