The Benefits of Tactile and Kinesthetic Learning Environments
By Amirah Rakhi Khurana
Traditional education often relies on text and lectures, but human cognition is not designed to learn only through passive approaches. Our brains evolved in motion, with learning rooted in the body’s interaction with the environment. Tactile and kinesthetic learning environments where individuals learn through touch, movement, and direct manipulation, capitalize on this fact. Simply put, Tactile learning is a hands-on approach to learning that involves physical touch and movement to process information. Also known as kinesthetic learning, it prioritizes active participation over passively listening or watching, and often uses real tools, materials, and experiments to make abstract concepts tangible
This type of learning strengthens retention, reduces mental overload, and create stronger connections between brain cells.
A simple example illustrates the point: Imagine two students studying geometry. One reads formulas in a book; the other constructs shapes with physical materials, rotates them, and tests their properties. The second student encodes knowledge not only visually but also through touch and understanding of one’s body’s position and movement. Neuroscientific research shows that when using more than one of your senses, the brain recruits more brain cell networks to process
and store information. This redundancy produces stronger “neural traces”, memory pathways that are easier to recall and less prone to decay.
Environments that integrate movement, manipulation, and tactile engagement cultivate multi modal neural pathways that not only deepen retention but also foster cognitive flexibility, the very capacity required in a volatile and complex world.
Several examples make this clear.
Medical Training: Surgeons in training use robotic simulators that replicate the resistance and texture of human tissue. This hands-on practice allows them to develop adaptability for unpredictable real world surgical conditions far better than studying procedure manuals alone.
Engineering: Bridge stress test: Civil engineering students build small-scale bridges with wood or 3D-printed components, then apply weights until failure. They feel structural limits in action, not just in equations.
Physiotherapy: For joint mobilization practice, students practice guiding a peer’s “post-surgery” knee through controlled flexion and extension, learning the exact grip and pressure needed to support the joint safely.
Beyond efficiency, there is an equity argument. Not all learners thrive in text-heavy, sedentary environments. People often labeled as “restless” or “distracted” may simply need movement and physical engagement to learn effectively. By legitimizing tactile and kinesthetic approaches, educators can make learning more inclusive without compromising rigor. Moreover, all learners benefit from instruction that builds deeper, more durable memory pathways.
In conclusion, tactile and kinesthetic learning environments should not be seen as mere supplements to traditional teaching but as a reorientation of how we understand learning itself. The evidence suggests that knowledge anchored in movement and touch is not simply “remembered better” it is organized differently and stored in the brain. This means that learning is not just about memorizing information. Kinesthetic learning changes this principle. A true learning ground is a field where cognitive and physical systems operate together. In this frame, learning becomes less about retention and more about mastery; knowledge that can then be used in unfamiliar situations in the future.
So the next time you are faced with learning something new, consider the various ways learning can happen and what might be best for you!
References:
Galetzka C. The story so far: how embodied cognition advances our understanding of human thought. Frontiers in Psychology. 2017;8:1315.
Ianì F. Embodied memories: reviewing the role of the body in memory. Psychonomic Bulletin & Review. 2019;26:1–15.
Shahrezaei A, Sohani M, Taherkhani S, et al. The impact of surgical simulation and training technologies on general surgery education. BMC Medical Education. 2024;24:1297.
Gani A, Pickering O, et al. Impact of haptic feedback on surgical training outcomes: a randomised controlled trial of haptic versus non-haptic immersive virtual reality training. Journal of Surgical Simulation. 2025.
Boutin J, et al. Smart haptic gloves for virtual reality surgery simulation. Frontiers in Robotics and AI. 2024;
Bechtold L, et al. Brain signatures of embodied semantics and language. Journal of Cognition. 2023;6:237.
