Every student has a unique learning style, so it is highly important that parents and teachers pay attention to every child’s learning style and help them understand various concepts.
Tactile learning is one such learning method in which pupils learn best through hands-on activities and physical manipulation of different objects. In this article, you will get to know about a few effective tips and tricks that will help you improve the learning process for tactile learners.
First of all, let’s explore some basics.
What Is Tactile Learning?
In simple terms, tactile learning means learning through touch. It involves touching, holding, squeezing, or even poking different objects, such as toys and shapes, to understand the relevant topic.
In other words, the hands-on approach is an integral part of tactile learning. For effective learning at places like Wahroonga Kindergarten, providing children with tactile objects is crucial, enhancing sensory awareness and cognitive development through hands-on interaction.
Following are the key tips that you can use to incorporate tactile learning into your classroom or at home.
Take Small Steps
Tactile learning does not have to be a complex and scary concept. Instead, when you are trying to facilitate tactile learners, you should start with small steps. Start by introducing one tactile learning activity at a time to make sure the students can get used to the activity and become comfortable with the learning method.
Otherwise, if you choose to make drastic changes at the same time, it can cause the students to get overwhelmed. Keep in mind that you might have to go through the trial and error process at first to find out the right activity that works for your students.
Get Creative
There is no one-size-fits-all activity or technique for tactile learning. In fact, it is a composition of many different techniques and learning strategies. Therefore, you should not hesitate to get creative with introducing different tactile learning activities for the students.
Some of the common tactics involve using lettered toys, shapes, and educational objects to help tactile learners understand a topic in the best way possible. However, there is no limit to such activities, so you should explore various creative ideas to find the right ones for your students.
Incorporate Fun Activities
Just like in any other learning style, it is important that tactile learning activities are fun and engaging for the students. You are likely to keep the students more focused and motivated by making the activities as engaging as possible.
Many different games, such as Scrabbles, vocabulary games, and scavenger hunts, can be organized to get the attention of tactile learners and keep them motivated throughout the study lessons.
Focus on Collaboration
It is understandable that tactile learning is not possible in every other study lesson. Since most of the physical activities are social in nature, it is vital that teachers encourage collaboration among students.
Greater collaboration means the students are more engaged in a study session. Hence, their chances of grasping the topic become high. Moreover, it will also help the students improve their social interaction and communication skills.
Benefits of Tactile Learning Activities
There are many different benefits of introducing tactile learning activities in classrooms and students’ study lessons at home. Tactile learning is particularly useful in the following three ways:
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1. Greater Engagement
High engagement is at the center of tactile learning. It is a great technique for students who have issues concentrating in a conventional classroom environment. Students with ADHD also tend to benefit from tactile learning activities.
When teachers introduce creative physical activities in classrooms, students will not fall behind as they will remain focused on the study lesson, while the majority of the class will enjoy such activities and collaborate with each other. Hence, tactile learning activities ultimately drive engagement.
2. Information Retention
Tactile learning is a great way of enhancing information retention of students. Tactile learners are able to connect with written information through physical activities. Hence, such type of information remains in their minds for a long period of time.
Even if a student’s primary learning style is not tactile in nature, the majority of the students enjoy physical activities and have greater information retention due to them. Hence, an interactive teaching style is beneficial for all students.
3. Skills Development
Tactile learning skills are much more than simply learning about a specific topic or subject. Instead, these activities are also significant in developing skills like problem-solving, critical thinking, social interaction, collaboration, and communication skills among students. These skills eventually facilitate the students in succeeding in life and apply them in various real-life situations.
Conclusion
The bottom line is that there is a wide range of benefits to introducing tactile learning activities in a student’s learning routine and classrooms. By following the tips and tricks discussed above, you can utilize tactile learning activities in an optimum manner and improve the learning habits of students.