As the field of Learning Science continues to find support for using active teaching strategies, more institutions are pushing to implement various types of active learning. Many of the more complex and high-impact strategies involve bodily engagement: role plays, simulations, theatre, and supervised internships are all examples. These activities fall into the branch of active learning known as embodied learning. Embodied learning includes activities that involve the body in the learning process.
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Embodied learning is not yet prevalent in most classrooms, but neuroscientific research tells us that the brain is not disconnected from the body, rather, the cognitive processes of the mind depend in part on our bodies' sensorimotor systems. It’s important, therefore, to involve the physical body in the learning process. This often makes learning activities more complex, as involving physical activity in class-work often also requires cooperation between students, travel to locations outside the classroom, and extra organizational work. You can see some examples of this in the figure below.
While most embodied learning takes significant planning and preparation, lower lift embodied learning techniques are also possible. An example of a quick physical learning activity is representing an abstract concept with your body, or moving around the room to different stations to discuss or brainstorm different concepts. Adding physical movement by having different activities in different parts of the room is a simple way to get the body involved in learning. Movement in and of itself can increase dopamine levels in the brain, reducing stress, which causes the affective filter to lower, making it easier for students to learn. Although only consistent exercise has been shown to increase neurotransmission in the brain, any physical movement benefits learning by increasing focus.
More complex embodied learning experiences like role play go a step further in encouraging the retention of learned concepts. The social element of more complex embodied learning strategies requires interactions among students. Social interaction creates an emotional connection between the student and the learning experience. On top of this, there is the simple novelty of most embodied activities. Using novelty is an effective pedagogical practice that helps students retain what is learned.
The limitations of embodied learning center mostly around the classroom time needed to implement embodied activities. One option to free the time necessary is to flip your class. In addition, the team based learning classrooms are designed for embodied learning. All team based learning classrooms contain writable surfaces, movable furniture, multiple screens, and stations that students can move among.
If you are inspired to include more embodied activities in your course, we recommend you start small. Include a gallery walk where students move around the room, for example. Students might try representing one concept with a hand gesture. The Learning and Teaching Consultants will be happy to help you think through how you might include this mode of active learning in your classes. Feel free to reach out to [email protected] or request a one-on-one consultation with one of the Learning and Teaching consultants.
Further Reading
https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1157454.pdf
http://www.brainrules.net/about-brain-rules (Select Chapters from Brain Rules)
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6779792/
