To be or not to be..that is the question

When more information is gathered concerning a certain subject it's logical to make adaptions based on the new data. Although more and more research is conducted on student's learning styles, there are still a number of cautions which teachers should take into account. For starters, let's take into account that learning styles may only be learning preferences which is a more fitting label. Preferences are the choice an individual makes based on one factor or another. Research fails to prove that individuals actually learn according to the learning styles because the experiments conducted only prove that individuals prefer to learn a certain way. When researchers attempt to test learning "styles" it is difficult because the results have little validity.One reason why is due to the complexities of the brain. there are a number of variables which impact how the brain processes information. According to the findings of Richard Mayer "materials matter too" which is in addition to the way one learns. So the recommendation, he makes to teacher is "Before you try to accommodate all your students' learning styles, remember that students, especially young ones, may not be the best judge of how they should learn." This statement assists brings us to the second point to solidify the bridge from learning "styles" to learning preference. Researchers have yet to "find assessing children's learning styles and matching to the instructional methods has any effect on their learning." So in other words learning styles research has failed to provide data which proves a child who is "kinesthetic" and is taught that way, actually learns because that accommodation. 'In conclusion, teachers should not teach to learning styles because there is still research to be done about learning styles. however, teachers should defianlty teach to learning preferences. No matter what age-group, students know what is engaging, pleasurable conditions for learning. So if the teacher is in-tuned with the students and sees the need for certain ways of teaching to keep student's attention, then that is the means the teacher should take to teach.