Twitch: How Twitch supports different learning techniques.

Learning from Twitch TV

If you've kept up with my blogs, you have seen that I look at Twitch TV in different lights outside of entertainment. This is another touch on that. In high school, then later in college, I learned about the different styles and techniques each individual learns best by. A few being Visual, Verbal, and Kinesthetic. Essentially broken down loosely... people learn differently; some by watching things (think slide shows or how to videos), some by listening (they need to hear the directions and steps), and others by hands on and physical interaction (trying it themselves). With these things in mind, I'm going to now explain why I feel that Twitch is one of the BEST platforms for people to learn something from. I wont cover all the learning techniques, but for reference I'll link this article from Google that you can read: Learning Styles

First I'll point out the obvious thought that might have come to your mind already. "Well, there is no way to have kinesthetic learning with Twitch." That's not entirely true. Want to learn how to play a game? Watch a streamer play it first. Sure, its more visual and auditory while you're watching... but aren't you then also encouraged to TRY to play that game, because it caught your interest? There you go... you are now learning kinestheticly.

That out of the way, now think of Twitch as a triple threat learning wise. A stream has all 3 potential learning techniques. You can watch how someone plays a game (Visual), you can hear certain streamers break down -why- they do things in the game (Verbal), and then you can try the game out alongside watching the stream just as if a teacher was there to guide you (Kinesthetic). This doesn't only apply to games. Twitch has spread to a wide variety of things you can learn too: art, music, cooking, travel, and more.

I learned how to crochet, from a streamer (Bane). She literally taught us, step by step, and answered any questions we had. Then we shared our finished projects on her Discord. Perhaps not all streamers will invest that kind of teaching to their viewers, but some do. Many streamers love to instruct their viewers on the 'how' and 'why' of what they're doing in game. FPS streamers explain good positioning, bullet drop, nice hiding places they've found. Hearthstone streamers show different card combinations, how to beat the 'meta', and why some cards may have more uses than you might have thought of on your own.

So if you are in the mood to learn something new during this time of  'shelter in place' around the world... consider browsing Twitch for something that catches your interest. No matter which style of learner you are, Twitch should work for you.