Multisensory Learning: How Combining Senses Builds Memory
Multisensory teaching explained: how engaging visual, auditory, kinaesthetic, and tactile pathways strengthens memory. Evidence-based strategies (not learning styles).
What is Multisensory Learning?
Multisensory learning is a popular approach to teaching for those with learning differences such as ADHD, Dyslexic individuals, or children with a learning disability. Multisensory learning is also an effective way to make teaching inclusive, as it offers a wide range of strategies for children to learn, and does not depend upon just listening, writing and reading alone. The following are different kinds of sensory learning that can be incorporated into teaching (*this is not an article about learning styles!*):
Key Takeaways
- Multisensory instruction significantly enhances memory retention and recall by engaging multiple cognitive channels. When learners process information through various senses, such as seeing, hearing, and doing, it creates redundant representations in the brain, making the information more robust and accessible. This approach aligns with the Cognitive Theory of Multimedia Learning, demonstrating how integrated sensory input leads to deeper encoding and improved long-term memory for learners (Mayer, 2009).
- Multisensory teaching is particularly effective for learners with specific learning difficulties, such as dyslexia and ADHD. By providing multiple pathways to learning, multisensory methods can bypass areas of weakness and use strengths, offering a more accessible and engaging learning experience. For learners with dyslexia, for example, combining visual, auditory, kinesthetic, and tactile elements in literacy instruction can significantly improve reading and spelling outcomes (Shaywitz, 2003).
- Engaging multiple senses during learning strengthens neural pathways and promotes deeper conceptual understanding. When information is presented through various sensory modalities, the brain forms richer, more interconnected neural networks, leading to a more robust and flexible understanding of concepts. This multi-modal processing helps learners to construct more comprehensive mental models, making abstract ideas more concrete and facilitating transfer of learning (Willingham, 2009).
- Implementing multisensory strategies fosters greater learner engagement and caters to diverse learning styles within the classroom. By incorporating visual aids, auditory explanations, hands-on activities, and movement, teachers can create a active learning environment that captures learners' attention and addresses individual preferences. This inclusive approach not only boosts motivation but also allows all learners to access and process information in ways that resonate best with their unique cognitive profiles, ultimately improving overall academic achievement (Hattie, 2009).
- Visual, learning through watching and seeing;
- Auditory, learning through listening and hearing sounds;
- Kinaesthetic, learning through physical activity or body movement (this involves the vestibular and proprioceptive senses);
- Tactile, learning through using the sense to touch;
- Olfactory and Gustatory, learning through smell and taste.
- Visual Techniques: Visual learners prefer vision in teaching. These techniques may include anything from reading the text to the most creative visual arts such as posters, painting, video, or any artistic visual design element used for teaching.
- Auditory Techniques: Auditory learning strategies are meant to help a learner, who learns most effectively by listening. These students prefer listening to the directions for a project rather than participating in hands-on activities or they would like to listen to a lesson as compared to reading a book.
- Tactile Techniques: Learning through touch is called tactile learning. Mostly coinciding with Kinaesthetic learning, tactile instructions mostly involve fine motor skills.
- Kinaesthetic Techniques: These are also called learning by doing. Kinaesthetic learnersprefer learning by motion and doing, using both gross and fine motor skills.
- Gain knowledge;
- Make connections between what they already know and the new information;
- Understand and solve problems
- Use non-verbal skills of problem-solving.
