Brilliance by Design: Creating Learning Experiences to Inspire and Engage

23 May 2011, Monday

Speaker: Victoria Halsey

I like this session because the speaker was engaging and by using models, I find it easier to remember the principles shared.

Lesson 1

Always have a goal in the mind.  The more specific, the better.  Both the trainer and the participants need to know what outcomes are expected at the end of the learning.  At the end of the day, the people need to know what they will be able to do when they walk out of the classroom.

I find this important.  At EA desk, we deliver similar programmes over and over again so much so I wouldn’t be surprised if at times, the programme manager forgets the goal of the lecture in the first place.  

The 70/30 Principles

According to the speaker,

Learners spent 70% talking and only 30% listening.  Hence, engaging the learners is important because their attention is always somewhere else!

Learners spent 70% of their time practicing and only 30% being taught.  Learners learn best by doing.  Hence, it is important to provide exercises for the participants to try.

Teachers spent 70% on how they will teach and only 30% on what they will teach.  How the teacher engage the students will make a difference on the learning outcome.

Lesson 2

The ENGAGE Model

E	Energize Learners – Fire them up, Get them primed for Learning!
N	Navigate Content – Use mind maps, stories, case studies to help make content interesting.
G	Generate Meaning – What did you learn?  What does it mean to you?
A	Apply to Real World – Transfer learning to actions.  How can you adapt what you learn to what you do?
G	Gauge and Celebrate – Celebrate every success small or big!
E	Extend Learning to Action – Set up a support group, form buddies, create a newsletter to keep the learning ongoing.

One of the things I noticed at the ASTD workshops is that the participants from the Western countries are highly enthusiastic and spontaneous.  They are always willing to participate in the games, be a volunteer, ask questions and join in a discussion with complete strangers without raising an eyebrow.  Hence, I noted it was so much easier for the speakers to engage the audience.  The ENGAGE model seems to work beautifully there.

Here in Singapore, I find speakers always having difficulties getting volunteers and most participants are shy to celebrate small successes.  I wonder how much we can adapt from the ENGAGE model to our Singapore audience or even to our foreign participants. 

I will find out when I go to Cambodia later this year ….. J

Wai Cheng