"I'm a visual learner" is a myth. There is no scientific evidence that tailoring instruction to learning styles can improve learning.
Are you a visual learner? Many people state preferences for how they want to learn, but extensive research has consistently failed to support that matching a teaching technique to a preferred style will improve learning.
In other words, the belief that we should tailor teaching styles to individuals' learning styles is not supported by scientific research despite being very widespread and endorsed.
In 2008, the psychologist and cognitive scientist, Pashler, in his Learning Styles: Concepts and Evidence first concluded that "there is no adequate evidence base to justify incorporating learning styles assessments into general educational practice." Cedar Riener and Daniel Willingham in their paper The Myth of Learning Styles (2010) also argue that "there is no credible evidence that learning styles exist."
They highlighted that while students may have personal preferences for how they receive information, these preferences do not translate into improved learning outcomes when their instruction is tailored accordingly. The American Psychological Association even stated that belief in the learning styles myth may be detrimental because educators might spend time and money tailoring instruction to learning styles despite the lack of scientific evidence supporting this approach.
This belief can sometimes even harm learners by causing them to mistakenly perceive certain subjects as impossible to learn. For example, "visual learners" might believe they cannot learn music.
So what should we do? Educators should follow evidence-based practices and teach with strategies that engage multiple senses and cognitive processes for all students instead of addressing the diverse needs of learners.
Learners should let go of the misconception that they can only learn in one specific style. Don't be confined to that pigeonhole!