Ditching the Desks: Kinesthetic Learning in College Classrooms

Abstract

In this article we argue that social science instructors at all levels should openly embrace kinesthetic learning as an everyday pedagogical tool. The standard model of instruction at the college level relies on lecture, perhaps with special alternative activities (e.g., simulations) scattered throughout each semester. We argue that students benefit from alternative instruction styles incorporated into their everyday classes. We outline several alternative instruction techniques we have used in our classrooms centered on kinesthetic learning. The kinesthetic activities that we present require little to no additional work on behalf of the instructor but allow the students to engage more fully with the given material and with each other. Furthermore, these simple examples allow instructors to remain relevant in physical classrooms, offering a straightforward counterpoint to the recent trend toward MOOCs (massive open online courses) in higher education.