Exploring Embodied Learning: Body and Spirit Learning
I am a volunteer in my church’s pre-school ministry. I spend my Sunday mornings doing
little cheesy dances to simple songs that help the kids learn about Jesus. The kids love
learning this way and would lose focus if I were to try to lecture them about the same
material we sing. The kids learn so much better when I make the information engaging. It
is the same material just presented in a different way, this type of learning is known as
embodied learning. Embodied learning in adults works in the same way. While there is less
dancing in adult learning, embodied learning allows for adult learns to find interest and
engage in information rather than simply memorizing it.
Importance of body and spirit
The text explains that embodied learning is, “seeing our body as an instrument for
learning.” (Merriam 2014, p.132). In the previous chapters I have explored the importance
of mind and cognitive skills in learning, but embodied learning focuses on the importance
of body and spirit in learning. For a mind to thrive it needs to be in sync with its body and
spirit. My Sunday school class is a great example of how learners use kinetic body
movements to learn. It is hard for me to sing the song “YMCA” by the Village People