The idea that everyone has their own learning style and learning is most effective when teachers use your style is not based on any scientific evidence.
VARK (visual, auditory, reading/writing, kinetic) was invented by Neil Fleming after observing some good teachers failing to reach certain students and while some “poor teachers” succeeded: “one topic that seemed to hold some magic, some explanatory power, was preferred modes of learning, ‘modal preferences’”.
People seem to connect with the idea of learning style for the same reason we have a favorite color, it seems like some part of our identity.
See also:
- Outdated scientific studies can perpetuate for years and this isn’t even scientific
- Identity is a powerful motivator for behaviors—if you think you are a visual person you probably think you learn best with visual materials and seek them out (or demand them from others)
- Surprise plus memory equals learning