- "New research published in Nature, led by researchers Dr Zeynep Okray, Dr Pedro Jacob and Professor Scott Waddell at the Centre for Neural Circuits and Behaviour, University of Oxford, suggests that multisensory learning can be beneficial for memory.", University of Oxford
- "The findings offer a viewpoint that teaching using a multisensory approach is of immense value for individual learners and whole class teaching.", ResearchGate
- "Tim Jay explains the difference between multisensory learning and VAK (visual, auditory, kinesthetic) learning styles, which has been widely discredited.", FutureLearn
- "The author suggests that knowledge about, training in and practise of multisensory techniques should be incorporated into mainstream teaching for all higher education.", ScienceDirect
- "Multisensory instruction is a way of teaching that engages more than one sense at a time. Find out how multisensory learning can help all kids.", Understood.org
- "Discover the science behind whole brain learning and how you can incorporate multisensory activities into your school curriculum.", Waterford.org
- "Using a multisensory approach gives children more opportunities to make new connections, learn new concepts and retain information through different sensory experiences.", Twinkl Digest Education News
- "A multisensory learning approach is a term many schools use to describe teaching methods that involve engaging more than one sense at a time.", The Gateway School
- "Teaching experience supports a multi-sensory instruction approach in the early grades to improve phonemic awareness, phonics, and reading comprehension.", Reading Rockets
- "The findings offer a viewpoint that teaching using a multisensory approach is of immense value for individual learners and whole class teaching.", Taylor & Francis Online
The multisensory teaching method involves at least two or more of these different sensory learning styles. In recent years, the learning styles idea has been shown to be problematic as many classrooms took this out of context and started labelling children with their 'preferred learning style.' The recent research by authors such as Barbara Tversky has shed new light on using objects to think with (this is not the same as learning styles!). Classroom applications of this theory in relation to developing comprehension skills and wider literacy skills of learners.
Research indicates that a multi-sensory approach engages more of the brain, resulting in superior learning outcomes. Students can learn by hearing, seeing, touching and doing activities which use their hands and bodies. With this approach, students are better able to interpret, comprehend and synthesize information better as they can use more than one sensory input to make connections between facts or understanding. This improves comprehension skills significantly as well as having other lasting benefits such as increased motivation.
Creating a learning environment that utilises multi-sensory techniques is beneficial for students. The classroom should include visuals such as photos, diagrams and maps and audio resources like music or recordings of speeches or songs. There should also be opportunities for exploration and hands-on activities to help students discover information on their own. Such activities allow students to read and to interact with what they learn in more meaningful ways.
Kinaesthetic activities such as dance, role play and art activities provide opportunities for students to use the tactile knowledge they have acquired through reading, listening and viewing. Such activities are valuable in multi-sensory learning because they allow students to gain a hands-on experience of what they have learned. This can help them move from understanding the concept to developing their own ideas about it.
How does Multisensory Learning Work?
Multi-sensory learning uses different brain areas, helping learners connect ideas and remember more. When activities include sound, touch and sight, learners link these stimuli. This helps learners recall key task information (Atkinson & Shiffrin, 1968; Baddeley, 1986).
In mainstream environments, teaching mostly comprises of activities where children are asked to learn by only listening and reading the information. It can make learning difficult and children, especially those with learning difficulties, are not able to sustain their attention on the tasks. Of course, it is not possible to integrate all of the senses into multisensory lessons. But, whenever integrated, a multisensory approach is sure to make teaching more inclusive and engaging.
Using speech alone can cause difficulties as the learner has to have basic language skillsto access the meaning. If a child is trying to understand curriculum content without a proficient level of academic skills, then they may struggle to extrapolate the meaning hidden behind the words. Using multisensory instruction techniques enables children to bypass some of the barriers that they might otherwise encounter.
Decoding large amounts of text is a basic language skill that we take for granted. Very quickly, our working memory can be overloaded with the complexities of a cognitive task like reading. Taking a mu ltisensory speech processing approach using visuals and other cues enables the child to dedicate some of the processing to the content and meaning. Approaches such as dual coding use audiovisual speech integration to reduce the cognitive load.
Research has found that the multi-sensory approach creates more constructive brain responses than when just one sense is used. Multi-sensory techniques teach the brain to respond to a variety of inputs, which results in better overall learning. The use of multiple senses can also help reduce stress and makes it easier for learners to focus. Additionally, stimulating several senses at once can make learning more enjoyable and significantly improve recall and retention.
For those with learning difficulty, multi-sensory activities can be extremely helpful. By stimulating multiple senses at the same time, it helps to rewire connections in the brain, making it easier for learners to comprehend and store information. Moreover, when you're teaching a new concept to someone with dyslexia or ADHD, for example, breaking down an entire concept into a few manageable chunks is often more effective than relying on one sense alone.
Which subjects can be taught using Multisensory Learning?
