Are you a Kinesthetic Learner?
Kinesthetic leaners are people who learn best through movement. They are known as “doers.” They retain information through experience and physical activity. Kinesthetic learners benefit from demonstrations instead of sitting in a classroom with restrictions of movement. Work environments such as labs allow these learners to manipulate experiments and also be physically active. Kinesthetic learners are often a actors, athletes, or dancers because there is full body motion in these activities. Kinesthetic learners sometimes pace back and forth, or are unable to sit still for long periods of time. (Lengel & Kuczala, 2010)
(Kinesthetic Learner, 2013)
(Hannah Montana, 2013)
Visual learners commit ideas and concepts to memory using pictures. Similarly kinesthetic learners can use movement to commit information to memory such as Miley Cyrus in this video of the "Bone Dance."
Helping Aid Kinesthetic Learning
Teachers can use many different activities and methods that aid kinesthetic learners. These can be used in different ways and environments.
For a classroom settings where there is no movement and students are expected to sit still at a desk, a teacher can allow these learners instead to sit in a corner or close to the door where they can move freely without distracting other students. Allowing them to help with tasks that require movement will prevent them from sitting for too long. An example of a task could be handing out papers or washing the desks.
(Map, 2013)
Techniques such as writing, diagramming and mapping are beneficial to these learners for more efficient information intake. When rewriting information, the movement of their hand allows them to save information to memory. Writing on a board in a classroom allows these learners to make larger movements, which are more beneficial to them when retaining information.
Designing a study activity that involves using an open area of space can be done in a group or individually. One can combine an abstract idea or concept and create pictures or posters to put on the floor or walls. For example, a step-by-step process can be created and placed around a room and a student can then follow the path of the entire process learning it through the movement of following the steps.
Creating dances or skits can allow them to connect movements to help learn certain ideas and memorization. When learning information and performing a certain movement, they can relate the two together when remembering the information. For example, a student learned an equation while jumping, they can recall this information as “the equation that I learned while I was jumping.”
Manipulation of objects and materials benefits these learners. Creating activates that involve the use of different materials such as Legos, clay, or playdough would more efficient than listening to an instructor for an entire class period without movement.
Allowing periodic breaks during class will allow students to maintain focus. When information is dumped on the students in class for long periods of time they will lose focus. To help maintain attention in class, periodic breaks will help the student focus.
Group activities are very helpful when learning. Students partnered with other students that are kinesthetic learners can teach each other new ways and methods to help them study in ways to facilitate their learning style. They can create different learning activities that are used for both partners.
(What are the Best Kinesthetic Learning Activities, 2013)
For a classroom settings where there is no movement and students are expected to sit still at a desk, a teacher can allow these learners instead to sit in a corner or close to the door where they can move freely without distracting other students. Allowing them to help with tasks that require movement will prevent them from sitting for too long. An example of a task could be handing out papers or washing the desks.
(Map, 2013)
Techniques such as writing, diagramming and mapping are beneficial to these learners for more efficient information intake. When rewriting information, the movement of their hand allows them to save information to memory. Writing on a board in a classroom allows these learners to make larger movements, which are more beneficial to them when retaining information.
Designing a study activity that involves using an open area of space can be done in a group or individually. One can combine an abstract idea or concept and create pictures or posters to put on the floor or walls. For example, a step-by-step process can be created and placed around a room and a student can then follow the path of the entire process learning it through the movement of following the steps.
Creating dances or skits can allow them to connect movements to help learn certain ideas and memorization. When learning information and performing a certain movement, they can relate the two together when remembering the information. For example, a student learned an equation while jumping, they can recall this information as “the equation that I learned while I was jumping.”
Manipulation of objects and materials benefits these learners. Creating activates that involve the use of different materials such as Legos, clay, or playdough would more efficient than listening to an instructor for an entire class period without movement.
Allowing periodic breaks during class will allow students to maintain focus. When information is dumped on the students in class for long periods of time they will lose focus. To help maintain attention in class, periodic breaks will help the student focus.
Group activities are very helpful when learning. Students partnered with other students that are kinesthetic learners can teach each other new ways and methods to help them study in ways to facilitate their learning style. They can create different learning activities that are used for both partners.
(What are the Best Kinesthetic Learning Activities, 2013)
Balls for Chairs
Some classrooms now include balls that are used as chairs for students. These balls allow the students who have trouble focusing in class due to their desire to move and wiggle around. Balance balls were first used in the classroom to help improve the strength of core muscles and posture of students. Later, they were suggested for use in the classrooms for students that have trouble sitting still in class.
