Learning in itself is a useful activity. The better a person learns new skills or concepts, the greater their success in a particular field. So, many experts have tried to understand the mechanism behind how our brain learns new things. This led them to develop different models of learning methods, including the very popular VARK model.
The word “VARK” symbolises different learning methods, as the first letter of each method begins with a letter from the corresponding word in the English language, which are: Visual, Auditory, Reading, and Kinesthetic learning. Those who learn best through practice are known as kinesthetic learners.
What is kinesthetic learning?
simply put, kinesthetic learning is learning through practice, and a kinesthetic learner is someone who learns best through active participation in the learning process. That is, these learners must participate in some activities to learn effectively, whether these activities are physical or mental. For example, if a kinesthetic learner wants to learn English vocabulary, they might do so through crossword puzzles rather than studying from a dictionary.
Whether you are a kinesthetic learner or not, you can certainly learn using the kinesthetic learning method. You exercise by actually applying it, whether it is football, tennis, or basketball. You can't learn these activities by reading a book or looking at other people playing them. Rather, you must practice it yourself in order to learn it correctly, and this is one of the types of kinesthetic learning.
Characteristics of a kinesthetic learner
As the name suggests, kinesthetic learners are people who learn best when they perform what they learn or practice. Therefore, classroom lectures may not be entirely suitable for them because they prefer to learn by doing activities. So, sitting and listening to others is difficult for them.
Topics that focus on theoretical aspects may not be the best choice for kinesthetic learners. They give their best in areas that require muscle movement and practice. For example, a kinesthetic learner may succeed in areas such as drawing and music more than in areas such as physics that require theoretical learning.
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We'll present five characteristics of kinesthetic learners to help you understand how their preference for hands-on practice influences their learning:
1. They never tire of learning
Kinesthetic learners consider learning an enjoyable process because they participate in it practically, and they view learning that is limited to sitting in a classroom, listening to lectures, or watching documentaries as passive learning.
This is what educators call it because this type of learning does not require active participation from the learners and is limited to focusing on the senses of sight or hearing.
However, kinesthetic learners are active learners. They turn the learning process into an activity, such as a fun game or a practical experience.
Hence, they never get bored with their learning style. Rather, every learning experience allows them to try new mental or physical activities.
2. They learn skills better than they learn theoretical topics
One may learn facts and concepts through reading and listening, but skills are not developed or acquired without practice. Therefore, skill-based activities are more suitable for kinesthetic learners than concept-based topics.
This does not mean that these people do not always succeed in studying theoretical subjects such as science or mathematics. Still, it does mean that acquiring skills will be easier for them than understanding a theoretical concept, as applying and developing these skills resonates better with their learning style.
However, they can still learn theoretical topics as well as long as they find a way to create an activity that helps them understand and integrate other learning methods in a way that suits them.
3. They are less likely to forget what they learned
The kinesthetic learner usually does not forget what they learned, which is one of their advantages. Our minds store both information and memories, but retrieving and remembering memories is easier for the mind than remembering information.
We can clearly recall memories of some events from years ago. Still, we easily forget what we heard on the news a month or several days ago, which means that actions or things we do are easier to remember than sensory information (i.e. things we see, hear, or read). Because kinesthetic learners learn through actions and practices, they do not forget what they have learned quickly
4. They innovate better than they execute
People can be divided into two categories: those who innovate and those who implement. Innovators are people who create practical concepts and create new discoveries and inventions, while implementers are those who use concepts, ideas, theories and information that already exist.
Because kinesthetic learners are naturally curious and because they prefer to learn by doing, they love to experiment.They show a greater interest in acquiring new skills and experiences and may enjoy working in fields that require practical practice, such as research or engineering.
5. They make learning fun for those around them
Kinesthetic learners enjoy learning in groups, and their learning is enhanced when more people are involved, as there are more opportunities to engage in fun learning activities when others participate.
Kinesthetic learners also focus mainly on participating physically and mentally in the learning process. When they are in a group, they want everyone to be involved in the process. So, people enjoy learning with kinesthetic learners, even if they are not kinesthetic learners themselves.
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Problems kinesthetic learners face (and how to address them)
The main problem that kinesthetic learners face is that they need to fit better into the formal educational curriculum. While children have to adapt to classroom learning - and even adults have to sit in office meetings to discuss issues orally or visually - the kinesthetic learner suffers in such scenarios.
In addition, kinesthetic learners face another challenge of choosing appropriate subjects and career paths. They should choose areas that combine theoretical learning and practice to make the most of their strengths, such as exercise, music, research or engineering.
But just because a person is a kinesthetic learner does not mean that they have to avoid formal education entirely. If teachers or parents are aware that a child is a kinesthetic learner, they are responsible for helping them. For example, teachers can conduct some activities in class from time to time, such that these activities are related to the subject matter being learned.
How can kinesthetic learners overcome these challenges?
Kinesthetic learners can overcome these difficulties by doing the following:
1. Practice
Kinesthetic learners should choose a field of study that is based on practice rather than theoretical topics, and if they get bored during lectures or do not understand what is being explained, they can take small notes on the important topics discussed. Later, they can discover creative ways to help them understand these topics, and they can ask professors to help them find practical ways to learn the topics discussed in lectures.
2. Make learning fun
Besides the classroom scenario, kinesthetic learners face problems when learning alone. They cannot sit down, open a book, and start leafing through it like other learners do. Rather, they should incorporate some fun techniques into their learning process to make it effective and fun.
Make flashcards if you are a kinesthetic learner and want to learn more effectively. This way, you can turn the learning process into a fun game and help you remember your notes faster.
3. Practice what they learned right away
Taking time to practice what you have learned after every few minutes of studying the contents of a book or learning something new is also a good approach, as it is similar to alternating between reading and doing some activities related to what you have read.
For example, you learn some new Spanish vocabulary or phrases for a few minutes. Then, practice role-playing with yourself and record yourself speaking these vocabulary words or phrases. This learning method will be a very effective way of learning and memorising.
In conclusion
Like every other learning method, the kinesthetic learning method has pros and cons. Therefore, it depends on the learners themselves to make the most of the positives of this method and overcome its negatives.
Ultimately, you should stop worrying about what you can't do and focus more on what you do best. Most importantly, always explore the world around you. As for kinesthetic learners, your surrounding world is your best educational source, so be sure to integrate into it, for life is the best teacher of all.
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