The Great Learning Styles Debate, A Practical Guide For Trainers ( Change Manager Practitioner Microlesson )

For years, trainers relied on Learning Styles models (like VARK) to tailor training, believing that people learn best when information is matched to their preferred style (visual, auditory, kinesthetic, etc.). But what does modern cognitive science say about this theory?

Beyond V-A-R-K: What Really Drives Learning

This practical Microlesson cuts through the controversy to give you the advanced, evidence-based approach to designing change training that truly sticks.

Tune in to upgrade your change training skills and align your practice with the latest in cognitive psychology.

Transcript

Hello and welcome to Training Bitesize Microlessons. We host the podcast that helps you to navigate the world of learning and development. Today we're tackling a topic that sparked a lot of debate. Learning styles. 

We've all heard the terms visual, auditory, read-write and kinaesthetic. For years the idea was simple, find a person's learning style and tailor your training to match But here's the thing. A lot of recent academic research, including a well-known 2008 study, questions if this approach actually works. The point isn't that learning preferences don't exist. Of course they do. 

The real issue is whether rigidly matching a teaching method to a specific style improves the learning outcome. The truth is it often doesn't. So as trainers and educators, what should we be doing instead? The key is to shift our focus from prescribing a style to observing what is working for particular individuals. Use the learning style models as a guide, not a rulebook. If you're giving a verbal explanation and notice a learner seems lost, don't just keep talking.  Instead, adapt on the fly. Try drawing a quick diagram or give them a handout. That's the important thing, to be flexible and adapt your approach to meet the needs of different individuals in the moment. 

You can also design your training with flexibility and choice in mind. Provide the same core information in multiple formats. A video for those who like to watch, a written article for those who prefer to read, and a practical exercise for those who learn by doing. This way, you empower learners to choose how they engage with the material. It moves beyond the debate about learning styles and focusses on what truly matters. Making learning effective and accessible for everyone. Thanks for listening. We'll see you soon for your next micro lesson.