Kinesthetic Learners Find Success With Hands-On Learning
The typical college experience includes lengthy lectures in oversized classrooms with dozens, or even hundreds, of other students.
Though the process of having professors present massive amounts of information on to listening students is an effective way to get through course materials, it is not an appropriate learning strategy for all types of students.
While some students are auditory learners who can absorb information by hearing it, others need other types of stimulus to solidify the learning experience. Most commonly, kinesthetic learners, also referred to as tactile learners, require movement to turn information into knowledge. Tactile learners often have a high level of energy, excellent coordination and feel a need to move constantly while listening to others. They also usually have good muscle memory and can replicate movements after watching it or preforming them just once. Kinesthetic learners often feel antsy or fidgety during extended lectures, not because they are bored, but because they are struggling to find meaningful ways to process what they are hearing. Typically, these types of learners respond better to hands-on learning opportunities.
Because of this preference, kinesthetic learners often do well in grade school, when teachers strive to incorporate innovative learning techniques, and in high school when projects and labs make up a large part of the curriculum. However, they may begin to struggle in college, when instructional techniques turn towards lectures. Today, students attending college Salt Lake city have a variety of options for academic success. In response to student’s needs for a larger variety of educational opportunities geared toward the full range of learning styles, many schools are lessening the emphasis on lecture based learning and offering real-world training and hands-on experiences.
However, the responsibility for meeting the needs of kinesthetic learners is not solely on the shoulders of professors and college administrators. There are many things that tactile learners can do to increase their chances of success. During lectures, active listening and reading strategies, such as taking notes and highlighting study materials, can help fulfill the need to movement. Outside of class, tactile learners should seek out supplemental opportunities, such as visiting museums, talking to industry experts or volunteering, that correspond to the course topics. During study sessions, rewriting or typing notes can help instill the material into memory. Tactile learners, and anyone else with a non-auditory learning style, can also benefit from open communication with their professors. Often, instructors are willing to assist students in finding learning strategies that allow them to make the most of the college experience.