A Kinesthetic Learning Environment

How often do you get up during class? After querying fifty GDS students, I found that 39 of them agreed that they hardly ever get up during class. The typical high school classroom environment easily serves the needs of both the auditory and visual learner; however, serving the needs of kinetic learners poses a greater challenge.

            According to the International Society for Education, 17% of the population learns by doing. Nevertheless, we kinetic learners do not require a football field to master history, math and science. Accommodating one who learns by doing requires just a little ingenuity. Once educators understand our learning style, accommodating us will become second nature.

            It’s not unusual for kinetic learners to grasp science concepts easily. Dissecting frogs, mixing chemicals and building atomic models play to the strengths of kinetic learners. “For science teachers it’s pretty easy because there are so many labs,” agrees Martin the new science teacher. History comes alive when you can move Stalin’s army smack into Berlin on a map using a Promethean Board. “Kids would be so much more engaged if teachers let kids use them,” comments Emma BX. Throw us a 3-D cylinder in math class and watch how quickly we can solve the problem. “I even do function dancing in my Algebra 2 class,” remarks KC.

            With all these tactics for incorporating touching, feeling, and experiencing into a classroom setting, high schools still teach primarily to the auditory learner. “Because of the high numbers of kinesthetic learners, education is shifting toward a more hands-on approach; manipulatives and other ‘props’ are incorporated into almost every school subject, from physical education to language arts. Hands-on teaching techniques are gaining recognition because they address the challenging needs of kinesthetic learners, as well as the diverse needs of auditory and visual learners.” (Terry Farwell, Visual, Auditory, Kinesthetic Learners, http://school.familyeducation.com, Sept. 2010)

            Maybe you’re thinking, “I’m an auditory learner,” or “I’m a visual learner.” Truth is, we all retain information better when we are exposed to it multiple ways. I should know – I’m a kinetic learner living in an audio-visual world.