It is often observed that students struggle to learn some topics and also using the same traditional means of learning. For instance, while some students take to the whiteboard/blackboard like fish to water, others may require hearing lectures to grasp the topic being taught. Similarly, there are those other few who only learn when they do it by themselves and this latter category is classified as tactile/kinesthetic learners. Categorizing a student based on his/her style of learning is thus very important to teach well or help them learn well. Read on to learn as to how to identify if you are a tactile learner and the top tips recommended for tactile learners by scholars after extensive research.
Are you a kinesthetic learner?
To see whether a student is a kinesthetic learner, there are a few indicators and most of the tutors on online tutoring platforms and teachers at school employ this to categorize their students as per their learning styles. Answering the below questions will help you see if you are a tactile learner.
- Do you prefer hands on sessions to learning in a passive manner?
- Do you wish to touch and feel your way to understanding what is being taught?
- Do you prefer diagrams, charts and images?
- Do you find it difficult to sit still and focus on the class?
- Do you love assembling things and art?
- Do you find yourself moving to music and scribbling something when idle?
- Are you less organized when compared to others in class and find it difficult to think into the future?
- Do you study better when you write things down in your own words and take notes?
- Do you learn by doing, practicing and imitating?
If you answer with a yes for most of the above, you most definitely are a tactile learner! Read on to see the top tips that online tutors and scholars recommend for tactile learners to score top marks.
Tips recommended for tactile learners
Draw charts and diagrams
Since tactile learners love to do things by themselves, it is recommended that they draw charts, diagrams and work on flow charts to create a structured form of learning. Employing different color codes and using post-its/stickies have been proven to help them learn better.
Spaced learning is very effective
Taking breaks have been proven to help tactile learners as they find it difficult to sit in a place for long periods of time. Taking frequent short breaks is sure to help them learn faster and much better without feeling stressed.
Interweave activities into study time
When someone learns best by doing rather than sitting for long periods of time, it is better to work some activities into study time so that they can benefit by doing things and learning from them. For instance, the best assignment help a tactile learner can get is to plan some activity that helps them work on the assignment easily. If the subject involved is science, they could work the experiment out and try it to understand it fully.
Device mnemonics and create flash cards to learn
If there is a formula or a sequence that one must remember, devising funny mnemonics can help retain it in memory as opposed to cramming info. Similarly, creating flash cards is a good means to learn as going through them and turning them over physically has been proven to activate a lot of learning centers in the brain.
Engage your fingers while studying
Even though this might seem strange, studies have proven that when tactile learners engage their hands/ fingers and keep them at work while studying, they learn better. For instance, when a tactile learner traces letters or notes with his/her fingers, he/she learns better as this reinforces their need to learn by touching/doing things.
Teach your friends
When tactile learners engage themselves by teaching others, they find themselves more involved in it as they learn it inside out and this helps them engage actively. This is one of the most effective study plans for tactile learners.
Summary
Tactile learners learn best when they do things on their own or add some activity to their study time that helps them learn better. Classifying a student as per their learning style and employing tips to help them get the most out of their study sessions has been proven to help them achieve top marks. In fact, most online tutors and teachers at school do this first and only then begin their lessons for the academic year!
