21 Ways To Engage The Kinaesthetic Learner in Your Course

When it comes to designing our online or offline training courses, it is essential that we incorporate teaching and learning techniques that meet the four main types of learning modes:

• visual 
• audio 
• kinaesthetic 
• reading and writing 

In this post, we will look at optimising our courses for the kinaesthetic learner.

Kinaesthetic learning (also known as tactile learning), is when learners best acquire new skills and knowledge by ‘doing’.  This means making your training as practical, hands on and active as possible.

When designing and delivering effective adult learning programs consider including as many of the following as possible:

1. The more you teach from a place of ‘This is HOW you do this’, instead of ‘Let me tell you about this’, the more engaged your kinaesthetic learners are going to be
2. Provide screencast demo’s that allow them to follow along and copy as they watch
3. Make written activities practical by getting them to write notes on post-its and stick them on the wall for example
4. Encourage activities when they can be physically present with other people – kinesthetic learners a very tactile and even like to touch other people when they are talking to them
5. Create physical activities and practical games
6. Keep lectures short
7. Give them templates and handouts to fill in
8. Insert a practical activity or exercise after every 15 minutes of training
9. Resist giving your students all of the answers and instead provide problem solving activities
10. Include challenges and competitions
11. Kinesthetic learners like to try new things so instead of always explaining activities before they start, allow kinesthetic learners the opportunity to ‘jump in at the deep end’ and figure it out for themselves
12. Kinesthetic learners enjoy touching things so provide props in your training for learners to hold and play with
13. Make sure that they are not forced to sit and listen for extended periods of time
14. Include arts, crafts and model making, drawing materials, textured and coloured materials
15. Set up role play activities
16. Create simulations and replica environments
17. Get them to conduct experiments and investigations
18. Incorporate field trips or site visits
19. Incorporate workplace learning elements or work experience
20. Give them projects
21. Get them to collect evidence of their knowledge and competence in a portfolio

How do you engage the kinaesthetic learners in your online and offline training?

If you would like any help or guidance on making your training more engaging for all of the different learning types, modes and preferences, do not hesitate to get in touch to book a consultation.

Alternatively, you might like to check out my ultimate ‘Edupreneur’ training package which will take you to the expert level of course creator, curriculum designer and trainer