"Then in 2003, a study was published in the American Journal of Occupational Therapy concluding that in students with ADHD, sitting on therapy balls improved behavior and legible word productivity."
(Lynch, 2012)
"Then in 2003, a study was published in the American Journal of Occupational Therapy concluding that in students with ADHD, sitting on therapy balls improved behavior and legible word productivity."
(Lynch, 2012)
Kinesthetics for Different Age Groups
Kinesthetic teaching methods are used differently for different age groups. In elementary schools, many different activities have been created to help learn their fundamental knowledge. For example, in this next video 2 x Multiplication factors were taught using the ground and chalk. Shapes were drawn on the ground with numbers, and the student steps from shape to shape performing multiplication.
(LBLD Math: 2x Multiplication Facts, 2013)
Kinesthetic learning is easier to incorporate into lower grades. Teachers use more "hands-on" activities in elementary schools. However, kinesthetic learning methods are used less in high school and college because teachers do not focus on different learning styles and primarily focus on getting all of the information presented. It is difficult to incorporate this style of learning in courses such as a literature or history. Classes such as Physical Education, theatre, Science Laboratory classes, etc. are where kinesthetics are incorporated. College is a non-kinesthetic oriented environment, and for these learners to successfully make it through college, the kinesthetic learner must use different methods to gain information if they are to improve their chances for success.
College Tricks for Kinesthetic Learners
Kinesthetic teaching methods are used differently for different age groups. In elementary schools, many different activities have been created to help learn their fundamental knowledge. A student can doodle during lecture to help them focus. This form of doodling would be to draw pictures that remind them of the lecture, not to distract them from what is being taught. Some students use multiple colors of pens when taking notes. A student taking notes during lecture is incorporating hand motions which helps their memory.
When listening to a speaker, a student can chew gum, tap their foot, or use a stress ball. These are all ways the student can remain active while maintaining their focus in class.
When reading, skimming through the material to understand the main concept, and then returning to the beginning to read more thoroughly helps the person to retain the information. Another technique when reading is to divide the material up into shorter sections to help the level of focus while reading. While reading, highlight and take active notes. Another technique for reading is to read for a short period of time, and then workout for five to ten minutes, then return to the reading task.
(Kinesthetic Learning: harder in college, later a gift, 2013)
When listening to a speaker, a student can chew gum, tap their foot, or use a stress ball. These are all ways the student can remain active while maintaining their focus in class.
When reading, skimming through the material to understand the main concept, and then returning to the beginning to read more thoroughly helps the person to retain the information. Another technique when reading is to divide the material up into shorter sections to help the level of focus while reading. While reading, highlight and take active notes. Another technique for reading is to read for a short period of time, and then workout for five to ten minutes, then return to the reading task.
(Kinesthetic Learning: harder in college, later a gift, 2013)
Favoring different Learning Styles
A normal classroom setting involves students sitting down and taking notes during a lecture setting. "Most People of college age and older are visual, while most college teaching is verbal" (Felder, 1988). Lectures are given as auditory and visual teaching. This type of teaching does not benefit a kinesthetic learner in the classroom setting.
Teachers commonly use a curriculum suited for visual, aural, and verbal learners. This curriculum is easier to perform in a classroom rather then using a teaching method suited for kinesthetic learners. A method for kinesthetic learners would require more movement and activities in a classroom or lecture hall, which are more difficult for teachers to perform in a large class and it also could be more expensive financially to provide materials used for movement activities. The methods suited for the learning styles other than kinesthetics may work for most students, however, there are students who need to be taught through a movement and activity oriented teaching routine because this is the most beneficial method, and in extreme cases the only method for some students to retain new information.
Teachers should make it a priority to accommodate all types of learners. Kinesthetic methods of teaching such as activities involving movement and group activities may require more work than a regular classroom setting, but the results will show that all types of learners are performing better in class creating a positive learning environment.
Teachers commonly use a curriculum suited for visual, aural, and verbal learners. This curriculum is easier to perform in a classroom rather then using a teaching method suited for kinesthetic learners. A method for kinesthetic learners would require more movement and activities in a classroom or lecture hall, which are more difficult for teachers to perform in a large class and it also could be more expensive financially to provide materials used for movement activities. The methods suited for the learning styles other than kinesthetics may work for most students, however, there are students who need to be taught through a movement and activity oriented teaching routine because this is the most beneficial method, and in extreme cases the only method for some students to retain new information.
Teachers should make it a priority to accommodate all types of learners. Kinesthetic methods of teaching such as activities involving movement and group activities may require more work than a regular classroom setting, but the results will show that all types of learners are performing better in class creating a positive learning environment.