I am a kinesthetic learner. One method that was used when I was in a small college class was for the intructor to ask a question and throw a ball to a student. The student would try to answer, or if he didn't know, he would pass the ball to another student. Once the answer was complete, then the professor would pose another question. This method worked for me and I will use it too!
Hi Erin, As a final project, I have my students complete a final prject consisting of an experiment they must perform. It gets them working with a group of subjects and so is interactive. They seeem to really enjoy it.
Susan Polick
Hi Erin, Thanks for your post to the forum. I also teach Psychology so am familar with the challenge of dealing with kinesthetic learners! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career.
Susan Polick
I believe there are many instructional approaches. One could be giving handouts... while this mainly appeals to visual or written-word learners, it at least gives kinesthetic learners something to "put their hands on". You may also do board races or flash cards.
I personally teach Psychology, and I find it difficult to come up with creative ways to appeal to kinesthetic learners...
I teach at a career college where the majority of my students are tactile learners. Fortunately, most of our programs are hands-on, i.e. medical assisting, automotive tech, etc. However, I am a Gen Ed instructor and routinely teach Psychology among other subjects. I find it very difficult to think of creative ways to appeal to kinesthetic learners for this subject. I use PowerPoint when I lecture and also offer quick video breaks, which allows me to appeal to auditory and visual learners. Textbook assignments help with written-word learners, but I have trouble thinking of hands-on activities. Any suggestions?
Hi James, Thanks for your post to the forum. Having relevant objects that students can handle is ideal and the multi-sensory approach is very important.
Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career.
Susan Polick
Kinesthic learners value the idea of taking study breaks and this strategy can be included in the instructional delivery of a teaching lesson. One could also uso real objects that can be touched and moved by the students to promote the idea of tactile motion. When teaching, the instructor should use a multi-sensory apporach that appea;d to sight, sound, touching and doing.
HAVE THEM WORK IN THE LAB, ASSEMBLE INSTRUMENTS
Hi David, thanks for your post to the forum. That certainly does touch all the learning styles! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career.
Susan Polick
This is where labs and classroom activities come in.
I teach construction technology, so my students all have a preference for being in an active learning environment. The great thing about is that it incorporates audtory, visual, and tactile skills into one experience.
Hi Morris, Thanks for your post to the forum. Great suggestions for Kinesthetic students! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career.
Susan Polick
Since kinesthetic learners learn best by doing things "hands on" demonstration and return demonstration is a good way to teach. In younger children use of alphabet blocks etc. can aid in their learning.
Do some break out sessions where the students work with materials, build things and put together projects.
Hi Jean, Great examples of application assessment! I wish I could use more of those techniques in my Humanities classes. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career.
Susan Polick
Teaching Medical Assisting lends itself to kinesthetic learners by having them do "hands on" projects in Administrative. In Clinical, they are learning to do the actual duties of an assistant, so they get up out of their chairs, they interact with other students and perform all types of tasks. In medicine, the old adage, "See one, do one, then teach one," really takes on life in the students learning process. All the students enjoy getting up, moving around the "clinic" and delving into whatever we are teaching that term. For students that tend to be shy, it can take them awhile to feel comfortable enough to actually perform the task, but they can start by watching someone perform it a number of times until they garner enough courage to step in and perform it themselves.
Hi Terry, Thanks for your post to the forum. Wow - "Slinkies" - Very creative!! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career.
Susan Polick
Hi Pamela, Thanks for your post to the forum. Absolutely - when students get to immediately practice what they are learning, retention improves!
Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career.
Susan Polick
This type of learner is the most challenging for me when teach Ultrasound Physics. In the past, I have used "slinkies" to demonstrate longitudnal and transverse waves. I often teach a section and then give them exercises to practice what they've learned. But this course is very challenging in coming up with approaches to use with kinesthetic learners!
In my class, I like to have the students do the hands on part of the lab right after the lecture because it brings it together for them. They can DO what they just read and it seems to bring everything together for them and help them remember!
Hands-on training. After explaining the text, instructor needs to demonstrate and have student copy the teacher.
