Why Hands-On Learning Can Change Everything

Last time I wrote about the seven learning styles. The more styles included, the higher the rate of learning.

This picture explains the concept better. We can ‘lecture’ and only 5% is retained. Reading increases the percentage. Note-taking increases that rate.

When the child sees the information demonstrated, retention increases. Then we can follow this with a discussion of what we did. Then the child can practice the skill. The highest retention rate is achieved when the child teaches someone else.

What I used to do in my classroom was to have the students choose a topic they wanted to teach about. Then they would have time to prepare. They had to show me their plans before the day of instruction.

This teaching experience increases retention, but it also improves self-worth. It provides the student with confidence that they can do something.

We can see how the retention rates increase the more ‘hands-on’ a subject is. From discussion to teaching. The child also moves from being a passive learner to become an active participant.

There is a learning curve when a parent begins to implement the different learning styles and makes things more hands-on, but the benefits are well worth it. No more simple regurgitating information for a test to later forget.

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