Kinesthetic learners are individuals that learn best through hands-on practice, demonstrations, and physical activities. They have the tendency to learn through trial and error as they repeatedly practice a new skill, task or concept.
The Kinesthetic Learning Style
Movement, touch and visualization are excellent instructional strategies that can be employed to encourage a kinesthetic learner to better understand and retain new concepts, tasks, skills and information. It is through the act of “doing” that the kinesthetic student learns.
The use of flash cards, written assignments, creative diagrams, role plays, presentations, group projects and activities will allow for the kinesthetic learner to practice what he/she has learned.
The experience of writing things down, drawing, creating and role playing allows for an opportunity for physical movement and practice which ultimately facilitates the learning process for hands-on students.
Kinesthetic Learning Style Challenges
Kinesthetic learners can quickly become bored when there is not a physical element incorporated into the learning process. As a result these students become fidgety and appear distracted which can lead to an increase in noise level in the classroom and ultimately a loss of focus for the entire class.
Challenges Experienced by Kinesthetic Learners
- Lecture style classes without the opportunity for questions or discussion.
- Instructors that do not permit students to stand or stretch during a particularly long presentation or lecture style class.
- Teaching a skill or task without the opportunity to practice.
Often times a disruptive or disengaged student is a kinesthetic learner who is not provided with an outlet to actually put into practice what he/she has learned. Without a hands-on element the kinesthetic student appears to lack interest in the topic when in fact the student is actually struggling to focus.
Adding any type of physical element to the course or training will quickly bring the kinesthetic learner back into focus and excited about learning. Something as simple as colored markers, paper or flashcards can help a hands-on learner focus during a lecture style class.
Ways to Enhance a Kinesthetic Learner’s Educational Experience
A kinesthetic learner of any age needs the opportunity to put a new concept, skill or task into practice. Providing students with the opportunity to use a computer, touch an object, move things around or role play will encourage and engage hands-on learners in the classroom.
Strategies to Assist Kinesthetic Learners
- Provide plenty of time for students to practice what is being taught.
- After 20 minutes of lecture time allow 5 minutes of practice or group discussion before continuing to lecture. This will allow kinesthetic learners to move around, practice or discuss what they have learned.
- During class sessions have hands on material available for the kinesthetic learner to engage themselves in the learning process.
- Highlighters, flashcards, markers and paper will provide the students with an opportunity to become physically engaged in the learning process.
- Taking notes and drawing diagrams are another excellent physical activity that involves movement and encourages a kinesthetic learner to recall and retain information that is being taught.
- If there are only one or two kinesthetic learners in the room the instructor can assign one student to take notes for the class and ask the other student to write down questions that come up during the lecture. At the end of the lecture the class can review key points or notes taken and use the questions as a method of further class discussion.
- Engage the class in role plays, group presentations, class discussion and debates.
Students who are kinesthetic learners need to put into practice what they have learned. Instructors that allow students to try things out and experience what they have learned are providing kinesthetic learners to learn by doing.
The kinesthetic learning style can be a difficult style to accommodate when teaching a class especially if the class is lecture based. However, it is important to realize that simple strategies can be implemented to incorporate this learning style into the course curriculum and keep the class flowing without becoming side tracked or disrupted by disengaged students.
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