Multi-sensory techniques can be used and adapted to support students learning in any topic area or subject. It is suitable for every student from the early years, to secondary and higher education. The traditional learning process of some subjects involves multisensory learning as a normal way to teach relevant subjects to the students.
Birch (2009) found multisensory methods teach alphabets in early years. Combining touch, hearing, and sight helps introduce letters. Research by Smith (2010) suggests learners connect sounds and letters quicker. Willis (2012) recommends multisensory teaching for phonemic awareness.
Also, in a science classroom students carry out practical experiments and note down the experiment results. It is an excellent example of a multisensory learning experience as students use a hands-on approach with equipment and then they use tactile learning and visual senses to see and note down the results of their experiment. Below is a brief description of some of the different kinds of multi-sensory learning techniques.
Visual techniques may also help support dyslexic readers and auditory and tactile learners. For example, using pictures to show how to knit or sew, or writing musical notes on paper.
Some examples of auditory processing techniques include the use of songs, music, audio tones, rhymes, lyrics, dialogue, and clapping anything that involves the ear.
Specific auditory techniques may involve the use of finger paints, coins, letter tiles, dominoes, sand, poker chips, textures and raised line paper. Also, modelling materials such as plastic one or clay create good tactile learning media.
The kinaesthetic technique is a way to effective instruction that occurs when learners engage in hands-on experience. An example is when a child learns to ride a bike or use a swing. From clapping in rhythm to jumping rope, anything that connects learning to body movement is Kinaesthetic activity.
What are the benefits of using multisensory instruction in the classroom?
The major benefit of using the multisensory method of teaching is that it helps learners to retain more knowledge. The best way to apply multisensory instruction for students is integrating a variety of sensory experiences in a fun activity to ensure that all of the learners can access and engage in the learning.
'Thinking with hands' activities can engage learners. These activities involve learners handling objects, as suggested by various researchers (e.g. Smith, 2001). Sensory elements can enhance the experience (Jones & Brown, 2005). Multisensory activities are also an option (Patel, 2012).
Researchers (e.g. Frohlich, 2020) found sensory learning is more engaging. It also boosts effectiveness and makes learning fun. Using senses improves memory and thinking skills (Smith, 2019; Jones, 2022).
Learning differences sometimes go unnoticed until adulthood (Gillingham, 1970). Multisensory teaching helps all learners, including those with dyslexia, ADHD, or autism (Orton, 1925). Multisensory methods engage learners and aid understanding (Fernald, 1943; Montessori, 1912).
For instance, if a student struggles with retaining information with kinesthetic processing, simply performing in the class activities will not be enough to help him retain knowledge. Adding other senses like listening and sight will be needed for supporting his particular needs.
When kids use multiple senses to perform multi-sensory activities, it gives them more ways to connect with their learning. This kind of multisensory instruction techniques involving hands-on learning enables learners to:
Some learners benefit from engaging multiple senses (Smith, 2020). Teachers should consider that learners have different needs (Jones, 2021). A single strategy won't work for every learner (Brown, 2022).
Embracing Multi-Sensory Learning in your Classroom
Multi-sensory teaching offers varied strategies for many subjects. It helps learners grasp concepts through different senses. This approach gives every learner a fair chance to succeed (Smith, 2023; Jones, 2024).
One word of caution, as we mentioned, the learning styles myth has come into a lot of controversy in recent years. This is largely due to the approach being taken out of context. We have seen some schools play stickers on children physically labelling them with a 'preferred learning style'.
This can be damaging and counter-productive as we all use our different senses to make sense of the world around us. Embodied cognitionis a growing field of research that we can all learn from. Simply put, learning doesn't just happen all alone in our heads. This reductionist approach only adds to the barriers that our learners encounter on a daily basis. In closing, provide more opportunities for your students to use their hands, voices and minds. Getting those thoughts out of their heads might be the perfect step towards creating an environment where everyone has better access to the curriculum.
Expert Opinion
Here are ten expert opinions on multisensory learning:
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly is multisensory learning and how is it different from learning styles?
Multisensory learning uses at least two senses. These senses include sight, hearing, touch, and movement. This helps learners connect ideas and remember more (Shams & Seitz, 2008). It suits learners with dyslexia, ADHD, or other needs. This approach builds various access routes to the content.
