Learning styles and academic achievement

Educators have for many years, noticed that learners prefer certain styles while engaged in learning activities. This approach to learning emphasizes the fact that individual learners perceive and process information in different ways. Learning styles theories are based on researches demonstrating that, as the result of heredity, upbringing and environmental demands, different individuals have a tendency to perceive information differently. There are many variables that affect the academic performance of a learner in a particular subject. Learners¿ characteristics, instructors¿ teaching strategy, the learning environment, classroom variables and the subject that is being learnt ¿ all these can influence the end-product of learning. Hence, an overall understanding on how students learn will surely help the teachers to meet the need of the taught. As empirical evidences have shown that, students¿ academic performance improves when the instruction is adapted to their learning styles, educators have to understand the diverse learning styles of the pupils and plan teaching strategy accordingly.