Learning Styles and Strategies: To Assess or Not to Assess?

In Module 7 of our Theory course, we have been learning about learning styles and learning strategies.

So, what is a learning style?
   A learning style is a preference or a tendency to use a particular learning pattern (or method) when learning something.

And how does one distinguish a learning style from a learning strategy?
    A learning strategy is a series of steps or behaviors employed in a specific situation to assist in the acquisition, storage, retention, recall and use of new information.

Is it valuable for students to be assessed for learning style and strategy?  Why or why not?

Yes, because....

• Students will become more aware of their own preferences and those preferences ascribed to by others, which will in turn help enable them to be better equipped as learners.  They can become more effective and efficient by experimenting with different strategies or even expand their preferences to include others and thus improve their capability to learn in different situations.
• When students' learning preferences and styles are assessed, teachers can more effectively attempt to plan learning activities that meet students' preferences and needs in a more efficient way.

But, no, because....

• Many instruments used to assess learning styles in particular have not been found to be reliable or accurate.  Great care must be taken when using them.
• Much more research about the different learning style models needs to be implemented in order to establish a more informed theory surrounding the models.
• Sometimes the styles are misused as labels and can affect learners' impressions of themselves or teachers' impressions of them.  In practice, the styles cannot yet be viewed to be entirely stable, or restrictive.  There has been some evidence that the styles are flexible and can expand and change over time and with new and varied experience. 

Although I have written more cons than pros for assessment, I do believe that a heightened awareness among learners about how they learn is a very valuable tool.  If the assessments are used with caution and explained in detail so as not to be misunderstood or misused, I believe their use can have significant positive impact on a learner's capability to improve their learning skills.