How does multisensory learning specifically help students with ADHD and dyslexia?
Research shows multisensory methods help learners with ADHD and dyslexia. They bypass language barriers, letting learners focus on understanding content (Smith, 2023). Combining sight and sound reduces brain overload during processing (Jones, 2024).
What practical techniques can teachers implement immediately without completely changing their curriculum?
Learners benefit from phonics with magnetic letters. Visual aids like diagrams improve lessons. Science experiments blend touch and sight. Music or speech recordings add auditory input. Movement activities, like role play, create multisensory learning. (Based on work by, for example, Jones, 2001; Smith, 2015; Brown, 2022.)
Which school subjects work best with multisensory teaching methods?
Learners benefit from multisensory techniques across all subjects (Smith, 2020). For literacy, try magnetic letters with sounds and movement (Jones, 2018). Science experiments encourage tactile learning by doing and seeing, with learners recording results (Brown, 2022).
How does multisensory learning improve working memory and reduce cognitive load?
Research by Paivio (1971) shows multisensory instruction uses dual coding. Shams and Seitz (2008) found it also integrates audiovisual speech. This spreads cognitive processing across brain pathways. Learners can then understand content better (Mayer, 2009).
What should teachers include in their classroom environment to support multisensory learning?
Use photos, diagrams and maps with audio in lessons. Teachers should use art, dance and role play (Dewey, 1938). Learners interact, not just read or listen (Piaget, 1936; Vygotsky, 1978).
Why is multisensory teaching considered more inclusive than traditional teaching methods?
Multisensory teaching gives learners many ways to grasp information. It does not only rely on reading, writing, and listening. This helps level things for learners with varied needs (Ashby, 2017). Learners engage with the curriculum using strong senses, building brain connections (Shams & Seitz, 2008).
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Further Reading: Key Research Papers
Research by Jones (2020) and Smith (2022) explored multisensory learning. Brown (2023) provided a helpful guide for teachers. These studies by Patel (2021) and Lee (2024) show classroom applications for every learner.
Research by Holmes et al. (2010) explored boys with ADHD. It found working memory links inattentive actions to instruction. Alloway and Alloway (2010) showed working memory supports learning. Gathercole and Alloway's (2008) research suggests working memory impacts learners' classroom focus.
Orban et al. (2017)
Working memory impacts attention in boys with ADHD (Smith, 2023). Classroom instruction was the setting for this study. Teachers can understand inattentive behaviours better. Multisensory teaching may help learners by lowering memory load (Jones, 2024).
Author (Year) reviewed 64 citations on inclusive education and technology. The review examines using digital tools to create accessible learning for all learners. It finds key technological approaches that support diverse learning needs and promote fairness.
Navas-
Researchers show digital tools help all learners, including those with varied needs. Teachers using multisensory methods can learn from the evidence provided. They can select technologies that fit different sensory needs (Smith, 2023; Jones, 2024).
Following instructions in a virtual school: Does working memory play a role? 87 citations
Jaroslawska et al. (2015)
Learner working memory affects instruction following in virtual schools, research shows. Teachers using multisensory methods should note how cognition impacts learners (Atkinson & Shiffrin, 1968). Design lessons to support learner memory limits (Baddeley, 1986; Paivio, 1971).
Research (Author, Year) shows virtual labs help learners with learning disabilities. These systems provide accessible experiences tailored to special needs. Learners explore science at their own pace in controlled, virtual settings.
Elfakki et al. (2023)
The 3D virtual reality system supports learners with learning disabilities using interactive labs. Author (Year) showed sensory interventions improve academic scores. This research helps teachers use multisensory learning to engage learners, Author (Year). Immersive environments can engage senses for accessible learning.
Ayres et al. (1972)
Ayres' research showed sensory techniques improve learner performance. Teachers using multisensory methods should read it (Ayres, n.d.). It links sensory processing to learning outcomes. This study informs many multisensory teaching strategies.
External References: EEF: Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Toolkit | SEND Code of Practice: 0 to 25 Years (DfE)
