Again, the past few weeks have been full, and challenging. I have been thinking a lot about the brain and how it works. We know now that brain is capable of creating new pathways, and a whole range of things science hadn’t caught up with yet. How much our knowledge has grown over the past decade is astounding. And I am so grateful. My son is ambidextrous I have discovered, and I know have a much better understanding of how this is going to be a challenge, but also, pretty awesome.
Right handed people have a dominant left hemisphere of their brain. The ambidextrous have more symmetrical brains. This explains the amazing 3d thinking, engineering skills and problem solving I see.
They also have a strong preference for tactile learning.
There are essentially 3 learning styles. Visual learning like looking at pictures, Auditory learners want things explained and tactile/kinesthetic learners need to be doing to learn.
While we all have a preferred learning style, using all approaches ensures everyone is learning at their best.
Studies are now looking at how we learn best. As the world we live gives us a range of input – sight, sound, smell, taste. It follows that our brain needs this range of input to work at its best. A Shams and Seitz study says:
It is likely that the human brain has evolved to develop, learn and operate optimally in multisensory environments. We suggest that training protocols that employ unisensory stimulus regimes do not engage multisensory learning mechanisms and, therefore, might not be optimal for learning. However, multisensory-training protocols can better approximate natural settings and are more effective for learning
Basically, we need to touch, feel, see, hear, play and fully experience something to really learn about it. It’s an exciting prospect.
How can we create better learning environments for adults and children, that work through all the senses and have a real impact?
It’s why field trips, museums, walks and ‘outside the box’ learning activities work so well.
I am currently working on an interactive installation that uses movement, sight and touch. A “project’s” page is coming soon!!
Cultivating Place 