Just Dropped! How Neuroscience Unmasks the Truth about Learning
My fourth of twelve manager myth-busting issues just dropped in my BYOBrain Brew newsletter . (Not subscribed? Click here. ) In this issue, I turned to a widely accepted belief that's been circulated in classrooms, workplaces, and self-help books for decades: the idea that people are either visual or auditory learners.
Think about it. When you're learning a new task at work, do you only read about it (visual), or just listen to instructions (auditory)?
Many of us have taken a test or quiz to determine our 'learning style.' We've been categorized as visual learners (learning best by seeing information), auditory learners (learning best by hearing information), or perhaps kinesthetic learners (learning best by doing). While these categories can feel insightful and personal, neuroscience presents a more nuanced picture.
Research shows that while people might have preferences for how they like to receive information, the idea of strict 'learning styles' is overly simplistic. In fact, most learning—whether it's remembering a list of facts, mastering a new skill, or understanding a complex theory—engages multiple senses and cognitive processes.
Think about it. When you're learning a new task at work, do you only read about it (visual), or just listen to instructions (auditory)? Most likely, you do a mix of reading, listening, discussing, and doing. It's this rich, multi-sensory experience that helps embed new information in our brains.
Let me share how this works in real life. A lot of my friends and colleagues love to listen to business podcasts and audiobooks. They take long walks and rides, culminating with a brain filled with new ideas. When I do that, it seems I hear about every other sentence and repeatedly find myself tapping the rewind button. Auditory learning is not my strength. BUT when I listen to a podcast or audiobook and have the opportunity to write down the words so I can see them, it’s like magic. It’s not that I can’t learn new things using auditory senses. It’s just not natural but with a few tweaks and practice, it works like magic.
Context also matters a lot. The nature of the material being learned often dictates which senses are most involved. Learning to play a musical instrument, for instance, is going to involve more auditory and kinesthetic processing, while learning to design a webpage will involve more visual and kinesthetic processing.
Brain Hacks
As we chart a course through the myth-laden landscape of 'learning styles', remember, we're not merely visual, auditory, or kinesthetic learners - we're a dynamic blend of all three and more! But as a manager, understanding your team's learning preferences can be a game-changer in personalizing their learning journey and enhancing their performance. As a manager, what can you do?