The Importance of Hands-On Learning

What is Hands-On Learning? 

Hands-on learning, also known as experiential learning, means students are actively doing, touching, and exploring materials to understand new ideas. Instead of simply listening or watching, they solve problems and test ideas through physical interaction. In mathematics, this might involve counting with cubes, building shapes, or measuring real objects.  Rather than memorizing formulas, students discover how math works by experimenting and observing. This approach helps them connect abstract concepts to real experiences, allowing them to truly understand how and why something works. When students build, count, measure, and manipulate objects, they gain a deeper sense of what math looks and feels like in action.

Benefits of Hands-On Learning:

Research from Structural Learning highlights several major benefits. Students who engage in hands-on learning retain information longer and show higher engagement levels because they are part of the learning process instead of passive observers. This approach also promotes problem-solving and critical thinking since learners must experiment, test, and revise their ideas. Hands-on activities often involve collaboration, which builds communication and teamwork skills. Structural learning also points out the importance of embodied cognition, the idea that using our hands and bodies supports how we think and learn. In math, physically moving shapes, blocks, or measuring tools helps students understand spatial and numerical relationships in a meaningful way.

How to Apply Hands-On Learning in Math:

Hands-on learning can be applied in many ways across the math curriculum. Teachers can use manipulatives like pattern blocks, base-ten cubes, or fraction circles to help students explore numbers and shapes. Real-world activities, such as measuring items in the classroom or planning a pretend store, show how math connects to everyday life. Project-based learning is another powerful method.

Main, Paul. “Hands-On Learning.” Structural Learning, 19 July 2023, www.structural-learning.com/post/hands-on-learning.

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