Kinesthetic Learnin

What Is A KinestheWhat Is Kinesthetic Learning?How Do Kinesthetic Learners Learn?Characteristics of Kinesthetic LearnersBenefits Of Kinesthetic LearningCognitive developmentIncreased comprehension through physical activitiesSocial skills developmentStronger creative thinkingBetter problem solvingBetter observationTeaching Methods For Kinesthetic LearnersHave you ever seen someone doodling while listening to a lecture in class? What if we tell you that that can help some people learn better? In fact, this type of learning has long-term benefits as well. Through kinesthetic learning, mind and body are combined to achieve the best learning results. If you are now wondering, “What is kinesthetic learning?” or, “What is a kinesthetic learner”? – this article is for you. Read on to learn more about kinesthetic learning and its characteristics, benefits, and strategies to implement when teaching such learners.

What Is Kinesthetic Learning?Before we try and define what kinesthetic learning is, let’s first check a definition of the word ‘kinesthesia’. The Cambridge Dictionary defines kinesthesia as ‘the ability to know where the parts of your body are and how they are moving.’ So, kinesthetic learning links the process of learning to physical activity. It is a learning style during which the learner has to feel or move in order to learn more effectively. Also referred to as ‘tactile’, ‘hands-on’, or ‘physical’ learning, kinesthetic learning is part of the VARK model. The latter consists of three other main learning styles: visual, auditory, and read and write.

How Do Kinesthetic Learners Learn?After establishing kinesthetic learning, let’s move on to a kinesthetic learner definition. Kinesthetic learners use body movement and interact with their environments when learning. To better understand something, they need to touch or feel it hence practical information is usually preferred over theoretical concepts. A kinesthetic learning experience can be that of learning how to skate. You can read about it, listen to instructions, or watch videos of how to skate—but deep learning occurs when you’re physically involved and start ‘doing’ it.

A kinesthetic learner would rather perform physical activity to learn something, as an active participant, instead of passively listening to a lecture or watching a demonstration. That is why the best way of learning something new is by having your hands-on those things you are trying to learn. For example, when learning about wind energy, while a visual learner might learn how wind turbines function by watching a video, a kinesthetic learner would prefer to build a pinwheel and make connections between the pinwheel and wind turbines to learn more about how wind energy works.

Therefore, kinesthetic learners may learn easier in classes that incorporate practical examples into the curriculum rather than through lectures.

Characteristics of Kinesthetic LearnersKinesthetic learners retain information by doing, rather than (only) by seeing or listening. When they engage in some physical activity during learning, that’s when you can expect the best learning outcome. From an early age, they will show interest in building sets and they will often tear things apart in order to learn more about them. When a child wants to touch and hold something they are interested in rather than look at it, most probably they are kinesthetic learners.

Some typical kinesthetic learner characteristics include:

Understand more when learning through hands-on experienceTend to get bored in a traditional classroomLearn through movementEnjoy sports and physical activityEnjoy being outside the classroom when learning (field trips, expeditions)Like to build things and work with their handsLove experimenting and testing thingsTend to use their hands when talkingEnjoy working with tools or instrumentsLove trying new thingsTend to trust what they can experience or performRemember spelling words better when they write them several timesTend to gesture while speakingTend to be killed at solving puzzles and completing mazes.Think more clearly when able to moveTend to need frequent study breaks to keep focusPrefer making posters or charts for group projects rather than gathering informationBenefits Of Kinesthetic learning

Kinesthetic learning is a style of learning through which students are physically interacting with the material. Therefore, this style shares many beneficial elements frequently observed in active learning. Some of the many benefits of kinesthetic learning include the development of various skills, knowledge, and critical thinking.

Cognitive developmentResearch conducted on the brain reveals that thinking and movement are connected. This connection between cognitive and motor processes happens due to the fact that movement increases the amount of oxygen present in your blood which then helps fuel the brain. So, physical activity helps the brain positively affect your cognitive performance.

Increased comprehension through physical activitiesGenerally, lectures are delivered in a teacher-centered format, causing students, especially those who utilize kinesthetic learning, to reach only basic levels of comprehension because they do not interact with the material physically. So, to support the cognitive development of such students, the inclusion of kinesthetic strategies and techniques is necessary and highly beneficial.