Why your Learning Style makes you WORSE

Summary

In this video, Dr. Justin Sun, a learning coach and former medical doctor, debunks the myth of learning styles, explaining that the idea of unique learning styles is not scientifically supported. He discusses the problems with the concept and how it can limit learners. Instead, he advocates for a personalized learning system that adapts to the type of information being learned, emphasizing the importance of exploring different methods and reflecting on one's own learning preferences and habits to become a more efficient learner.

Takeaways

• 🧠 The belief in unique learning styles for individuals is a widely held but debunked neuromyth.
• 📚 Learning styles, such as visual, auditory, read/write, and kinesthetic, were popularized without strong research basis and originated in the 1970s.
• 🔍 Research has shown that there is no single learning style that people are inherently better at; instead, most people process visual information more effectively.
• 🎯 The idea of learning styles can limit learners by creating an artificial constraint on how they believe their brain should learn, which can hinder the development of versatile learning skills.
• 🚫 Believing in learning styles can be detrimental to both learners and teachers, as it may prevent learners from exploring different methods and can add unnecessary pressure on teachers to accommodate various styles.
• 🤔 The rejection of learning styles should not negate the existence of personalized learning and preferences, which are important for understanding how individuals can learn most effectively.
• 🛠️ Personalized learning involves exploring, experimenting, and reflecting on different learning methods to build an effective system tailored to one's needs.
• 🔑 Learning preferences are often a mix of what is effective and what one is accustomed to, and challenging these preferences is crucial for improving learning efficiency.
• 🌟 Personalization in learning is about adjusting and optimizing within the framework of established learning principles, rather than seeking completely new approaches.
• 📈 The process of building a personalized learning system is not a shortcut but requires time, effort, and a willingness to engage in trial and error.
• 🔗 Understanding one's learner type, rather than learning style, can provide insights into current habits and methods, helping to identify areas for improvement.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the video script?

The main topic of the video script is the concept of learning styles, their validity, and the impact of believing in them on learning efficiency.

What is a 'neuromyth' as mentioned in the script?

A 'neuromyth' is a belief about the brain that is widely believed but not supported by scientific evidence, such as the idea that everyone has a unique learning style.

What are the different types of learning styles mentioned in the script?

The script mentions visual, auditory, read and write, and kinesthetic as the different types of learning styles.

What does the acronym VARK stand for in the context of learning styles?

VARK stands for Visual, Auditory, Read and Write, and Kinesthetic, which are the four most common learning styles.

Why did the concept of learning styles become popular in the 1970s?

The concept of learning styles became popular in the 1970s due to the self-esteem movement, which emphasized individual uniqueness, and a lack of high standards for journal articles and publications at the time.

According to the script, what is the problem with believing in learning styles?

Believing in learning styles can limit a learner's approach to education by creating an artificial constraint on how they think their brain has to learn, potentially hindering their ability to become a more efficient learner.

What does the script suggest is a better approach to learning than strictly adhering to learning styles?

The script suggests that a better approach is to use a mix of learning styles, adapting the methods used based on the type of information being learned, rather than insisting on learning in a single preferred style.

What is the term used to describe the phenomenon where learners limit themselves to a single learning method?

The term used to describe this phenomenon is 'pigeonholing,' where learners create a restrictive box for themselves, limiting their learning potential.

What are the consequences of teachers believing in learning styles for their teaching approach?

Teachers who believe in learning styles may feel added pressure and burden to deliver personalized education suited to each student's unique learning style, which can be impractical and lead to blame if a student underperforms.

What is the speaker's view on the relationship between learning styles and personalized learning?

The speaker believes that while learning styles as a biological necessity for effective learning are not valid, the concept can still be useful for thinking about different learning methods and preferences, which can contribute to a personalized learning system.

What is the speaker's advice for learners who are not auditory learners but still want to benefit from audio resources like audiobooks?

The speaker advises that learners should not restrict themselves from using audio resources just because they identify as non-auditory. Instead, they should find ways to make auditory learning work for them, acknowledging that everyone can benefit from multiple learning styles.

What is the role of 'I Can Study' in the video script?

