I too am a psychology teacher. I inject many individual and group projects into my lecture. For example... Today my students took a short survey on their personality type, A or B. Another activity I like to do with psychology students is to get them into groups to discuss a particular aspect of a concept. Each group then has 5 -10 minutes to become an "expert". Then they share what they know about the concept to the rest of the class. (I can then correct any misinformation as needed.) This is also a good way to assess if my students are understanding the lecture and the book.
Additionally, I provide guided power point notes for my written word students.
Hope these ideas help.
Jen
Although the billing and coding courses that I teach is a lot of "book work," I do tend to mix it up with Power Point/lecture, then stopping intermittently to go step by step through the coding process--I take students through the proper steps for medical coding. After all, I need to keep in mind that most students have had NO experience in the medical field and I need to start at the beginning.
Since I am mainly a Paralegal instructor, I like to incorporate as many hypothetical clients into my classrooms as possible to allow the students to not only study the information but to also put it into practice. For example, in Civil Litigation, I have a fact scenario that the students use throughout the term and as we finish different chapters I have projects that go with that chapter(s). They may prepare some documentation to file with the court or inter-office information or even paperwork to acquire information from other parties. However, when I am teaching Career Development I like to let students get their creative juices flowing by having them prepare their own "Recipe for Success". In this situation, they work with a partner where they collectively come up with the indigredents and the recipe to be successful and then present it to the class in a creative manner.
I have a similar problem. I teach anatomy and physiology which for macro scale things is fine for the kinesthetic learners but for the micro scale it is tough. i read about how music can help the kinesthetic learners activate their minds in a fashion that lets them learn in other styles a little better. Maybe this would help you too.
I do the same thing. When introducing a new skill I will always do a demonstration while explaining the task. I always alow my students to use their procedures in their textbook to follow allong if they prefer.
in some classes i teach demonstrating the skil first then have students re demonstrate the skill Kinesthetic learners like this style of teaching
Hi Antoinette- Thanks for your post to the forum. Studies have shown that when students are immediately allowed to apply what they have learned, retention increases - great work! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
I used this method a lot in lab classes, because students are able to get a better understanding of the material when they actually perform the labs as we discuss the methods and results.
We teach our students how to fix motorcycles. So passing around parts and having them put their hands on the bikes, is a large part of their learning.
Hi Doris- Thanks for your post to the forum. Yes, students do seem to thrive in group work - thanks for sharing! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
One of the approaches I use in my classroom is for students to work in groups, each finding a part of the solution to the problem posed. Students love the hands on approach and love working in a group. It meets several learning styles.
Hands on, manipulation, using books, filling out forms, using equipment
Hi James- Thanks for your post to the forum and for sharing some great ideas to engage kinesthetic learners! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Have the students work in groups to complete hands on assignments, reinforce lecture material with supervised student run demonstration, making available physical examples of lecture subjects (e.g. if lecturing on car engines, passing around examples of engine components for the students to examine) would be good instruction methods for kinesthetic learners.
Hi Helen - Thanks for the post to the forum. What do your students do with the play dough? Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
I give out play dough the 1st day of class and also use coloring books(anatomy)
Hi Karmle- Thanks for sharing some good ideas for kinesthetic learners! Best wishes - Susan
Q & A sessions with the class...have the kinesthetic learners write answers on the board...
During skills learning sessions, have these type learners assist others in learning the skill...
Since kinesthetic learners learn by actually "doing the task," it is important for these students to perform the skill a few times with you in class to understand what they are supposed to do. In one of my beginning-level non-clinical healthcare classes, we practice a variety of skills that would be performed in a healthcare office setting. We actually use the equipment that employees use. Many students like this part of the class because they can use the equipment that they might use on their jobs -- and the "hands on" learners pick up the skill quickly. On the other hand, kinesthetic learners struggle with other material that is more "conceptual" -- learning new words, definitions, studying for tests, etc.
Hands on techniques, such as when teaching students how to prepare Intravenous solutions, you can have a hands on approach with them and how them the proper way to make the IV and allow them to try it, of course being careful so that he/she doesn't injure himself/herself.
