Get Your Students Hired
Help the student to realize that you use all five of your senses when you are learning. They must learn to listen, take notes, feel the content of the message, see the things that are writing on in your mind eye see them.
Camille,
I think any time we can involve more senses in the learning process, better retention of information and student learning outcomes will occur.
Barry Westling
Jessica ,
More senses, more retention of information. Instructors can be very creative and achieve much if we think from the perspective of the student.
Barry Westling
Oh, yes! Need to address more than just a single type of learner!!! (This is a sensitive subject for me, since one of my kids is dysgraphic/dyslexic.) Involving the visual with colors, audio, tactile/hands-on, games & writing or drawing...variety of presentation helps process incoming info. Additionally, presentation FROM students can/ought to allow for variety of methods - not just written reports, for ex. Allowing for creativity is stimulating & fun.
Tawana,
Great. Senses used to enhance learning creates lasting memories.
Barry Westling
You can use some hands on activities from a students field of study to assist them with using their senses ie: tactile projects, visual aids like clay models or slides are some example to encourage students to use their senses.
Renita,
These are great examples and go to show that creativity in the use of senses can be both memorable and enjoyable in the learning process.
Barry Westling
Many times students say that if they are not performing a skill or action then it is hard for them to learn. They tend to forget that they have learned in other ways. When they were younger they sang their ABCs and determined musical instruments from their sounds. They can tell what type of cookie is baking by the smell. In class when we go over disease processes, I play sounds that they need to identify. At times I assign each an anatomy part and have them line up in sequence with their eyes closed. Playdough also has been helpful. One of my college memories is of an activity in my ecology class in which each student had the same kinds of fruit & nuts in front of them, but with a different tool to demonstrate how different animals are efficient at foraging. It was a very tasty race.
Deb,
Yes, for classes wher the senses are the focus of the topic, simulating senory loss or limitation can be a great learning tool. And memorable too.
Barry Westling
After asking a question, I like to toss a piece of candy to the student. The student gets to open the candy right away, contributing to their sense of smell.
I also have an activity where the student is an "elderly" patient, and I blindfold and have them put cotton in their ears to simulate some of the issues facing some older patients. Theis gets them to use other senses (rather than sight and hearing).
Michele,
Yes, writing, reading what was written, having another read, and variations of this can help through the process of repetition and sensory involvement.
Barry Westling
in terminology class having them listen to a vocal dictionary, to repeat the words to back.
Julia,
Good example. Our senses help retain memory, therefore it is helpful when more senses can regularly be involved in student learning.
Barry Westling
I always tell students in cooking class to cook using all of their senses. Watch to see if the pan is hot enough or the sauce is reduced enough, feel the heat near their hand to indicate if the pan is hot enough. Listen to the sound of the loud sizzle of protein in hot fat for an appropriate sear. Smell the alcohol burn off or the garlic transition from raw to cooked. Taste the food for sweet, salty, bitter, etc.
David,
Good use of color (sight) and tactile (skills). More senses help students retain needed information.
Barry Westling
I pass around the class room the components we are talking about. I also keep colored pencils available so students can diagram our discussions in their class materials. This helps keep them engaged. Finally we will practice this skill hands on.
Amy,
More senses used in the instructional process are better. I think visual, auditory, and kinesthetic/tactile are probably used more than others. However we can get students to understand the material is the goal, and involving senses is among those categories.
Barry Westling
Joseph,
I agree. It's said that teaching others is one of the best ways to learn a topic. As beginning teachers, we have all experienced this to be true. So it ought to be appropriate for students as well.
Barry Westling
When we assist our students in learning through all their senses they are more likely to retain more of the knowledge you are sharing.
One way we can help to create this experience we could start with an explanation of a skill and why we are learning that skill followed by a demonstration of the skill and finally have the student themselves perform the skill with quality feedback. In that way they are hearing, seeing and then performing the skill and are most likely to be able to retain that skill.