I Can Study is the company founded by the speaker, Dr. Justin Sun, which offers a guided program to help learners become more efficient through a step-by-step process, community support, and personalized feedback.

What is the importance of understanding one's learner type according to the script?

Understanding one's learner type is important as it helps identify current systems, habits, and methods that may be helping or hindering learning, providing a clearer path to improvement and a more efficient learning plan.

What does the speaker suggest is a common misconception about creativity in learning?

The speaker suggests that a common misconception is that creativity in learning means creating something completely new and novel. Instead, creativity should be about creating variations on existing effective methods and principles.

How does the speaker define a personalized learning system?

A personalized learning system is defined by the speaker as one that is built on fundamental learning principles and structures, with variations and adaptations unique to the individual learner based on their experiences, preferences, and needs.

What is the speaker's view on the widespread adoption of efficient learning systems?

The speaker is not concerned about the widespread adoption of efficient learning systems becoming common because the process of building such a system takes time and effort, and many people are looking for shortcuts instead.

Outlines

00:00

🧠 Debunking the Myth of Learning Styles

The video script begins by challenging the common belief in learning styles, suggesting that individuals have unique and fixed ways of learning, such as being visual, auditory, or kinesthetic. Dr. Justin Sun, a learning coach, refutes this as a neuromyth, explaining that extensive research has shown no evidence for the existence of a single dominant learning style. He emphasizes the importance of understanding the concept of learning styles, their problems, and the research surrounding them, and hints at a more nuanced approach to learning that can improve efficiency.

05:01

🚫 The Pitfalls of Believing in Learning Styles

Dr. Sun discusses the negative consequences of adhering to the concept of learning styles. He points out that believing in a single learning style can limit a learner's potential by creating an artificial constraint on how they approach education. This belief can prevent learners from exploring diverse methods and tools that could enhance their learning experience. Moreover, it can put undue pressure on teachers to cater to individual learning styles, which may not be effective or necessary. The speaker encourages a more flexible and adaptive approach to learning.

10:02

🛠 Building a Personalized Learning System

This section of the script explores the idea of personalized learning, distinct from the concept of fixed learning styles. Dr. Sun suggests that while everyone has preferences and habits in learning, these are not always the most effective methods. He advocates for challenging these preferences and experimenting with different learning modalities to find what works best for the individual. The speaker also introduces the idea of a mixed-mode learning approach, adapting the learning methods based on the subject, the learning phase, and the individual's needs.

15:03

🌟 The Journey to Becoming an Efficient Learner

The final paragraph emphasizes the process of becoming an efficient learner, which involves exploration, discovery, trial and error, and reflection. Dr. Sun dispels the idea of quick fixes or shortcuts, highlighting that building a personalized and effective learning system is a time-consuming and effortful endeavor. He encourages viewers to understand their learner type to identify current strengths and weaknesses, and to create a plan for improvement. The script concludes with an invitation to subscribe for more learning insights and a reminder of the importance of effort in the learning process.

Keywords

💡Learning Styles

Learning styles refer to the idea that individuals have unique preferences for absorbing information, such as being visual, auditory, read/write, or kinesthetic learners. In the video, it is mentioned as a widely believed but refuted concept, suggesting that people do not have a single, dominant learning style that is more efficient than others. The script discusses the problems with the concept and how it can limit a learner's approach to education.

💡Neuromyth

A neuromyth is a misconception about the brain that is not supported by scientific evidence. The term is used in the script to describe the belief in learning styles as a myth that has been perpetuated despite research showing otherwise. The video aims to debunk this neuromyth and provide a more accurate understanding of how people learn.

💡Personalized Learning

Personalized learning is the concept of tailoring educational approaches to meet the unique needs and preferences of individual learners. The script contrasts personalized learning with the concept of learning styles, suggesting that while everyone has a personalized way of learning, it is not as rigid or predetermined as the idea of learning styles implies.

💡Pigeonholing

Pigeonholing, in the context of the video, refers to the act of limiting oneself to a specific learning style, which can hinder the development of a more versatile and efficient learning approach. The script uses this term to illustrate the negative consequences of adhering too strictly to the concept of learning styles.

