Kinesthetic learning

Hands on learning. Some contend that the computer can provide environments for kinesthetic learning. Others maintain that “foldables” or activities that involve cutting/folding paper and then recording information on it qualifies for kinesthetic. I am not sure I’m sold on either. I believe digital simulations and interactive activities either online or on a tool like the iPad can provide engaging learning experiences, I am just not sure if they are truly kinesthetic. Folding activities do get students to move and can provide a great way to organize information, but are the movements related to the content? It seems that the folding is done first, then enter the content, my jury is out on whether that would help kinesthetic students. I am learning toward things like Budgetball or a mock Constitutional Convention would get learners moving and interacting with the content (more kinesthetic). That being said, foldables offer a different method of organization and recording material and can be beneficial to many, regardless of learning style and many educators find great uses for folding activities at all grade levels. True, they may be a bit lower-tech, but they are what I would like to share today. Many of the resources, but not all, were created and/or published by Dinah Zike. Some are general instructions for how to fold a variety of products, others include lesson plans/ideas for application. If you have any ideas for a “checks and balances” foldable, please, let me know! Happy folding. 🙂