Tactile-Kinesthetic Learners

Making up about 5% of the population, tactile and kinesthetic learners absorb information best by doing, experiencing, touching, moving or being active in some way.

• Enjoy feeling, discovery and action
• Remember by using tools, building models and manipulating things
• Learn through emotions, touch, movement and space
• Enjoy demonstrations of concept demonstrations
• Master skills through imitation and practice.
• Benefit from hands-on teaching techniques
• Find it difficult to sit still for long periods of time.
• Remember who did what in the past, rather than what they said or how they looked.
• Prefer to stand, walk about or use large motor muscles when learning.
• Learn well from field trips and excursions.
• Tends to collect things
• Do not have good handwriting
• Are weaker at spelling.
• Talk fast using hands to communicate
• Benefit from role-playing and simulations
• Enjoy having background music while studying or working.
• Good at sports
• Take frequent breaks when studying
• Think in terms of physical action
• May play a musical instrument.
• Enjoy exploring the environment
• Participates in martial arts, dance.
• Can grasp concepts when abstract theories are combined with practical experience
• Enjoy science experiments, construction games, arts ad crafts
• Could be considered hyperactive
• More relaxed and open to learning in a beanbag than a hard chair.
• Good internal compass for finding their way around.
• Get restless during long lectures
• Comfortable touching others as a gesture of friendship
• Prefer participating actively rather than watching  video or reading from a book
• Learn more effectively when free to move
• Studies effectively laying on floor or bed, fidgeting, tapping fingers or touching objects

SUGGESTIONS FOR TACTILE-KINESTHETIC LEARNERS

• Create a model
• Demonstrate a principle
• Practice a technique
• Participate in simulations
• Engage in hands-on activities
  
• Study in comfortable position, not necessarily sitting in a chair

PREFERRED TEST STYLES FOR TACTILE-KINESTHETIC LEARNERS
Multiple choice, short definitions fill in the blanks

WORST TEST TYPE
Long essay tests

POSSIBLE CAREER PATHS
Dancers, physical education teachers, actors, firefighters, athletes, mimes