💡Mixed-Mode Learning

Mixed-mode learning is the idea of using a combination of different learning modalities or styles to enhance understanding and retention. The script promotes the benefits of this approach over relying on a single learning style, emphasizing that everyone should be a mixed-mode learner to accommodate different types of information and learning contexts.

💡Learner Types

Learner types, as discussed in the video, are different from learning styles and refer to the systems, habits, and methods that individuals currently use to learn. The script suggests that understanding one's learner type can help identify strengths and weaknesses in one's learning approach and guide improvements.

💡Nonlinear Note-Taking

Nonlinear note-taking is a method of recording information in a way that does not follow a strict linear or hierarchical structure, allowing for more flexible and interconnected organization of knowledge. The script mentions this as an example of a principle that can be personalized to suit individual learning needs.

💡Deep Processing

Deep processing is a cognitive strategy that involves actively engaging with and thinking about the material to be learned, leading to a deeper understanding and better memory retention. The script highlights the importance of this approach in effective learning and how it can be personalized based on individual prior knowledge and relevance.

💡Efficiency in Learning

Efficiency in learning refers to the ability to acquire knowledge and skills in the most effective and least time-consuming manner possible. The script discusses various concepts, such as learning styles and personalized learning, in the context of improving learning efficiency and becoming a more capable learner.

💡Cognitive Benefits

Cognitive benefits refer to the positive effects on mental processes and abilities, such as improved memory, understanding, and critical thinking. The script mentions cognitive benefits in the context of using multiple learning modalities and engaging in deep processing to enhance learning outcomes.

💡Trial and Error

Trial and error is a learning process that involves attempting different approaches and learning from the outcomes, including mistakes. The script uses this term to describe the iterative process of building a personalized learning system through exploration, experimentation, and reflection.

Highlights

The belief in unique learning styles for individuals is a widely believed but refuted neuromyth.

Learning styles are often categorized as visual, auditory, read/write, and kinesthetic (VARK).

The concept of learning styles originated in the 1970s without strong research basis.

Over 90% of teachers may believe in learning styles despite research showing otherwise.

Humans are predominantly visual processors, with visual information processed much faster than auditory.

Performance improves when using a mix of learning styles rather than adhering to one.

Matching learning methods to the type of information is more effective than a single learning style.

Believing in learning styles can limit a learner's potential and create an artificial constraint.

Learning styles can be detrimental for teachers by adding unnecessary pressure to cater to diverse styles.

Personalized learning systems exist but are distinct from the concept of fixed learning styles.

Learning preferences are often a mix of what is effective and what one is accustomed to.

Challenging one's learning preferences is crucial for becoming a more efficient learner.

Personalized learning involves understanding and applying fundamental learning principles effectively.

Building a personalized learning system requires exploration, trial and error, and reflection.

The process of becoming an efficient learner is not a shortcut and takes time and effort.

Understanding one's learner type can help identify current strengths and weaknesses in learning methods.

The speaker, Dr. Justin Sun, offers a program to guide individuals in becoming more efficient learners.

