Feb
12
2013

Theory v Practice: A clash of paradigms?

I watched this video earlier

Learning Styles

There is a fair amount of dislike for “Learning Styles” from a variety of academics at the moment.  I am not an active academic, but I am an active coach and coach educator.  I wonder whether it matters if “learning styles” exist?  Perhaps what is more important is the impact that any belief in/interpretation of the theory has upon practice.  Practice is what interests me.  In sport and Physical Education we are about (amongst other things) developing kinaesthetic ability – movement, FUNdamentals etc.  If “Learning Styles” theory leads to practice whereby a coach shows a skill, explains a skill, and then allows a participant to perform a skill then the “theory” has led to good practice.  And that is all that matters in the real world!  Any “Learning Theory” is only as useful as it’s interpretation in practice.  Right brain vs left brain, passive vs active, deep vs surface, reflector vs pragmatist vs theorist vs activist.  All are useless until they impact (or don’t) upon practice.  Academics have to prove and disprove and develop theories, it’s what they do.  Practitioners have to practice.  We must be careful not to simply discard something because academia says it is rubbish.  Does our interpretation help us to be better coaches/teachers?

The blog post linked below says what I was trying to say but probably with more clarity!

Forget Learning Styles

Another article with a more articulate take on what I was trying to get at…

Learning Styles and Multiple Intelligences

Some more thoughts on Learning Styles

The Myth of Learning Styles

It’s coming thick and fast now!  The article below raises some key points:

Reiner and Willingham

  • Learners are different from one another.
  • If they are more engaged because they find something more enjoyable they are more likely to spend more time doing it – and hence they will learn more!
  • Choosing a presentation method suitable for the content being delivered is important.
  • We must be careful not to pigeonhole learners into thinking they can only learn in a certain way.  Identifying tasks that are harder for some individuals and helping them develop the resilience to persist will produce more rounded students.

I’ve just come across the Ted Talk below

Ted Talk – Learning Styles

As I find more information about this, the tone of this post changes.  My initial point was that it might be unimportant whether Learning Styles exist or not and that our interpretation of theories and the influence on our practice is what matters.  Whilst to a degree I still agree with this thought, I am more aware that mis-information can lead to accidental bad practice as much if not more than accidental good practice.

This next article talks about the importance of engaging learners

Teaching Strategies

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About the Author: Stephen Pritchard

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