When we think about using video for training purposes we automatically think about using film clips. These work well, but it's not film clips I'm suggesting here. 

With this tip, I want to start you thinking beyond film clips. I'd like you to start and think about using asynchronous and synchronous video.

With everything we now know from the world of neuroscience on how the brain learns, why do we still have webinars that are a one way dialog from facilitator to learner?

Of course, the better webinars go a step further in the right direction by including interaction.  But for webinars to become a truly learner centred, learning experience, we need make another step forward and design for collaboration.

A - Active - Keep learners active throughout the workshop.  Being active might include practice, working in teams/pairs, problem solving, redesigning etc  In other words, step back and make way for learning.

B - Benefits - Learners need to see the WIIFM before they decide to actively participate in the coming content.  If they cannot see how the content will directly benefit them eg increased sales, hitting targets, staying safe etc they will simply switch off.  So make sure you benefit sell all content from your learner's perspective.

"Your brain has two parallel visual systems. The impact of this is that everything you see is recorded as what (content), and where (context). That means your brain sorts incoming data based on whether it is 'embedded' in content or 'embedded' in context." Eric Jensen

Definition of Enrichment - 'The process by which positive physical changes take place in the brain, which would not normally be expected'.

For a long time there has been a debate around 'Is it what we are born with genetically that makes us 'smart' or is it the nurturing we receive throughout our life (environment, feedback, challenge etc)'.

Have you ever had this happen to you?  One of your learners leaves the workshop, starts to implement some of their new discoveries into the workplace and someone says to them, "you don't do it like that".  They promptly reply "Yes you do, David told us it was how we do it on the course last week".  The truth is, you never said anything of the sort.

So why is this person trying to get us into trouble?

1 Synchronous training is not interactive

Yes, we've all been subjected to the webinar where the facilitator has just delivered a 1 hour non-stop lecture - and all through, "never again!"  But it shouldn't be this way.  In fact, on-line learning should be even more interactive and collaborative than classroom based training.

We can:

I hear the term 'Brain Friendly Training Facilitation' being used a lot in the training world, but what does 'Brain Friendly' really mean to us as training facilitators?

Well, with all the research being carried out in the world of Neuroscience, we can move away from training theory and move towards implementing strategies on how the brain learns best.  Obviously there are many factors involved in being 'Brain Friendly' but to start with we need to have some basic understanding of how the brain learners.