Transcripts

if you believe that everyone has a

unique learning style some people are

visual some people are auditory then you

would be just a normal person but you'd

also be wrong it's what we call a neurom

myth which is a belief about the brain

which is just not true and it's one of

the most widely believed neurom myths

and it's one of the most widely refuted

and that a lot of people know that it's

wrong but if you believe that learning

styles are not relevant for you you also

kind of be wrong in this video I'm going

to talk about what learning styles are

what are the problems and the research

around learning styles and also why the

way that most people just reject it is a

little premature there are some really

useful ways that you can think about

learning styles that would actually help

you to improve so whether you believe in

learning styles or you don't I think

this video is going to help you to be a

more efficient learner if you're new to

this Channel and you're wondering what I

know about learning and who I am I'm Dr

Justin Sun I'm a learning coach and the

head of learning at I can study I'm also

a former Medical doctor for the last

decade I've helped thousands of Learners

from all around the world to become more

efficient Learners my work puts me in a

really interesting space because I get

to spend a lot of time reading the

research and then spend a lot of time

practicing it and coaching it to people

and seeing how effective it really is

and in a recent video I talked about

learner types and how understanding your

learner type can really help you to

improve very quickly and I made a

distinction that this is not the same as

learning styles a lot of you said that

you wanted me to make a more in-depth

video about learning styles and the

problems with them and so here it is

before we get started I'd really

appreciate if you give this video a like

for the algorithm the algorithm dictates

how many people this video will reach

and it also apparently dictates how well

I sleep at night so first of all what is

the concept of learning styles learning

styles is this concept that individuals

have unique styles of learning that

they're better at for example if you're

a visual learner then you're better at

learning through images and diagrams and

and pictures and if you're an auditory

learner you're better at learning

through listening or speaking if you're

a read and write learner then you're

better at learning through reading and

writing it's kind of in the name if

you're a kinesthetic learner then you're

better at learning through

experimentation and getting your hands

dirty with it and there are actually

lots of other different ways of

classifying learning styles which has

happened over the years but the most

common one is this one called V or vac

which stands for visual auditory read

and write cantic and so the idea is that

if you are a teacher then you should

figure out the learning style of your

student and therefore teach to that

learning style and likewise if you're a

learner you should figure out your own

learning style and learn to learn in

that style which is going to be more

efficient for you and it's a widely

believed actually almost like intuitive

understanding about how the brain works

there are some studies that say that

over 90% of teachers will believe this

but the problem is that it's just not

true learning styles is actually this

concept that came around in the' 70s

which was not really based on any real

research it was just kind of a theory

that someone just pulled out of a hat

one day and they were like I feel feel

like this is how the brain learns and

back in the' 70s like we didn't really

have high standards for Journal article

and Publications like there's some crazy

stuff if you look at the older journals

but around the' 70s that's also when we

had this huge self-esteem movement like

everyone is special everyone's like

their own special Snowflake and so

therefore learning styles sort of fit in

with that like yes I am a unique special

human being and therefore I must have a

unique special way of learning as well

and so fast forward like 50 years it is

now one of the most deeply ingrained

myths about learning that we tend to

believe and I guess fake news likes

company because it sits alongside other

neurom myths like we only use 10% of our

brain or that some people are left

brained or right brained both of those

things are also myths and so in the case

of learning styles it's really being

researched quite a lot now over the last

few decades the case has sort of been

put to rest we have a substantial amount

of of research that shows that people do

not have like a single unique learning

style that they are better at

essentially every human being is a

stronger visual processor than anything

else and even if you are technically a

auditory learner style based on some

quiz which by the way like that quiz is

created by a for-profit company that

creates royalties on people doing that

quiz by the way even if you were an

auditory style learner what studies show

is that you're still like thousands of

times faster processing visual

information cuz that's just how the

human brain works and also regardless of

your learning style everyone performs

better when they use a mix of styles and

actually what seems to make more of a

difference is trying to match the

learning style you use for the type of

information that you're learning rather

than saying I can only learn in a

certain way and this is really just to

say that the methods that you use should

change depending on the topic that

you're learning which seems relatively

self-explanatory most people don't study

maths or engineering the same way they

study Spanish and history or maybe you

do and your only technique is that you

use flash cards endlessly and if that's

the case then there is other problems

that we need to talk about but at the

end of the day the question is kind of

like who cares why does it actually

matter if learning styles are real or

not well there are actually some serious

problems that this causes and as a

learning coach I see the consequences of

this every day one of the major problems

is ironically When You Believe in

learning styles then it stops you from

becoming a better learner I've have had

so many people come up to me of all ages

like high school University you know PhD

