Glossary

Tactile Learning

What is Tactile Learning?

Tactile learning is both a learning style and an approach to learning and development. In both cases, it’s all about hands-on experience — specifically through touch. Also known as kinesthetic learning, tactile learning involves immersing oneself in training content to essentially ‘learn by doing.’ Tactile learning materials are developed with interactivity in mind, usually focused on engaging one’s sense of touch. 

Understanding tactile learners

Tactile learners tend to perform best when they’re able to directly explore, experiment with, and experience training content rather than memorizing it. They may display excellent manual dexterity and strong spatial awareness along with a tendency to move or fidget when they have to process information. Beyond that, tactile learners usually fall into one of three groups: 

• Explorers, who thrive on experiences that let them sate their curiosity, usually through experimentation and discovery. 
• Creators, who enjoy expressing themselves through physical art. 
• Problem-solvers, who enjoy practical, hands-on challenges. 

Tactile learning vs. hands-on training

Tactile learning is a form of hands-on training that places a greater emphasis on physical interaction and movement. It may or may not take a multisensory approach to learning, incorporating tactile, aural, and visual. Tactile learning activities may include: 

• Immersive experiments.
• Collaborative projects and team-based challenges.  
• Educational aids such as building blocks, puzzles, and games. 
• Sensory bins. 
• Physical learning exercises. 
• Workshops and training sessions. 

The benefits of tactile learning

Tactile learning is beneficial for a lot of the same reasons as hands-on training.

First, it promotes improved learner engagement and retention, especially if you incorporate multisensory experiences. People tend to learn a lot more effectively when they can directly interact with training content, especially if that content taps into more than one sense. 

Tactile learning also improves both comprehension and understanding. Rather than having to sit through a painfully boring slide deck or read through a sprawling knowledge-base, participants can learn how your software works by actually using it. It improves the sales journey and onboarding process for customers and prospects and also helps streamline employee training. 

Tactile learning can also be tweaked to accommodate a diverse range of learning styles. Instead of focusing solely on one type of learner, you can make sure everyone can engage in a way that makes sense to them. Through adaptive learning, this can even be achieved at scale. 

Lastly, from a customer education perspective, tactile learning makes it easier to narrow the focus of your training content. Customers can focus exclusively on the content that interests them while you stand by waiting to provide them with feedback and guidance. It’s a huge step up from scripted demos and sales pitches. 

The importance of tactile learning in software training

Although it sees some applications in post-secondary institutions, tactile learning is most frequently deployed in early childhood, elementary, and secondary education. That doesn’t mean it’s not relevant to software training, though. Interactive simulations, particularly those delivered via mobile device, are innately tactile experiences. 

Moreover, as technology such as virtual reality and augmented reality continues to proliferate, businesses could have the opportunity to incorporate even deeper interactivity into both their employee and customer training. Rather than just simulating software environments, they could simulate entire offices or locations. 

Imagine if, instead of staring down at a phone screen or laptop during a cybersecurity simulation, you were actually put directly in the middle of an office experiencing a major cyberattack. It’d take learning by doing to a completely different level. More importantly, it’d help your people be better-prepared than ever for when they actually have to put their knowledge to the test.