Learning styles are differences in how students learn. While differing theories organize learning styles into different categories, most education theories agree that instruction using varied learning styles increases the likelihood of successful outcomes for students.

The most familiar terms for learning styles are derived from a theory centered on assessment of the learner’s preferred mode or modes of engagement (e.g. physical or kinesthetic learner, auditory learner, social learner, visual learner).

More recent education theory centers learning style around higher order factors (e.g. cognitive style, perceptual response, study preferences, instructional preferences).