Kinesthetic Learning: How to “Learn by Doing”
What is kinesthetic learning?
The term kinesthesia indicates the sensory ability that allows individuals to be aware of their body parts’ positions and movements without looking at them.
Kinesthetic learning, also known as tactile learning, is a learning style in which students learn best by physically engaging with the material. This consists of hands-on activities like constructing models, performing physical tasks, or using body movements to discover and comprehend new information.
The VARK model of learning styles
The VARK model assumes that there are different types of learners who prefer and execute best with various styles of learning:
- Visual: Visual learners prefer to watch and observe to learn and retain information well with diagrams and pictures.
- Auditory: Auditory learners like listening to lectures and may benefit by reviewing the lecture another time with noise-blocking headphones.
- Reading & Writing: These learners recall information by taking notes and reading information in text form.
- Kinesthetic: Kinesthetic, or tactile learners prefer a learning-by-doing approach. The more they participate in an activity physically, the better they learn.
Kinesthetic learners thrive on physical activity and may experience difficulty in adapting to traditional learning methods that focus on listening, reading, and visuals. They learn better with active engagement. However, the concept of learning styles is controversial in the scientific community. There is limited scientific evidence supporting the idea that teaching with a specific learning style has improved learning outcomes.
Do not rely on the assumption that one learning style must be the best one for you as a combination of different learning modes may be a better option. Combinations could also vary depending on different study topics, your energy levels, and many other factors. Explore all modes of learning to figure out what works best for you.
Benefits of kinesthetic learning
- Movement is good for you
Movement increases blood flow to the brain, which boosts energy levels, sharpens concentration, and improves long-term information retention. Engaging in physical activity while learning creates a dynamic environment that stimulates neural activity, helping to encrypt information in the brain more effectively.
- It diversifies your learning strategy
The science behind multisensory learning shows that when information is processed through various modalities—such as visual, auditory, and kinesthetic— it produces multiple traces in different brain regions. This redundancy indicates that the brain has multiple ways to retrieve the same piece of information, significantly enhancing memory retention. Since kinesthetic learning is not commonly seen in most people’s study routine as compared to other learning styles, adding kinesthetic learning activities can enhance your learning effectiveness.
- It prepares you for a hands-on profession
Healthcare is a hands-on field which requires precise and instinctive physical abilities for both emergency situations and day-to-day clinical settings. Early addition of physical practice helps to bridge the gap between theory and practice while equipping you for the demands of your future career.
Utilising diverse learning styles can help you recollect information more reliably and effortlessly than only relying on the same style constantly.
Examples of kinesthetic learning activities
1. Simulations and role-playing
Simulations, an important application of kinesthetic learning, plays a part in most healthcare study programs. Students are placed in simulated scenarios with puppets or actors to solve situations and conduct procedures. Doing simulations is the best way to recall all the steps in the correct order, along with the necessary background information. You can mimic this in your studies at home with the help of friends or family members as your simulation patients.
2. Use physical models for anatomy and physiology
Most healthcare students rely on a plastic skeleton-roommate to help them review concepts, providing a nearly lifelike model to practise on. The skeleton doesn’t mind if its arm is lifted a million times or if its rib cage is tapped till you memorised heart arrhythmias. A stuffed animal will work too, if you don’t have a skeleton—just having something physical to point out limbs and organs can be helpful.
3. Use spatial orientation
If you are using flashcards to study, try to place them in various locations around your room and go there physically to review certain topics. This spatial association activates another mode of the brain and enhances your memory. Alternatively, mentally creating a memory palace is also feasible.
4. Make note-taking a physical experience
Instead of staying seated at your desk while taking notes, you can try a whiteboard on the wall, or big pieces of paper. Moving around and drawing bigger diagrams involves more of your body in the note-taking process.
5. Find ways to incorporate moving your body
Incorporating gestures when you teach-back concepts helps to increase your activity level. With hand movements, pointing out relevant body parts, or employing body language related to the topic can make the learning experience more interactive. Fidget toys let your hands stay busy when movement isn’t possible, allowing you to stay focused. Alternatively, you can incorporate movement into your study routine by walking while reciting facts, or by varying your sitting posture.
Conclusion
Like all learning techniques, there is no one size fits all approach. It’s essential to experiment with various strategies to find the routines that optimise your studying efficiency and effectiveness.
Kinesthetic learning is a learning style that activates a part of your brain that is often overlooked when studying. Integrating movement into your study routine can improve and make your learning experience enjoyable while training you to step out of the library to real-world clinical environments.
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