Unlocking Potential: Understanding the Traits of a Kinesthetic Learner

For kinesthetic learners, an immersive, tactile approach isn’t just beneficial-it is crucial for effective learning. Kinesthetic learning, often called tactile learning, is a learning style centered on movement, touch, and physical interaction. Rather than passively absorbing information through reading or listening, kinesthetic learners thrive when actively engaging with the material. To truly understand the impact of kinesthetic learning, exploring the core principles that define this learning style is essential. From its hands-on nature to its emphasis on movement and collaboration, kinesthetic learning offers unique characteristics that set this style of learning apart from traditional methods.

Core Principles of Kinesthetic Learning

Kinesthetic learning is particularly effective when the body is involved, whether through movement, manipulating objects, or participating in physical tasks. Several core principles define kinesthetic learning:

Hands-On Interaction: Kinesthetic learners excel when they can physically interact with the subject matter. Whether assembling components, working through simulation training, or manipulating tools, they absorb information best by doing rather than passively observing. Those with a kinesthetic learning style prefer having new information presented to them in a way they can feel or touch it, as that’s how they understand new concepts best.
Movement: Sitting still in a traditional learning environment can be challenging for kinesthetic learners. They often need to move around, take breaks, or engage in physical activities to stay focused and absorb new information. The primary characteristic of kinesthetic learners is that they love to move! They understand new information more easily when using whole-body movement and their tactile senses. This is why they often wiggle, bounce, swing their legs, sway, tap, and seem unable to sit still.
Spatial Awareness: Kinesthetic learners often have an acute sense of spatial relationships and physical surroundings.
Problem-Solving Through Action: These learners excel at problem-solving, particularly in real-time, practical settings. Their hands-on approach to challenges allows them to experiment, troubleshoot, and find solutions through trial and error. Kinaesthetic learning activities encourage students to be active in the process, finding new ways of solving problems instead of simply observing demonstrations or listening to lectures.
Collaboration: Kinesthetic learners frequently thrive in collaborative, team-based environments. They benefit from group activities where they can actively participate, exchange ideas, and engage in shared problem-solving. Engaging in kinaesthetic activities often involves interacting with and communicating with other people, which helps promote teamwork and cooperation.

Benefits of Kinesthetic Learning

The benefits of kinesthetic learning extend beyond personal preferences, making it an essential method for many organizations seeking to improve employee training and development.

Deeper Understanding and Retention: Kinesthetic learning fosters deeper understanding and long-term retention of information. When employees actively participate in the learning process-whether through simulations, role-playing, or hands-on tasks-they are more likely to retain the material because they can directly apply the concepts. Movement and physical activities can help many kinesthetic learners to retain information better.
Enhanced Cognitive Function: Engaging in physical activities while learning stimulates both the brain and body, improving cognitive function. Kinesthetic learners develop better problem-solving skills, critical thinking, and adaptability when interacting directly with the material. Thinking and movement are connected as physical activities increase oxygen levels in your blood which then helps fuel the brain.
Increased Engagement and Motivation: Traditional learning methods can be disengaging for kinesthetic learners, resulting in reduced motivation and poor results. By incorporating active learning techniques, organizations can keep these learners more engaged, increasing motivation and enthusiasm for the training.
Development of Fine Motor Skills: Kinesthetic learning often involves tasks that require precision and coordination, contributing to developing fine motor skills.
Adaptability to Practical Work Environments: Because kinesthetic learners thrive in hands-on situations, they adapt quickly to practical work environments. This makes them ideal for roles that require on-the-job training, physical activity, or direct problem-solving in dynamic settings.

Kinesthetic Learning in the Workplace

Kinesthetic learning can be especially valuable in workplace settings where employees benefit from practical experience and active involvement in their training.

