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How our hands help us learn.

Susan Goldin-Meadow·Susan M Wagner
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Abstract

When people talk they gesture, and those gestures often reflect thoughts not expressed in their words. In this sense, gesture and the speech it accompanies can mismatch. Gesture-speech 'mismatches' are found when learners are on the verge of making progress on a task - when they are ready to learn. Moreover, mismatches provide insight into the mental processes that characterize learners when in this transitional state. Gesture is not just handwaving - it reflects how we think. However, evidence is mounting that gesture goes beyond reflecting our thoughts and can have a hand in changing those thoughts. We consider two ways in which gesture could change the course of learning: indirectly by influencing learning environments or directly by influencing learners themselves.

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CognitionConcept FormationGesturesHandHumansLanguage DevelopmentLearningVerbal BehaviorJournal ArticleResearch Support, N.I.H., ExtramuralResearch Support, Non-U.S. Gov'tResearch Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.Review

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Susan Goldin-Meadow, Susan M Wagner. 2005. How our hands help us learn.. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tics.2005.03.006

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