How do you learn best? Do you believe you're a visual learner or a verbal learner? Maybe you're someone who thinks they best retain knowledge while on walks and listening to podcasts.

The correct answer is that there are no individual learning styles. Studies consistently show that "people learn new material best when they encounter it multiple times and through multiple modalities," Derek Bruff writes.

People do learn differently. We process information on different timelines and have preferred sources for consuming information. We also have different interests and abilities that affect our motivation to learn. (Daniel Willingham's highly accessible Learning Styles FAQ highlights other important nuances.)

But fundamentally, the human brain is wired to learn in similar ways.

The learning style myth is pervasive–~90% of educators believe in individual learning styles. (Important caveat to add here is that people with vision or hearing impairments are limited in certain learning functions).

It's not just semantics and I think the implications are relevant to anyone who's learning or trying to help others learn. You may be most comfortable consuming and sharing information in written text. But visual thinking tools, like concepts maps, are proven to help EVERYONE learn more deeply. For anyone who is writing to share insights and help your audiences gain knowledge, it's worth considering how it could be enhanced with a visual (an infographic, video, even just a stock meme).

What are some visual tools you've used effectively? Where have you seen visuals effectively used?