Hands-On Simulations: Hands-on simulations are among the most effective ways to incorporate kinesthetic learning in the workplace. For example, when training employees on new software or machinery, simulations enable them to explore the tools firsthand, reinforcing the learning process through trial and error.
Role-Playing Exercises: Role-playing exercises are a powerful tool for kinesthetic learners, as they provide an opportunity to engage in scenarios that replicate real workplace challenges. These activities encourage employees to think on their feet, use problem-solving skills, and apply what they’ve learned dynamically and interactively.
On-the-Job Training (OJT): On-the-job training (OJT) provides an ideal learning environment for kinesthetic learners. Whether learning new equipment, procedures, or customer-facing tasks, kinesthetic learners benefit from the practical, hands-on experience that OJT provides. An example of a kinaesthetic learning experience is when a child learns to use a swing or to ride a bike. They can read instructions or listen to instructions, but deep learning occurs via the process of doing.

Strategies to Maximize Kinesthetic Learning

To maximize the potential of kinesthetic learners in the workplace, organizations should implement targeted strategies that leverage physical engagement and hands-on experiences.

Direct Task Engagement: Kinesthetic learners thrive when they can engage directly with tasks.
Gamification: Gamification in training adds an element of challenge and motivation to learning by incorporating game-like mechanics, such as point scoring, leaderboards, or rewards. This approach encourages kinesthetic learners to engage physically and mentally in their training by completing tasks or solving problems through active participation.
Movement Integration: For kinesthetic learners, remaining seated for long periods can hinder their ability to focus. Training sessions should include opportunities for movement, such as interactive group activities, standing meetings, or physical demonstrations. Let your kinesthetic learners move! Tell them they can stand up, swing their legs, or even pace the floor as long as they do not disrupt other students, and you will likely see their performance will improve.
Interactive Tools: Interactive tools such as simulation experiences can immerse kinesthetic learners in a simulated environment, enabling them to experience situations that mirror real-world tasks.
Project-Based Learning (PBL): Project-based learning (PBL) is highly effective for kinesthetic learners, as it centers on applying knowledge to complete specific, hands-on projects. In this approach, employees work on practical tasks or initiatives related to their job roles, allowing them to learn by doing.

Leveraging Technology for Kinesthetic Learning

For kinesthetic learners, real-world application and hands-on interaction are key to mastering new skills.

Step-by-Step In-App Guidance: Flows provides step-by-step, in-app guidance that aligns perfectly with kinesthetic learning. This method is invaluable for kinesthetic learners. It transforms abstract learning into tangible (practical) steps, allowing them to understand processes by doing rather than just observing.
Structured Task Application: Task Lists are vital tools for kinesthetic learning, helping employees apply new knowledge through structured, practical tasks. By enabling employees to work through tasks in real time, Task Lists ensure that training is not just theoretical but immediately applied to real-world scenarios.
Interactive Walkthroughs: Interactive walkthroughs support kinesthetic learners by providing real-time, practical experience. Rather than passively watching demonstrations or reading instructions, employees can practice tasks directly within the application, making the learning experience both immersive and interactive.
Contextual Guidance: Smart Tips provide real-time, contextual guidance by offering additional information exactly when and where it is needed. Smart Tips appear when users hover over or click on specific elements, helping them navigate complex forms, fields, or processes. This functionality supports kinesthetic learners by offering immediate, task-relevant feedback without disrupting their workflow.
Visual Cues: Beacons (or UX hotspots) are designed to grab attention and highlight critical features or updates within an application. For kinesthetic learners who thrive on hands-on interactions, Beacons provide visual cues that guide them toward key interactions or new functionalities they may have overlooked. This targeted approach allows kinesthetic learners to engage with the most relevant aspects of their tasks, using visual indicators to explore new areas of an application or address overlooked actions.
On-Demand Support: Self-Help Widgets provide kinesthetic learners with on-demand, context-specific assistance as they navigate tasks. By providing in-app support exactly when needed, Self-Help Widgets help kinesthetic learners reinforce their understanding and apply new skills in real time.

Kinesthetic Learning Beyond the Workplace

The principles and strategies applicable in the workplace extend to various learning environments, including schools and homes. Understanding and accommodating kinesthetic learners can significantly enhance their learning experience.

