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Learning Theory and Concepts

Kinesthetic learning

Foundational and Developmental Learning Concepts

Kinesthetic learning, sometimes called tactile learning, refers to a proposed style of learning in which a person is thought to learn best through physical activity and direct, hands-on engagement with materials rather than through listening or reading alone, such as through movement, building, role-play, or manipulating objects. The concept is often presented as one of several proposed learning styles alongside visual and auditory learning, an idea that has been popular in teacher training for decades. More recent educational psychology research has found little rigorous evidence that matching instruction to a student's supposedly preferred learning style improves outcomes, even though incorporating varied, active, hands-on activities into teaching remains broadly recognized as good practice for many learners. This description is adapted from Wikipedia contributors under CC BY-SA 4.0; changes were made. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

Facts
Core Claim
Kinesthetic learning describes a proposed learning style in which learners favor whole body movement and hands on physical activity to process new information, though controlled research does not support the claim that teaching to this preferred style improves learning outcomes. 1
Origin Year
1983 1
Sources
1. Kinesthetic learning (Wikipedia)
  • Lead section, sentence 3
    However, scientific studies do not support the claim that using kinesthetic modality improves learning in students who identified kinesthetic learning as their preferred learning style.
  • History section, sentence 1
    Kinesthetic intelligence, which was originally coupled with tactile abilities, was defined and discussed in Howard Gardner's Frames Of Mind: The Theory of Multiple Intelligences in 1983.
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