working professionals entrepreneurs come

up to me and say that they've got

problems with their learning which

fundamentally stem from believing in

learning styles because if you

fundamentally believe that the only way

to build a house effectively is to use

the one tool that is uniquely efficient

for you then you're going to run at the

problems building that house believing

in learning styles create this

artificial limit on how you think your

brain has to learn and this is something

that in the research people call pigeon

H holding it means that you create this

little box for yourself and you live

inside that little box and that is just

not going to be conducive to success

every learner needs to be able to use

multiple different methods multiple

different tools operate with multiple

different styles depending on the

information type depending on the

resource type that's available and they

need to be a to synthesize and construct

good learning out of that most of the

time we don't have a choice on the type

of learning style we have available to

us like if someone is only teaching

something to you like by speaking it you

have to be able to learn auditorily and

also if you love audio books but you're

just not a auditory learner then what

does that mean you can never learn from

an audio book not only is it cognitively

more beneficial to use multiple

different styles to generate learning

but we don't even have a choice like you

have to learn that skill anyway

otherwise you're just going to be this

person that's like sitting there in

class the lecturer is telling you about

stuff and you're just like oh I just

can't learn auditorily like it just

doesn't work for me and then later on in

the workforce your boss is going to give

you some instructions and you're going

to be like oh wait I'm a visual learner

can you make a flow diagram for that

like someone's trying to teach you how

to play basketball one day and you're

like I just need a VIN diagram like I

just can't understand it so you can see

the options are pretty limited if you

are committing to learning styles and by

the way on the other side of this like

for teachers it's really detrimental as

well because it adds a lot more work and

a lot more pressure and burden for

teachers to try to deliver like this

perfect education and perfect lesson

that's suited for every person's unique

learning style and then if the student

is not performing it's like oh it's a

teacher's fault cuz I didn't teach it

properly they didn't match my learning

style and so there's really a lot of

problems with believing in learning

styles and it's especially sad because a

lot of people and even teachers when

they think about the pride they take on

how they've personalized something like

I've personalized my learning style or

I've personalized the way that I teach

my students usually the thing that they

have tried to optimize is learning

styles but learning styles are not the

bane of the learning World there is a

useful and effective way of thinking

about learning styles that is genuinely

very helpful and beneficial what I've

noticed recently is that people that

know a little bit about the learning

research they love to hate on learning

styles like learning styles has become

like the new Flat Earth of learning like

you know that joke about how you can

always tell someone's a vegan because

they're going to tell you about it or

you know someone that's Crossfit because

they're going to tell you about it not

that I have anything against vegans or

CrossFit by the way it's kind of like

that with people that know this whole

thing about learning styles like they

would be walking down the road and they

hear someone talk about learning styles

and they just slide in and they say

learning styles are not real and they

just fly away but I actually do think

that there is a good way of thinking

about learning styles the thing about

completely rejecting learning styles is

that it doesn't acknowledge the parts of

learning style

that are true everyone does have a

personalized way of learning everyone

has a method of learning that they have

to figure out and build over time and

everyone has learning preferences if we

say learning styles do not exist then

it's like oh well so does that mean that

everyone learns the same way no

personalized learning and personalized

learning systems do exist however we

have to separate that from learning

styles which is kind of the idea that

biologically our brain has to learn in a

certain style for it to be effective so

you might be wondering a few things like

okay if you take learning styles away

what does a personalized learning system

actually mean what does learning

preferences mean and then how do you

actually build that personalized

learning system and these are all very

good questions that I'm going to jump

into but another question that you might

be having is who's this video's sponsor

which is a fantastic question uh you can

probably tell based on my shirt the

sponsor of this video is right yeah

there we go I can study which is my

company like I said before I've spent

the last decade learning about learning

applying it myself to become a top

learner and then teaching thousands of

people to become top Learners as well

and I've distilled down that experience

into a stepbystep guided program where

you can learn the easiest and smoothest

way to become a more efficient learner

while asking questions and getting

feedback on your work and being part of

a really vibrant amazingly supportive

community and it is not a magic pill

it's not going to solve all of your

learning problems overnight it does take

time it does take effort but for those

of you that are serious about becoming a

more efficient learner then this is the

best place to start you can learn more

and check it out at iid.com you can find

the link in the description so with that

great question answered let's move on to

the other ones let's start with the idea

of learning preferences most people that

have gone through formal education have

a learning preference that's a

combination of visual and reading and

writing and a lot of that is just

because of habits and prior experience

it's important to realize that your

learning preferences are often not based

on what is most effective for you but

it's going to be a combination of what

