Using senses in learning
What are some strategies for helping students to use their senses in learning?
Stan,
Hands on helps so much. Actually, many academic classes have no real tangible hands on activities, so you're fortunate there is a skill component that can complement the theory content pertinent to your course.
Barry Westling
Since I teach IT classes, the best thing I can think of is to allow students to get their hands on as much equipment as possible by using lab exercises during their stay at the school. When you can touch the item or product that the instructor has been lecturing about it really helps the learning process and they can take this learning right into the field with them when they graduate.
Michael,
You've got a point about subjecting students to undesirable ordors, substances, or auditory extremes (crying, yelling, etc.). Of course, the instructor should be sensitive to the instructional environment their students are involved with. Yet it's true, that when more sensory stimulation is involved students retain information better, longer, and itr becomes useful later on it their actual work setting. A good example is an odor (or fragrance) that immediately brings a memory. Amazing recall power!
Barry Westling
Senses could jeopordize learning. Working in a nursing home, senses could be put into overload and interfere with performing tasks.
Students in this situation would need to "turn off" some senses to some degree.
However I like another comment that was made of the blindfold. This would encourage to the students to tap into other senses to help them complete the task, or make them aware of other abilities they can use and meet patient's needs.
Denise,
Right. I think students rely on senses (besides vision and auditory) more than they realize. The more senses we can incorporate into the instructional process, the better will be the student learning outcomes and retention of essential class information.
Barry Westling
Great idea! It could even be just a discussion of the learning experience or concept in different sensory terms if you don't want to have the students write the assignment.
Kimberly,
This lab would definitely allow for liberal use of nearly all of the senses. Great example!
Barry Westling
I teach a lab skills class. One of the skills taught is how to complete and perform a complete urinalysis.
I generally present the information via a video that incorporates excellent pictures to help them identify the different components in a urinalysis sediment and walks them through the correct procedure for conducting a urinalysis.
Following the video, I demonstrate the complete process and emphasize utilizing all senses will definitely help produce accurate results. Utilizing smell to detect an ammonia odor, which is indicative a urinary tract infection. Sight to detect sediment and to visually identify different components, and correct tactile skills.
Jennifer,
Good example of applying mutiple senses. More senses usually means better retention of information.
Barry Westling
I have the students do an assignment and then give them the answers and have them grade their own homework. This way they are comparing their notes with the correct material and they can visually see the correct manner in which they should be working.
Anthony,
I always suggest "the best seats are up front". Of course not everyone can be in front (some prefer to remain back some, or in the back). But there are less distractions, hearing and seeing is better, one on one contact is improved, and the lesson is more dynamic when received by the instructor right in front of the student.
Barry Westling
In my field all the senses are importent including passion. Also, bringing the students closer to the front of the room in helpful.
Pietro,
Senses always inhance learniong. Aside from cooking, I think we all can remember a smell that instantly brought back a memory. That's powerful! Retention of information is paramount to education, and the use of senses is a great resource bto use.
Barry Westling
Modeling is one strategy that I use to get there the students senses involved. Teaching culinary arts during demonstrations I have all my students come up to the table and watch what is happening right in front of them. For smell I pass the pot/pan around in a circle so that they can smell the stages of what is happening in there food. Listening to food is right in front of the pot. For taste I taste with them, and discuss first their opinions and then add the rest of the lesson. My students always ask why am I always smelling the food before I eat it? Quite simply I cook with my sense.
Jonathan,
Taste is a powerful sense, as are all the senses. But memory and retention of information is inhanced when muiltiple senses are involved.
Barry Westling
i do a blind tasting with my students too see how much they use their eyes when tasting food
Mary,
Lab is critical for many vocational courses. The "hands on" experience teaches the skills, but also uses a different part of the brain for memory and retention of information.
Barry Westling
Along with lecture, videos, and PowerPoints, most of my massage therapy classes include some "lab" time for hands-on technique practice
Emily,
Great. I would imagine, taste, smell, texture, weight, visual appearnace would also be among the common senses regularly used too. What's known is the more senses we can incorporate into our lessons and instructional plans, the better will be the retention of information.
Barry Westling
