Last Updated on February 16, 2023 by Editorial Team
There is evidently more than one way to learn “one plus two is equal to three.” While one student prefers to discern it on paper, another may prefer to count pencils to infer the same. Either of these pedagogies can aid; nonetheless, the latter one can be more interactive as these stipulate senses to realize. Such a kinesthetic learning style can work in areas like Math, as such subjects often deal with pragmatic problems.
That being the case, we can acknowledge that kinesthetic learning can turn into a take-in for studying math concepts. But, what strategies can ameliorate such hands-on training? To explore the same, here, we look into some noteworthy Kinesthetic learning strategies to master subjects like Math.
Kinesthetics in math- Whole-body learning of numbers
Say a kid is sitting on the dining table ready to have their dinner. If they start counting the slices of bread before eating them to retain the numbers taught or counting the slices they’ve had for dinner, probably they are kinesthetic learners. Kinesthetic learning, as we know, is a unique learning style in which the learner touches and feels the entity to learn about it, stipulating hand-eye coordination and finer learning. Such individuals often like to indulge in activities and games to learn rather than attend a lecture.
Kinesthetic learning can be a great style for training in math. Getting to know about complex concepts turns painless with enhanced visualization and empirical conclusions. S Apipah[1] In his research on VAK (Visual, Audio, and Kinesthetic) learning, he found that kInesthetic learners performed better than audio learners, implying such a learning style can be a remarkable pick. To boost it further, pupils can look into pertinent strategies.
Learning math- Kinesthetic strategies to make it facile
For every subject or a new skill, befitting strategies can make the expedition of training effortless and often engrossing. To make math kinesthetic, aspirants can look into the following strategies. These are relatively straightforward and are oft-times rewarding.
1. Hand Gestures in teaching
Gestures may aid in making communication better. While preaching in the classroom, appropriate gestures to present the concept can make the lecture further intriguing for students. Berman[2] studied how hand-made gestures helped math teachers in math lessons. In the study, three teachers introduced dance videos to mark the perception of the pupils. The results showed a commendation from learners. Thereby, Teachers in the experiment, along with pupils, admired such approaches due to enhanced engrossment.
2. Real Life Inferences
Math is all about offering real-life solutions to the challenge. In classroom pedagogies, students may need to visualize the issue before they can try resolving them. This exercise can be disentangled when kinesthetic influence is ensured. Instead of inferring a sum as “2X+4Y”, the teacher can instead say “2 apples and 4 oranges” to make it a real-life query. Not only in Calculus, real-life instances are available in other notions like triangles and decimals as well. For example, the Shadow cast of a building and placement of slabs can be an example of triangles. Further fueling stations, money, and scientific projects can be examples of decimals in real life.
3. Employing Manipulatives
Implementation of manipulatives in the educating exercise can induce multisensory advantage, thus better encounter of notions. Employing number blocks, number lines, marbles, and counters can make little ones discern numbers effortlessly. Noticing the same, some textbooks come complimented with these manipulatives motivating them to turn abstract concepts into activities in no time. For instance, cards can be used as ten-frame manipulatives. Further, manipulatives like 3D foldable geo figures and linking cubes can be employed to discern area and volume.
4. Engage Math at every Chore
Kinesthetic learners often learn things by playing or putting themselves into relevant tasks. To ensure the same with math, students can appoint math notions in every task possible. To educate a little learner with square, daily entities like napkins, slices of bread, and handkerchiefs can be employed to identify and learn. Further, these little ones can be offered with beads to grasp sorting skills. Moreover, to improve number sense, UNO cards can be employed effortlessly,
5. Activities
Kinesthetic learning can benefit almost anyone who likes discerning concepts with muscle memory. Nevertheless, some engaging activities can stimulate such a learning style in the aspirant. Salt trays for kids, mat swatting activities, and using sticks for adults can implant noticeable kinesthetic influence while they read upon. Stamps and Gum it can be chosen for learning about triangles. Math notions like Central tendency can be grasped with activities like cookie piles and decks can be befitting
6. Corroborating Games and Sports
Being able to do physical activities to learn pedagogies, games, and sports can be a great kinesthetic strategy. At the same time, sports like football stipulate the player to keep track of sports. Specialized math preaching games can be designed to establish a be-fitting pedagogy for learners. Say, a coin toss probability game can be a noteworthy take-in to learn statistics, and Circle of Primes may be picked to discern factors and multiples.
A study by John F. Drazan[3] provides preliminary evidence regarding the efficacy of using basketball analytics as a method to increase youth interest in the STEM fields while improving basketball training. Such studies prove how sports and their analytics can aid in mastering math.
7. Learn not just math
Considering the pragmatic approaches, more than one subject can be discerned at a time. Consequently, for those who even have math anxiety, learning other subjects along with math can assist. Making math a part of another subject can not only drastically bring down efforts of learning but also may reduce taxing anxieties. For instance, inducing math concepts in physical fitness (like a dance) can assure the aspirant to learn both notions simultaneously.
Kinect in mathematics- Strategic device turning calculus effortless
Initially released in 2010, Kinect is a line of motion sensing input device used to take gaming to the next level. With RGB and infrared projectors, it can sense the depth and movement of the objects or person moving in real-time. The later version came with a quality microphone and Voice recognition.
While the device was launched as a part of gaming, the latest research showed that this kinesthetic sensing device could be an excellent choice to learn mathematical concepts like calculus. Hector Manuel Ocampo Orona[4], in his research, outlined that Kinect can support kinesthetic pedagogical practices that can benefit students of mathematics, also having the potential of increasing classroom participation and improving the motivation of learning math.
In his experiment, the team set tools to encourage high school students in the game, “Playing the DOT‘. This game lets the pupils discern characteristics and derivatives of the coordinate system, thus swiftly identifying different graph Behavior. This shows that the implementation of Kinect in schools can be a befitting strategy to instruct math concepts.
Concluding thoughts
Trouble-free techniques and tips can often be assisting, as they come in handy and save a lot of time. Kinesthetic style can be ensured by using ample strategies for all sorts of learners. The above techniques can be insightful to master math notions in classroom learning as well as online classes. Further, schools can look into implementing Kinect to ensure mathematical simulations for better grasping of expedient concepts.
References:
- An analysis of mathematical connection ability based on student learning style on visualization auditory kinesthetic (VAK) learning model with self-assessment. (2017). S Apipah.
- Kinesthetic Approach to Teaching Math: Teachers’ Perception of Hand Gesture Based Math Videos. (2020). Berman, Yonatan.
- From Sports to Science: Using Basketball Analytics to Broaden the Appeal of Math and Science Among Youth. (2017). John F. Drazan.
- Kinect TEAM: Kinesthetic Learning Applied to Mathematics Using Kinect. (2015b). Héctor Manuel Ocampo Orona. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.procs.2015.12.234
An engineer, Maths expert, Online Tutor and animal rights activist. In more than 5+ years of my online teaching experience, I closely worked with many students struggling with dyscalculia and dyslexia. With the years passing, I learned that not much effort being put into the awareness of this learning disorder. Students with dyscalculia often misunderstood for having just a simple math fear. This is still an underresearched and understudied subject. I am also the founder of Smartynote -‘The notepad app for dyslexia’,