is effective and what are you used to

and the things that you're used to are

not necessarily effective if that were

the case then the pathway to becoming

the most efficient learner would be to

continuously just do the thing that you

are the most comfortable with which is

in fact what most people do and that's

also the reason why most people struggle

everyone has preferences but actually

challenging those preferences is

important and the next thing is what

does personalized learning look like if

we take learning styles out of the

equation well one of the things that I

think learning styles is useful for us

to give us different ways of thinking

about learning and its modalities for

example if you currently are mostly

doing read and right style note taking

then you're probably going to benefit

from incorporating some visual elements

in there and if there's a modality that

you struggle with like a lot of people

struggle to just listen and learn then

you have to think well what are the

methods that I can use to become better

at that using learning styles as a guide

to think about different methods can

help us to focus our attention on

addressing the weaknesses and improving

our strength like I said before everyone

should be a mixed mode learner but the

specific mix of modes that you use for

different subjects and different topics

and in different parts of the learning

process like when you're first encoding

information for the first time versus

when you're trying to practice rehearsal

and retrieval these two situations might

have different types of compin ations

and so there is a lot of personalization

that can occur in understanding which

combination is more effective for you

how you make certain modalities work for

you and then how you adjust that overall

system depending on the needs and

challenges that you have the problem is

that a lot of people think about

personalization like they think about

creativity creativity is not about

creating something that is completely

new and novel it's about creating a

variation on something that already

exists for example I don't know if you

guys have seen these like Thai life

insurance

commercials where they tell this like

really emotional story of someone's life

like it's a whole movie and then at the

end it's like that's why you need life

insurance and personally I love those

ads I think they're really creative but

there's still just a variation on an

established Norm you're telling a

compelling story that creates relevance

leading up to a point where you're then

selling the product something that was

literally completely new and novel would

be trying to sell life insurance by

dressing up as a clown and rubbing tofu

on people's face on the street and

screaming at them to buy life insurance

like it's just totally random and I

don't think it would work but you can

see the same thing is true for learning

like there are some fundamental pretty

Universal principles about learning that

everyone needs to follow as long as they

have a human brain that is biologically

the same as another human brain and once

we understand what those patterns of

thinking and those structures are we can

then be personalized within those

structures for example one of the things

I talk a lot about is nonlinear note

taking and you can check that out in the

video here and there are certain

principles of nonlinear note taking that

are just going to make it easier and

more effective for everyone but then the

actual way that you execute on those

principles and on those guidelines is

going to be unique to you likewise one

of the most critical parts of deep

processing which is the type of thinking

that helps you gain a deeper memory and

better understanding is to be able to

think in networks and relationships but

the type of relationships and networks

that you form and what makes sense to

you that's going to depend on your prior

knowledge as well as what you find

relevant and that's actually going to be

unique to you personalization of

learning is not something that happens

because you are setting out to become

unique it is a natural consequence of

what happens when you become more

efficient with using the principles and

the reason I'm emphasizing this so much

is because that process of building a

personalized learning system is a

process unlike with learning styles

which basically just says like hey

here's a technique just use it great now

you're an amazing learner which doesn't

actually work the harsh reality is that

it takes time to build an effective

Learning System all the stuff that I've

said just now is probably not as sexy as

a quick tip around learning styles which

is probably why it's not going to be as

popular and mainstream but none of that

changes the fact that at the end of the

day if you want to be an efficient

learner with the Learning System that

works for you you have to go through

this process of exploration Discovery

trial and error experimentation and

reflection and it takes time people

often ask me Justin you you know put all

this content out there for free aren't

you afraid that if this becomes like so

common that then everyone will be an

efficient learner and then it's not

going to be special anymore anymore I

genuinely am not worried about that at

all because my YouTube channel does not

grow very fast but seriously because it

takes time and effort like most people

are looking for the shortcut and this is

not a shortcut and so if you're

listening to me saying this now and

you've made it to this point of the

video then you probably are one of those

people that is willing to take this a

little bit more seriously so for you I

would recommend checking out my video on

learner types put a link in the

description but your learner type rather

than learning style is what are the

current systems and habits and methods

that you currently are using and how is

that either helping you or holding you

back when you figure out your learn type

it becomes much clearer why you might be

having certain problems and why you

might be better at certain things than

others which then helps you to create a

more efficient plan for how to improve I

hope this video helped you if it did

then make sure to subscribe so you don't

miss my future uploads thank you so much

for watching and I'll see you next

time

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