Episode Description
If you’ve ever heard someone say “I’m a visual learner,” you’ve seen how quickly learning style labels can shape training decisions. In this episode, Jackie unpacks a persistent instructional design myth: that learning styles should drive how we build courses, lessons, and eLearning. Learner preferences are real, but treating them like fixed categories can pull us away from what actually improves performance and understanding.
Jackie explores why the myth sticks around, from how personal it feels to how neatly it simplifies something messy. Then I make the key design shift: stop asking what style a learner “is” and start asking what the learner needs to do. When the goal is understanding a process, visuals like diagrams may be the best support. When the goal is sound recognition, audio examples become essential. When the goal is decision-making, scenarios plus feedback often beat more content every time. The format serves the outcome.
We also separate accessibility from learning styles. Captions, transcripts, alt text, clear headings, readable documents, and keyboard-friendly navigation are not extras for a certain “type” of learner. They’re inclusive, responsible design choices that remove barriers for more people. To wrap up, Jackie closes the episode with a practical myth reset challenge you can use to audit one learning experience this week and make one improvement that better aligns with goals, practice, feedback, and evidence-based strategies.
If this helped you rethink how you design, subscribe, share the episode with a colleague, and leave a review so more educators and instructional designers can find the series.
🔗 Episode Links
Please check out the resources mentioned in the episode. Enjoy!
Myth Reset Case File: Learning Styles and Design Decisions
Multimedia Learning by Richard E. Mayer
Join PodMatch!Use the link to join PodMatch, a place for hosts and guests to connect.
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.
💟 Designing with Love + allows you to support the show by keeping the mic on and the ideas flowing. Click on the link above to provide your support.
☕ Buy Me a Coffee is another way you can support the show, either as a one-time gift or through a monthly subscription.
🗣️ Want to be a guest on Designing with Love? Send Jackie Pelegrin a message on PodMatch, here: Be a guest on the show
🌐 Check out the show's website here: Designing with Love
📱 Send a text to the show by clicking the Send Jackie a Text link above.
👍🏼 Please make sure to like and share this episode with others. Here's to great learning!