In the last twenty years, science has discovered 80 % of what we know today about the functions of the brain. The education system has not yet been reached by and organized according to all this new information.

Humans are different and learn in a number of different ways
Scientists agree that we as individual human beings learn in many different ways. A good learning style or model for one person does not necessarily apply to others. Some students learn best sitting on a hard chair in a peaceful and light environment, others prefer lying on a couch listening to music in a rather dark room. A third group of students learn best when not sitting still. Some learn most and best when listening, others when reading. Some have special intelligence within the music area. Some prefer studying in the morning, others in the evening. In addition to all this, the preferred ways of studying and learning also vary according to age, sex and ethnic group. Complicated? Indeed, yes!
However, within this wide scope there is an enormous potential for development..

Treat each individual individually!
One of the fundamental ideas of the Swedish school curricula is to enable each student to develop individually. Due to economic reasons, though, it is virtually impossible to create an educational environment catering for all situations and personal preferences.

How does the individual student learn best?
It is of vital importance for each individual student to recognize his/her own learning style in order to be able to choose the most accurate model. However, it is also useful for a learner to be able to adapt to various situations, at school as well as in life. The right of the individual have certain, natural limits.

Self-testing and scientific analyses
Children who get support early in defining their own personal model of learning are given an advantage, according to scientists. It is equally important that parents/guardians and teachers encourage the child/student in this process. There are also simple self-tests available, as well as elaborate, scientifically based analytic instruments.

Would you like to know more about learning models?
If your local school is updated on these issues, you can get information through them. If not, you can use some of the links below for further information.