3.2 Kinaesthetic or Tactile Learning

Kinaesthetic or tactile learning occurs when learners carry out physical activities, rather than just listening to a lecture or watching a demonstration. 

This type of learning is often associated with the teachings of Maria Montessori and Rudolf Steiner.

Montessori activities involve the teaching of cognitive, social, and functional skills to participants, breaking down tasks into steps that progress from simple to complex and from concrete to abstract (Bowlby, 1993; Dreher, 1997). Research on Montessori-based activities in the adult day care setting has shown Montessori activities to improve engagement, enhance mood, and reduce behaviour disturbances of people with dementia (Judge, et al., 2002).

Watch the following video: 

Montessori in Aged Care 
(If you would like to watch this video with closed captions, please switch these on in the YouTube player by selecting this icon )

After watching the video, note down in your learning diary three Montessori methods or activities undertaken or suggested in the videos with the residents.

Also note which of these methods, activities and/or resources you might be able to adapt for use in a language learning lesson and why.

Then consider how this Montessori approach could be used to achieve common ground or parity between you and your senior learner(s). Take some notes to help you prepare for the Unit 4 tutorial and bring your notes from this activity to the tutorial.