Originally Posted by
Rick
Hi ya- WE. There is no "best" group. We are what we are. I'm visual. I like to see things. You know, a picture is worth a thousand words and all that. That's why pictures work so well for most people. They can visualized the concept. It's about which centers of the brain are activated and other smoke and mirrors. Anywhooooo. I haven't met a lot of folks that are true tactile learners but they are a fascinating bunch to me. Remember the Rubic's Cube? Hand it to someone and they solve it in seconds? They, too, see through their hands.
Want some tips on tactile learning? Good, glad you do. That's tells me you're anxious to learn. Good man:
1. Write things down because you remember them better that way.
2. Try working with someone else so that you can talk out loud and hear the information.
3. If you want to memorize something, pace or walk around while reciting to yourself or looking at a note.
4. Keep something in your hand that is malleable. Knead or tap to a rhythm as you study.
5. While trying to solve a problem, eat, drink, chew gum or listen to music.
6. Underline main points with a bright colored highlighter.
By doing other things while you read or listen, you fire the tactile areas of the brain when you tap, eat, chew gum, etc. It all helps retain the information better for a tactile learner.
Think back to school and some classes that were exceptionally hard for you or a teacher that was a nice person but a lousy teacher. If you are a tactile learner the reason you had trouble learning in that particular class may not have had anything to do with you or the instructor but simply the wrong teaching style for you to be able to learn.
After that dissertation, folks should think about the way they learn skills in the bush and adapt to their learning style. They'll pick the concept up much easier. If you are visual then watch someone else, if you are auditory have someone explain it, if you are tactile, do it yourself. That's somewhat intuitive but we don't always get to chose the method of instruction if we are the student so be aware of your learning preference and make certain the instructions meet your needs. If you are uncomfortable in a class or simply aren't understanding what is being taught then consider the method of teaching as the culprit.
And...if you teach survival, think about including all three methods into your class so you reach all your students. Write it on the board (yes, even outdoors. If you aren't writing it for them to read then you aren't reaching your visual learners), explain the concept out loud and hand out some items as examples of what you are trying to convey. Everyone in the class will look at the item and pass it on EXCEPT the tactile learner. They will turn it over and over and examine it from every angle. Not only are they learning by doing it, you have just discovered who your tactile learners are!
