Your favorite learning style is not meant to be a crutch

Each of us, as human beings, have been outfitted for survival in an ever changing world. We have survived as a species due to our ability to learn and adapt quickly. We have evolved to learn from what we see, what we hear, what we feel, and what we do. We learn from our environment, our community, and even our own minds.

We are all hardwired to learn from stories. Our minds are capable of (literally) placing ourselves into the shoes of others in a setting where no harm will come to us. That setting is our mind and the complex realities we craft within it.

Outside of storytelling the paths of learning seem to diverge. Some claim to be auditory learners, capable of learning well from a lecturing professor. Others claim to be hands on, learning best from the application of skills. Some claim there to be 7 different styles of learning.

Many of us have leaned at one time or another on our favorite form of learning. Claiming that we are _____ learners and that is why we do better at _____ and not so great at ______. This crutch is an unfortunate artifact created by an inefficient educational system.

Are we really better ____ learners? Or is that particular subject just more conducive to _____ teaching style?

Are we _____ learners and that is why we couldn’t pay attention in ____ class, or were we actually just not interested enough in the subject? Did we just not care enough?

Are we really ____ learners, or did we just cultivate a fancy for that particular style of learning due to our past?

We all have preferences and predispositions, but where do we draw the line? When do you change from “I am an auditory learner” to “I enjoy auditory learning most, but I know I must learn in other ways”.

By putting words to something we create power over it, but we also open the door for it to have power over us.

When I see someone who truly cares for something, I don’t see someone making claims to what brand of learning works best for them. I see someone who reaches out into the universe and grabs whatever information they need in whatever format they can get it in order to succeed.

From the standpoint of the educational system, we have a lot of work to do in order to individualize curriculum for each and every student’s highest potential. When it comes to making change in the world, we must take responsibility for our own education sooner or later.