Freedom of Movement: To create or find a learning environment for kinesthetic learners, understand that freedom of movement is a requirement. If you want to encourage learning for your kinesthetic learner, you can’t have a bottoms-on-the-chair approach. Your top strategy for learning should be to get them up and moving and physically involved in learning. For kinesthetic learners, remaining seated for long periods can hinder their ability to focus.
Hands-On Activities: Just as manipulatives help students develop number sense, using kinesthetic learning strategies builds connections and improves memory for specific skills, especially if the students do activities multiple times.
Real-World Application: For kinesthetic learners, real-world application and hands-on interaction are key to mastering new skills.
Multi-Sensory Environment: Kinaesthetic learners need a multi-sensory learning environment for deep learning as they learn through ‘doing’.
Active Engagement: A kinaesthetic learner is someone who needs to be actively engaged in their education. They are ‘tactile’ learners who use movement, testing, trial and error and a non-traditional learning environment to retain and recall information.
Incorporate Movement into Teaching: Incorporating related motions into teaching is another way to strengthen tactile learners’ skills.
Projects: Projects appeal to tactile learners.

Key Characteristics of Kinesthetic Learners

Understanding the characteristics of kinesthetic learners can help educators and trainers better accommodate their needs.

They try things out, touch, feel and manipulate objects.
They remember best what has been done, not what they have seen or talked about. They prefer direct involvement in what they are learning.
They are distractible and find it difficult to pay attention to auditory or visual presentations.
They wiggle, tap, swing their legs, bounce, and often just can’t seem to sit still.
They have great hand-eye coordination and quick reactions.
They like to build things and work with their hands.
They love testing things and experimenting and creating.
They are restless when they are sedentary.
They are hand talkers and expressive in nature.
They love to try new things and rely on what they can experience or perform.

Practical Tips for Educators and Parents

Here are some practical tips to accommodate kinesthetic learners in educational settings:

Let your kinesthetic learners move! Tell them they can stand up, swing their legs, or even pace the floor as long as they do not disrupt other students, and you will likely see their performance will improve.
Practice movement at home to find out what works best for your learner. Some children learn new material better if they are able to pace the floor while reading. Others may need to swing their legs or manipulate an object while reading with you.
Use novelty and change where you teach a lesson in order to help break up long periods of time when the students would be sitting at their desks.
Consider changing location, letting children sit on the floor, and encouraging them to synthesize their learning by sketching or using another creative method to respond to what they learned.
If your child is working on homework, segment homework time into short spans with breaks in between. For example, do math homework, then take a break to run around the yard, do somersaults on the floor, or some other physical activity of the child's choosing.
Teach students to visualize what they are learning.
Help your child see their learning style as a gift-not a problem. By recognizing they learn best through movement, touch, and visuals, kinesthetic and tactile learners can lean into those abilities as learning superpowers.
Use sight word cards to build sentences or letter cards to build words.
Use building blocks or legos to help your learner visualize math problems.
Keep their attention by combining visuals and related movement into your lessons.
Let your child change up their homework locations if variety helps them.

The VARK Model

Experts have studied the human brain’s ability to learn new things. With this research, they have developed various models to describe different types of learners, one of which is the VARK model. VARK includes visual (V), auditory (A), read/write (R), and kinesthetic (K) learning styles. Simply put, VARK explains that people learn things by watching, listening, reading and writing, and/or doing.

The Importance of Understanding Learning Styles

Children, like their adult counterparts, are not all the same in how they learn. The more we understand our students’ learning strengths, the better we can accommodate those needs. Adult learners are often better equipped to understand and accommodate how they take in, understand, and retain new information than children who are in the process of “learning to learn” and do not have the self-awareness or experience to evaluate how they learn best. These traditional classroom environments can be the biggest learning obstacle for kinesthetic learners (who require movement to learn) or tactile learners (who require hands-on learning).

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