I teach earth science, so it is important to provide samples of rocks for the students to touch to feel texture as well as observe color and other unique characteristics. Example: Fool's Gold(Pyrite) forms cuboidal gold crystals which when scraped on a ceramic plate will make a black streak. Real gold would not have these specific characteristics.
Chanda,
Senses are an important adjunct to enhancing memory and retention of information. However, it's true that in every learning setting not all senses can be used all the time. Yet, if we are creative, we can think about ways to increase retention by using sensory stimulation beyond what might be obvious.
Barry Westling
Using all senses in learning is not applicable in all learning environments. For example how can the sense of smell be used in a clinical techniques class teaching grutch gaits? It is not applicable. The sense of touch could be applicable and used by allowing students to play the role of patient and actually walk with crutches.
Katherine,
Tactile senses are an often overlooked method to enhance learning, even when touch is not directly involved with the lesson. For instance, the feel of the pages of a text, the tactile handling of paper, the tapping on a keyboard or calculator. Students who associate the sensory stimulation of these and other examples can tansfer that information to whatever else the're doing to receive a unique feedback that can positively improve their performance. It's subtle, but effective.
Barry Westling
In some science classes, I bring in rock and mineral samples. Since they tend to just use their eyes, I ask them to close their eyes and feel the rock, the textures and weights. I also ask them to smell the rock...and one student who had never seen sulfur identified the sulfide rock! In animal classes, I have the students smell the breath for abnormalities that they can't see, to smell the breath to see if anesthesia is leaking due to an underinflated cuff, to really listen to the animal's breathing pattern, to feel the skin under the coat, not just look at it. During lecture and discussion, I ask that they take notes while we are discussing subjects, and then they read them back and talk about it. If all the senses are involved in learning, the students seem to retain the information better.
