Right-Brain vs Left-Brain: How Different Learning Styles Impact STEM Engagement

Table of Contents

Understanding Right and Left Brain Learning Styles
How Left Brain Thinkers Engage with STEM
How Right Brain Thinkers Engage with STEM
Designing STEM Lessons That Engage Both Sides of the Brain
Classroom Examples of Whole Brain STEM Learning
Why Whole Brain Learning Matters in STEM

It is common for school administrators and educators to refer to left and right brain learners when talking about the unique learning styles and needs of the classroom. While these distinctions are not scientifically proven and cannot be used to fully categorize students, they can be a powerful tool as educators plan out their classroom curriculum and look for ways to engage each student in the classroom.

In this article, we will dive into the unique capabilities and characteristics of left and right brained learners, highlighting how each may engage best in STEM lessons. We will also cover how to get students using both sides of their brains, even when it is not their default, helping to create a more holistic learning environment where all students can succeed.

Understanding Right and Left Brain Learning Styles

Both left and right brain learners have distinct strengths and capabilities that help them in both the classroom and their personal lives. Below are common traits and strengths for each:

Left Brain Learner Traits: Left brained learners tend to be logical thinkers, organized, skilled with numbers and mathematics, have a strong attention to detail, and skilled sequential processing.
Right Brain Learning Traits: Right brained learners tend to be imaginative, big-picture thinkers, with visual and spatial awareness, a strong intuition, and a preference to lean into their creative side.

While students are rarely all left or right brained, most tend to lean one way or the other, making it their dominant set of traits.

How Left Brain Thinkers Engage with STEM

When planning science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) lessons with students, it can be beneficial to look at if your students are more of a left or right brain thinker, helping you to more successfully tailor the approach to the lesson.

Here are some of the STEM tasks left brained learners will naturally gravitate towards:

Solving mathematical equations.
Running complex, detailed data analysis.
Following step-by-step instructions provided to them.
Working to find a logical solution with a measurable outcome.
Understand systems and structures intimately and how they help get to the final solution.

How Right Brain Thinkers Engage with STEM

Below are STEM tasks right brained learners will naturally enjoy more and be more eager to engage in:

Designing creative prototypes.
Visualizing innovative engineering solutions.
Using intuition and spatial reasoning to solve problems.
Using modeling and visual storytelling to explain STEM concepts and lesson outcomes.

Designing STEM Lessons That Engage Both Sides of the Brain

At a first glance, it may seem that left brained learners are going to more naturally be drawn to STEM classes and careers. In many ways, that is true. But, as parents, educators, and school administrators, we can help students find ways to tap into both sides of the brain, using both their dominant skill set and developing new ones. Through early and active exercise of these skills, students will begin to engage both sides of the brain, creating a strong, more well-rounded STEM student and, eventually, STEM professional.

Here are some easy ways to naturally get students engaging both sides of the brain, tapping into their analytical and creative thinking.

Use creative presentations, such as graphs and visual models, to organize and explain gathered data.
When implementing engineering lessons, create challenges that require students to plan their approach, which engages the left brain, and creatively execute their plan, which engages the right brain.
Use structured procedures to explain the what, how, and why of the lesson to students, including detailed instructions. Accompanying those elements, provide visuals, real-world examples, and open-ended questions for students to work through alone and collaboratively with classmates.
Encourage students to pause throughout and at the end of the lesson to reflect on their problem solving and collaboration, helping to build a strong metacognition.

Classroom Examples of Whole Brain STEM Learning

Above we discussed different ways STEM lessons can be designed to actively engage the students whole brain in the learning process. Included in that were broad, high level examples of how this can be done in practice. Below you will find a couple of examples of STEM lessons for elementary students that naturally engage the whole brain and can be easily implemented with students in the classroom, at home, or during summer camps.

Coding a Story Game: Using online platforms, students can create a story game using code. This will naturally engage left and right brain learners, tapping into their creative storytelling side while allowing for analytical, logical thinking when writing the code.
Bridge-Building Challenge: Engineering requires creative, innovative thinking and precise, detail-oriented planning. In this challenge, students will have the opportunity to plan their build, follow clear step-by-step instructions, and execute based on their design vision.
STEM Sports®: STEM Sports® offers turnkey K-8 STEM curricula that naturally engages students’ left and right brain through hands-on, real-world applicable lessons. Each lesson connects a complex STEM concept to a sports scenario, giving students a deeper understanding of what they are learning. To learn more, visit STEM Sports®.

Why Whole Brain Learning Matters in STEM

It is the goal of educators, parents, and school administrators to create well-rounded, confident learners who are prepared to enter the workforce and make a strong impact. The STEM workforce needs individuals who know how to actively use their whole brain. This ability is what allows for innovative thinking and rapid evolvement, which impacts all of us daily and the way we live.

This process starts in the classroom and through at home learning opportunities where students are pushed to use both their left and right brain to be a better, more well rounded, and productive learners.

If you are interested in learning more about STEM learning and how to best implement STEM lessons with your students, visit the STEM Sports® blog.

Lauren Chiangpradit