Reaching Kinesthetic Learners Over Distance

Abstract

Erickson, a New York City high school student, and I were working on his algebra homework over Zoom, specifically parabolas. We broke down the motion of a basketball and compared it to a parabola. He happened to have a small hoop on the back of his door and when he tried the motion himself, it was clear something clicked. You see, Erickson is a kinesthetic learner. During the pandemic, it has been challenging to design interactive materials and lessons for different types of learners. Distance learning disproportionality favors visual learners, followed by aural; however, reaching our kinesthetic learners has been a challenge.