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Hands-on Learning is exactly what it sounds like—it gives students the ability to get their hands on the subjects they are being taught. It means they learn by doing rather than by simply listening and reading. The easiest way to picture hands-on learning is to think of wood shop classes in high schools. In these classes students are in an actual workshop using the tools to build projects. However, hands-on learning can also been seen in elementary schools these days, where they have simple toys that demonstrate basic scientific principles. At higher levels chefs are taught to cook in a kitchen, not simply by books and memorizing recipes. They get in there and get their hands dirty and experiment with different ingredients and methods to develop their individual skill sets.

To most people, hands-on learning refers to any activity that uses “props” or materials to teach. However this is not entirely the case. True hands-on learning requires students to be engaged and analyze why certain results occur when performing certain actions. If it is a cooking class they need to figure out why a certain dish was good or bad, why was it undercooked or overcooked, and why it turned out the way it did. Activities must enable a student to learn and not just be an activity that captivates them. When finished the student should know why the outcome happened.

There are several benefits to learning in a hands-on approach. The first is the focus on the evidence. A student sees what happens rather than relying on an authority figure such as a teacher, book, encyclopedia, or any other person or document. Often when learning through an authoritarian system, students are provided with no chance for decision-making on their own. They are told what to do and when to do things in order to get the outcome the authority is looking for.

Another benefit, especially for elementary school children, is that it provides a level playing field for all children. Children are not at a specific advantage even if they have participated in a similar event outside of the classroom. All students are able to participate in the activity and be a part of the resulting discussions.

Another major benefit is that this system encourages questioning. In many cases classroom discussions are held off until higher grades because administrators and teachers do not believe the students are ready for discussion at young ages. However, children often question things as they grow up and when they can see results they will be more likely to question certain aspects of an activity. Also, if they have to participate in an experiment or activity they will be more familiar with the activity than if they were just sitting at a desk listening.

Outlined above is a very brief explanation of hands-on learning and some of its benefits. As educators of the world it is time we begin to move forward and implement many of these principles. Over time these ideas will benefit not only school children but also anyone who is determined to learn a new skill or idea.

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