What is a Tactile Learner?
Tactile learning, also sometimes called kinesthetic learning, is a learning style that emphasizes hands-on activities and physical participation. It’s about using your sense of touch to explore and understand the world around you.
Tactile learning can be beneficial because it involves multiple senses and caters to different preferences. It can also help strengthen memory, improve fine motor skills, and boost spatial awareness.
Research has found that incorporating tactile learning strategies can improve cognitive development, problem-solving skills, and even academic performance.
This article will explore the tactile learners definition and techniques, benefits, and challenges. We’ll also look at how tactile learning can be implemented in different educational settings and beyond. Finally, we’ll examine the role of technology in improving tactile learning experiences.
Understanding tactile learning
There are many ways to take in and process information. Some people are visual learners, some are auditory learners, and some are tactile learners.
What is tactile learning?
Tactile learning is a learning style where you learn best when you’re doing something physical or hands-on. Instead of just listening to a lecture or watching a video, you want to actively do the thing you’re trying to learn.
People often use the terms “tactile learning” and “kinesthetic learning” to mean the same thing. But tactile learning generally means learning by touching and manipulating objects, while kinesthetic learning emphasizes movement.
Characteristics of tactile learners
If you’re a tactile learner, you probably prefer doing, experimenting, and building things. You might find it hard to sit through lectures or read long articles. Instead, you probably learn and remember things best when you’ve physically interacted with them.
For example, a tactile learner who wants to learn a new language might benefit from flashcards, role-playing, or even traveling to a country where that language is spoken. A tactile learner in a math class might find that manipulating blocks or other objects helps them understand the concepts better.
The science behind tactile learning
While learning styles are a popular concept, it’s worth noting that the idea of specific learning styles has been debated within the scientific community. Some researchers believe that while people may have preferences, there isn’t strong evidence to suggest tailoring instruction to specific modalities significantly improves learning outcomes. However, understanding how different sensory experiences can influence learning can still be valuable.
How touch influences cognitive development
Tactile experiences are especially important for cognitive development during early childhood.
Touch provides sensory input, which then stimulates brain development and strengthens neural connections.
Embodied cognition
There’s solid research to back up the link between physical action and cognitive processing. This is known as embodied cognition, the idea that the mind isn’t just abstract thought but is deeply rooted in the body’s experiences.
Maria Montessori, the originator of the Montessori method of education, famously said, “What the hand does, the mind remembers.”
Tactile learning techniques and strategies
If you’re a tactile learner, you probably learn best by touching, doing, and moving. Here are some techniques and strategies that may help you engage more fully with the material you’re trying to learn.
Hands-on activities and experiments
Tactile learners often benefit from the practical application of knowledge. Science experiments, building models, cooking, and even taking things apart to see how they work can make abstract concepts more understandable.
Manipulatives and educational toys
Working with blocks, beads, and puzzles can help you grasp abstract concepts more easily. Letter tiles for language arts, blocks or beads to teach math, and even simple household objects can be useful tools for the tactile learner.
Sensory bins and tactile sensory play
Sensory bins filled with rice, sand, water, or other materials provide tactile stimulation and opportunities for exploration. Even if you’re not a child, you may find that you can focus and learn more effectively when your hands are busy exploring textures and shapes.
Incorporate movement and physical engagement
Dance, drama, sports, and other movement-based activities can help tactile learners stay engaged and retain information. Even something as simple as pacing while memorizing information can be helpful.
Tactile learning in education
The teaching strategies that work best for tactile learners vary according to their age group and the subject matter.
Tactile learning in early childhood education
In the early years, sensory exploration can be greatly emphasized through play and hands-on activities like finger painting, playing with Play-Doh, and building with blocks. When children are encouraged to explore the world through touch, they are more likely to remember what they’ve learned.
Tactile learning in elementary and secondary education
As they get older, tactile learners benefit from hands-on projects, experiments, and group activities. It’s also helpful to connect what they’re learning to real-world applications to help them engage with the material.
Tactile learning in higher education
Even in higher education, tactile learning can be effective. Virtual labs and simulations can provide hands-on learning experiences, especially in STEM fields. Case studies are also a great way to bring the real world into the classroom.
