I teach in a program that lends itself more naturally to auditory and written learning. I have to work hard and remember that some students learn better through kinesthetic/tactile learning. I try to come up with real world scenarios for them to work on and send them to the library or places in the community to accomplish their projects.
Hi Wayne- Thanks for your post to the forum. Yes, so many kinesthetic students are drawn to the healthcare field because it can be so hands on.
Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
HI Brian - Thanks for your post to the forum. You do indeed have it all going on - Great work! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Teaching in a culinary setting this is an easy task. As I am learning myself, Students across the board, whether they are Knesthetic Learners or auditory, visual, or written, do very well when I present using multiple mediums during my demostrations. For example, I have a powerpoint present on screen, I talk through the methods that we are presenting, I have a camera fixated on the producted being used and I have a monkey see and monkey do mantality for the Knesthetic learner.
In healthcare, many kinesthetic learners come to life in the lab. This provides them to bring to life what they read about in the text and hear in lecture. The clinical rotations are also a plus for the kinesthetic learner.
Clay, creating concept maps, creating posters that illustrate main points of lecture, i.d. Landmarks on skeletons, placeing rubber bands on skeletons showing propper location and actions of muscles.
I have to agree with your approach Judith. I feel that students get a better understanding if they have to implement competencies to the class or to each other. It gives them a hands on approach. By implementing kinesthetic strategies they are able to move around the room and not just sit there listening to lectures.
Wow! Could I have gotten a tougher question as an online instructor? I have already glanced through some of the responses to this question and know how difficult it is to create kinesthetic opportunities for our online students. However, one thing I do for all my students not just my kinesthetic learners is to encourage them to use the multi-media course materials since these helpful resources are presented in a variety of modes. My class is strictly a reading and writing course and none of my students are English majors, so the hands-on learning they get in my classroom is more reading and writing, which they often struggle with. I provide them with as many resources, using a variety of modes as I can to help them achieve academic success. I believe the chats really help those students who are kinesthetic learners even if that mode is more auditory. The chats allow them to follow along in their book as I discuss the various readings or following along CTU virtual campus as I take them through/to the various resources available to them.
One point though to make about these learners that is born out by the intstructional material provided is that online learning may be the best forum for these students. They can take breaks when they want; they can pause chats and resume at will; they can complete assignments at their own pace, etc. So while coming up with assignments and activities that appeal to these learners may be more difficult, the mode of learning itself can be a big factor in their success.
Kinesthic learners learn by doing so usually something tactile, something that gets them to create, build, interact in some way...
Melissa McCloud
Hi Eric- Thank you for YOUR idea about teaching to kinesthtic learners! I'm glad that you also got some additional suggestions to use. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Hi Angel - Thanks for your post to the forum. I am not sure what sort of computer classes you teach. We use simulations as much as possible in our Network Admin. and Network Security programs. It gets the students familiar with the problems they will encounter in the field. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Hi Sarah -Thanks for your post to the forum. As a former Paralegal myself, I can understand the problems with teaching kinesthetic learners. I like your ideas of having students visit courtrooms. I would also suggest the possibility of shadowing or interning if possible.
Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
I think that this is difficult to do in an online environment. I teach law classes to paralegals. I could encourage them to visit a library and conduct research or visit a courtroom, but most of the work in done online. Do you have any suggestions? Thank you!
I teach in a computer program so it is usually easy to teach these learners. We always have computer lab space for them to practice what was just discussed in class. The hard part is coming up with interesting labs!
I also enjoy having my students act out components of a biological or chemical process. For example, I use students (and plastic models) to act out the step by step processes involved in photosynthesis.
It was also great to read about the use of kinesthetic learning in areas usually not affiliated with motion (ex. paralegal, literature, writing classes). Great ideas.
Hi Carla- Thanks for your post to the forum and for sharing some great interactive ideas for our students! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
I agree, Paul. Acting out scenarios & role-play are some of my students' favorite things to do. Another fun thing for this type of learner, is to have them either draw or work problems on the board. I have them explain each step to the "audience", which makes them feel like they are actually "teaching". They think this is really cool!
acting out scenarios I have found to be a great way to approach this type of learner. Not all classes can have a hands on approach, and this works well.
Hi Carla- Thanks for your post to the forum. I have an A&P instructor who does the same thing. Since I have a cattle and sheep farm, I am her "Source"! It is a terrific teaching technique - thanks for sharing! Susan
I think a great way to help kinesthetic learners is to get them involved in demos. If you are working on a multi part demo, have a student assist with each piece. If the student is allowed to participate in the demo and then go on to complete the task themselves, they are getting extra (guided) exposure which can help them retain the information in a clear, lasting way.
