A Tactile Adventure in Learning

A Tactile Adventure in Learning

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I adore, ADORE, hands-on learning. I gravitate towards providing hands-on learning activities as a means for my children and my students to demonstrate, apply, and transfer their learning. Likely, because it’s how I learn best. I have always advocated for this approach as a teacher and as a parent.

Let’s think about this for a minute. I want you to reflect on something that you have become an expert at? If you can't think of something, let's just take driving as an example. This is a skill that many of us have become very adept at. Being aware of the theory (rules of the road) helped you to understand the fundamentals. In education, we call this front-loading or knowledge building. Then you accompany that knowledge with the practical hands-on experience you honed in on developing through many hours of hands-on learning, in a car with an instructor or ever so patient parent. In my case, the entire process was agony, gut-wrenching, wheel gripping agony.

But alas, I learned. You see, the front-loading coupled with your hands-on learning has given you the freedom of exploration and that’s what hands-on learning does for kids. It’s the freedom of exploration! There is one key aspect that helps ensure your success as you explore and apply your knowledge - your instructor. This is your curator of learning. This is us the parents and educators. The success of hands-on learning lies in the curator.

A hands-on learning opportunity differs from things like a worksheet because it provides space for creativity, originality, higher-order thinking, and needless to say fun. It shifts the learning from what can be perceived through the child’s eyes as daunting and reduces their tendency to disengage.

The one thing I consistently strive for is to foster a love for learning, and I believe within the right context and using the correct tools, hands-on learning can propel and transform a child’s outlook on learning.

This all brings me to play dough, yes play dough. A tool that is so versatile because it can be brought into any concept and content area. It’s tangible, and to be honest, is one of the most interactive ways children can apply their learning. I think sometimes we forget that kids are kids, and they love to play, and what better way to infuse play into learning than using play dough! Check out a few of the concepts that we have explored with play dough. The possibilities are truly endless.