{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,6]],"date-time":"2026-03-06T03:22:56Z","timestamp":1772767376148,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":27,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"11","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2020,11,19]],"date-time":"2020-11-19T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1605744000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Geosciences"],"abstract":"<jats:p>We live in a multisensory world. However, in classrooms, unisensory approaches are preferred, although they are unnatural and usually demotivating for youngsters. We conducted this mix-method study to investigate the possible effects of a multisensory approach on geosciences learning among students at a primary school in Porto, Portugal. The cognitive outcome was assessed using a pre\/post-test design, while motivation and other attitudinal parameters were studied using an anonymous questionnaire. The results revealed a higher mean score in post-tests for students attending multisensory classes and high levels of motivation. Therefore, we consider that multisensory instruction has a positive impact on geosciences learning and motivation, and proper measures should be adopted to propel its full and optimal application in schools.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/geosciences10110467","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2020,11,19]],"date-time":"2020-11-19T06:23:52Z","timestamp":1605767032000},"page":"467","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":5,"title":["The Impact of Multisensory Instruction on Geosciences Learning and Students\u2019 Motivation"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"10","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-2382-119X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"F\u00e1bio Miguel","family":"Ferreira","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"CIIMAR, Faculty of Sciences, Porto University, Rua do Campo Alegre, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-4524-9788","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Clara","family":"Vasconcelos","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"CIIMAR, Faculty of Sciences, Porto University, Rua do Campo Alegre, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2020,11,19]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"581","DOI":"10.1001\/archneurpsyc.1925.02200170002001","article-title":"Word-blindness in school children","volume":"14","author":"Orton","year":"1925","journal-title":"Arch. Neurol. Psychiatry"},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"71","DOI":"10.1163\/22134808-00002478","article-title":"Multisensory Integration and Calibration in Children and Adults with and without Sensory and Motor Disabilities","volume":"28","author":"Gori","year":"2015","journal-title":"Multisens. Res."},{"key":"ref_3","unstructured":"Frederick, A. (1912). The Montessori Method: Scientific Pedagogy as Applied Child Education in \u201cThe Children\u2019s Houses\u201d, with Additions and Revisions by the Author, Stokes Company."},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"715","DOI":"10.1007\/s11191-018-0003-y","article-title":"What\u2019s inside the Earth? Children and seniors\u2019 conceptions and the need for a lifelong education","volume":"27","author":"Cardoso","year":"2018","journal-title":"Sci. Educ."},{"key":"ref_5","unstructured":"Baines, L. (2008). A Teacher\u2019s Guide to Multisensory Learning: Improving Literacy by Engaging the Senses, Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development."},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"411","DOI":"10.1016\/j.tics.2008.07.006","article-title":"Benefits of multisensory learning","volume":"12","author":"Shams","year":"2008","journal-title":"Trends Cogn. Sci."},{"key":"ref_7","first-page":"1","article-title":"Universal Design for Learning: Cognitive Theory into Practice for Facilitating Comprehension in Early Literacy","volume":"2012","author":"Brand","year":"2012","journal-title":"Forum Public Policy"},{"key":"ref_8","unstructured":"Da Cunha, A.R.F. (2020, August 17). VARK: Como \u00e9 que Aprendo Melhor? Uma Mudan\u00e7a no Processo de Ensino-Aprendizagem. Available online: http:\/\/hdl.handle.net\/20.500.11960\/1582."},{"key":"ref_9","unstructured":"Baxter, J., Callaghan, G., and McAvoy, J. (2018). Creativity, Criticality and Engaging the Senses in Higher Education: Creating Online Opportunities for Multisensory Learning and Assessment. Creativity & Critique in Online Learning: Exploring and Examining Innovations in Online Pedagogy, Palgrave Macmillan."