For example, the educational technology company Appsembler helped a university deliver virtual labs for its STEM courses. The result was improved student engagement, performance, and satisfaction, according to Appsembler.
Benefits and challenges of tactile learning
Tactile learning, like any learning style, has its pluses and minuses. Here are a few to consider.
Advantages of tactile learning
When you engage with material in a hands-on way, studies show you’re more likely to remember it later. That’s because your brain is creating stronger neural pathways when you actively explore and interact with concepts.
Tactile learning can also help you develop stronger problem-solving skills, since you’re more deeply engaged with the material and better able to remember what you’ve learned.
Challenges and limitations
Tactile learning isn’t without its potential drawbacks. For one thing, it often requires more materials and resources than other learning styles do. For another, it can be time-consuming to set up and carry out hands-on activities.
Overcoming challenges
You can get around these challenges by carefully planning tactile learning experiences that line up with your learning goals. Also, try to be resourceful and make the most of the materials you already have.
With a little creativity, you can create effective and engaging tactile learning experiences without breaking the bank or spending too much time on prep work.
Implementing tactile learning strategies
Tactile learners can benefit from a learning environment intentionally created to meet their needs. Here are a few ways teachers and parents can facilitate learning for people who learn best by doing.
Creating tactile learning environments
When designing a learning space for tactile learners, keep these tips in mind:
- Classroom layout. Organize the classroom to make it easy to do hands-on activities.
- Accessible materials. Make sure the materials are easy to find and easy to access.
Designing tactile learning activities
When designing activities for tactile learners, consider these ideas:
- Real-world connections. Design activities that connect to real-world situations.
- Variety of materials. Offer a range of materials to engage different senses and learning styles.
Adapting instruction for tactile learners
When teaching tactile learners, here’s what to keep in mind:
- Differentiated instruction. Customize the instruction for each learner and offer support as needed.
- Feedback and reflection. Give learners feedback and time to reflect on what they’ve learned.
Tactile learning beyond the classroom
The principles of tactile learning aren’t just for the classroom. You can use them every day to enhance your problem-solving skills and boost your creativity.
Tactile learning in everyday life
Think about common activities like cooking, gardening, or DIY projects. When you’re cooking, you’re not just reading a recipe; you’re feeling the texture of the ingredients, smelling the aromas, and physically engaging with the process.
Applications in professional development
Many employers are now using hands-on training and simulations to help their employees master new skills. By physically engaging with the material, employees are more likely to retain the information and improve their proficiency and productivity.
Tactile learning in special education
Tactile learning is a great way to help students with special needs. By providing alternative pathways to learning, you can accommodate different needs and help students succeed. For example, a student with a visual impairment might benefit from using Braille or tactile models to learn about shapes and textures.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the 4 types of learners?
The four main types of learners are visual, auditory, reading/writing, and kinesthetic/tactile. Visual learners learn best through seeing, auditory learners through hearing, reading/writing learners through text, and kinesthetic/tactile learners through physical experiences and hands-on activities.
What are the strengths of a tactile learner?
Tactile learners often excel at problem-solving, physical activities, and remembering information through doing. They are typically good at hands-on tasks, building things, and learning through experimentation. They also have excellent spatial awareness.
What is an example of a tactile skill?
Examples of tactile skills include assembling a model, playing a musical instrument, performing surgery, sculpting, and participating in sports. Anything that involves physical manipulation and coordination can be considered a tactile skill.
What does being a tactile learner mean?
Being a tactile learner means that you learn best through physical experiences and hands-on activities. You prefer to learn by touching, feeling, and doing rather than just reading or listening. You might enjoy building models, conducting experiments, or participating in role-playing activities to understand new concepts.
Conclusion
To sum it up, tactile learning is a highly effective way to learn. When you use your hands and body to explore new concepts, you understand and remember them better.
If you’re an educator, be aware that incorporating tactile learning strategies into your instruction takes preparation, the right materials, and ongoing training.
In the future, tactile learning will likely involve more technology, and learning experiences will be customized to meet the needs of different kinds of learners in all sorts of educational environments.