Kinesthetic learners build understanding best through movement, touch, and active participation rather than passive methods like reading or watching. They retain information best when they can actively engage with it, but online courses often rely heavily on visual and auditory content. Explore the examples and opportunities below to incorporate more active, applied, and movement-based learning experiences in your online course.
Make course materials as interactive as possible
- Tactile dimensions – Incorporating interactive elements like simulations, drag-and-drop activities, flashcards, or mind-mapping
- Real-world application – Connecting images or sound effects to content
- Advanced tools – Enhance engagement through virtual reality or interactive media
Create assessments that have real-life connections
- Real-world applications of abstract concepts – Role-playing and case studies
- Simulate higher-stakes situations – Branching scenarios that allow learners to actively engage, see outcomes, and receive feedback in a more immersive way.
Use video creation assignments
- Incorporate physical action through video creation
- Ask students to keep a video blog
- Make videos of themselves performing a task related to the course material
Keep lectures short and novel
- Each video should address a discrete knowledge “chunk”
- Break up long lectures into multiple parts
- Consider using a variety of media to introduce some novelty
Challenge students to incorporate simple tactile exercises into their studying
- Encourage note-taking strategies that involve physical engagement like drawing diagrams, acting out concepts, or organizing ideas using tactile methods like arranging Post-it notes on a wall.
- Provide printable templates or handouts that students can complete by hand
Remind students to take a break and walk around
Find good spots to divide lectures or projects up, and at those spots, remind students to stand up, take a walk, or do whatever they need to come back fresh to the material.
Help students visualize complex processes
If an assignment or instructional material contains a complex procedure,
- Encourage students to visualize themselves doing the procedure to help them associate physical motions with the information
- Consider providing a screencast that allows them to watch and follow along on their screens if they want to
Encourage exploration and experimentation
Teaching from a “this is how you do it” approach can significantly increase their engagement.
- Rather than providing direct answers, offer relevant resources
- Prompt students to discover solutions on their own, allowing them to explore, apply critical thinking, and engage more actively in the learning process
While online learning is often seen as passive, there are many ways to better support kinesthetic learners. By incorporating interactive, hands-on, and real-world elements where possible, you can create more engaging and effective learning experiences.
References
- Cordiner, S. (n.d.). 21 ways to engage the kinesthetic learner in your online courses [Blog post]. Retrieved from https://sarahcordiner.com/21-ways-to-engage-the-kinaesthetic-learner-in-your-course/
- Hutton, S. (2013). Helping kinesthetic learners succeed. Retrieved from https://www.education.com/magazine/article/kinesthetic_learner/
- Kato, K. (2017, February 27). Engaging kinesthetic learners in the online classroom. Retrieved from https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/engaging-kinesthetic-learners-online-classroom-kim/
- Major, S. K. (2016, February 4). 16 characteristics of kinesthetic and tactile learners [Blog post]. Retrieved from https://child1st.com/blogs/resources/113559047-16-characteristics-of-kinesthetic-and-tactile-learners
- Pappas, C. (2016, April 30). Instructional design for kinesthetic learners: 7 techniques to employ. Retrieved from https://elearningindustry.com/instructional-design-kinesthetic-learners-7-techniques-employ
- Wood, N., & Sereni-Massinger, C. (2016). Engaging online kinesthetic learners in active learning. In N. Callaos, J. Horne, M. Savoie, B. Sanchez, & A. Tremante, Proceedings of the 7th International Multi-Conference on Complexity, Informatics and Cybernetics and Society and Information Technologies (Vol. 2, pp. 116–119). Winter Garden, FL: International Institute of Informatics and Systemics. Retrieved from http://www.iiis.org/CDs2016/CD2016Spring/papers/HB788PF.pdf