},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Abell, S., and Lederman, N. (2014). Earth systems education. Handbook of Research on Science Teaching and Learning, Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.","DOI":"10.4324\/9780203097267"},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Vasconcelos, C., Ferreira, F., Rolo, A., Moreira, B., and Melo, M. (2020). Improved concept map-based teaching for an Earth system approach. Geosciences, 10.","DOI":"10.3390\/geosciences10010008"},{"key":"ref_12","unstructured":"Vasconcelos, C. (2016). Geomedicine and History of Science: A Contribution to Scientific Culture. Geoscience Education: Indoor and Outdoor, Springer."},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"177","DOI":"10.1146\/annurev.earth.34.031405.125005","article-title":"The Earth, Source of Health and Hazards: An Introduction to Medical Geology","volume":"35","author":"Skinner","year":"2007","journal-title":"Annu. Rev. Earth Planet. Sci."},{"key":"ref_14","unstructured":"National Research Council (1981). Aging and the Geochemical Environment, The National Academies Press."},{"key":"ref_15","unstructured":"United Nations General Assembly (2020, September 01). Transforming Our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (Resolution Adopted by the General Assembly on 25 September 2015: 70\/1). Available online: https:\/\/www.un.org\/ga\/search\/view_doc.asp?symbol=A\/RES\/70\/1&Lang=E."},{"key":"ref_16","unstructured":"Anderson, L.W., and Krathwohl, D.R. (2001). A Taxonomy for Learning, Teaching, and Assessing: A Revision of Bloom\u2019s Taxonomy of Educational Objectives (Complete Edition), Longman."},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"278","DOI":"10.1016\/j.tics.2006.04.008","article-title":"Is neocortex essentially multisensory?","volume":"10","author":"Ghazanfar","year":"2006","journal-title":"Trends Cogn. Sci. (Regul. Ed.)"},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"156","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cognition.2014.11.031","article-title":"Multi-modal distraction: Insights from children\u2019s limited attention","volume":"136","author":"Matusz","year":"2015","journal-title":"Cognition"},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"505","DOI":"10.1016\/S0959-4388(00)00241-5","article-title":"Sensory modalities are not separate modalities: Plasticity and interactions","volume":"11","author":"Shimojo","year":"2001","journal-title":"Curr. Opin. Neurobiol."},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1790","DOI":"10.1162\/jocn.2009.21118","article-title":"A multisensory cortical network for understanding speech in noise","volume":"21","author":"Bishop","year":"2009","journal-title":"J. Cogn. Neurosci."},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"189","DOI":"10.1007\/BF02648066","article-title":"Multisensory teaching approach for reading, spelling, and handwriting, Orton-Gillingham based curriculum, in a public school setting","volume":"37","author":"Vickery","year":"1987","journal-title":"Ann. Dyslexia"},{"key":"ref_22","first-page":"1","article-title":"Strategies to Enhance Memory Based on Brain Research","volume":"32","author":"Banikowski","year":"1999","journal-title":"Focus Except. Child."},{"key":"ref_23","first-page":"3","article-title":"Reasons for increased learning using multimedia","volume":"7","author":"Bagui","year":"1998","journal-title":"J. Educ. Multimed. Hypermedia"},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"409","DOI":"10.1007\/s10758-018-9380-1","article-title":"Creativity and Technology in Education: An International Perspective","volume":"23","author":"Henriksen","year":"2018","journal-title":"Technol. Knowl. Learn."},{"key":"ref_25","first-page":"34","article-title":"How we turned around a problem school. The problem wasn\u2019t our students couldn\u2019t learn; it was that we didn\u2019t know how to teach them","volume":"72","author":"Stone","year":"1992","journal-title":"Principal"},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"223","DOI":"10.1080\/00098655.1981.9957163","article-title":"Reading achievement and learning style characteristics","volume":"54","author":"Price","year":"1980","journal-title":"Clear. House"},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1278","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyg.2014.01278","article-title":"Face-to-Face or face-to-screen? Undergraduates\u2019 opinions and test performance in classroom vs. online learning","volume":"5","author":"Kemp","year":"2014","journal-title":"Front. Psychol."}],"container-title":["Geosciences"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2076-3263\/10\/11\/467\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,11]],"date-time":"2025-10-11T10:34:18Z","timestamp":1760178858000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2076-3263\/10\/11\/467"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2020,11,19]]},"references-count":27,"journal-issue":{"issue":"11","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2020,11]]}},"alternative-id":["geosciences10110467"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/geosciences10110467","relation":{},"ISSN":["2076-3263"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2076-3263","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2020,11,19]]}}}