Multisensory teaching is a method of instruction that engages more than one sense at a time. These teaching techniques are often used for children with learning differences. But it can benefit students of all ages and intelligence.
While learning, kids often rely on pictures and reading. However, many of them also pay attention to what the teacher is saying. Multisensory teaching is not limited to listening or reading only. Instead, it tries to use all these senses. And while not all educational content requires engaging sight, touch, hearing, smell, and movement, multi-sensory teaching tries to engage as many as possible.
For example, a kid learning about apples has the chance to visually examine it, taste it, and touch it, instead of just reading or listening about it. This is multi-sensory teaching.
Many subjects use a multisensory approach to help struggling students. Some schools teach math programs using manipulative techniques (like interlocking cubes) to help students struggling with the subject. Science Labs are a common example of this approach; kids perform experiments, write down the steps, report their findings. Multisensory instruction aligns with the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework. Classes designed using these principles help to engage the students effectively.
