Do Something Different

Hand out relevant props, link content to a magic trick, ask learners to work with someone not in their team, get learners to create a content video with their smartphone …

Why?

First the Science

When you want to get content into your learners Long Term Memory (Prefrontal Cortex) you need to help it pass 3 brain gatekeepers (filters) before it gets there. Each gatekeeper will happily discard the content unless you employ techniques that will allow your content to pass.

The first of these gatekeepers is the RAS (Reticular Activating System).  One of it’s functions is to monitor what’s happening around it.  If all looks the same it simply ignores it.  If anything changes, this could signal danger so wakes up and sends a signal that something has changed to the second filter (Amygdala).  So unless something looks different, content will be discarded by the RAS and never even make it to the second gatekeeper.

So what does this mean to you as a trainer or training designer?

Well, imagine that you’re facilitating a workshop.  Because of time restraints and insistence from the subject matter expert, you have designed the workshop to deliver as much content as possible in the shortest amount of time.  To help achieve this, you’ve managed to design most of the workshop as a set of PowerPoint slides that you’ll be able to talk through thus removing the need for learner activities.

Well, if we apply the science to this scenario, by the time you’re on slide 3, the RAS has already spotted the ‘safe’ pattern so is now just ignoring what’s going on (there’s no change).  The further you progress through your slides, the more the content is ignored and discarded.  Nothing is even passing to the second gatekeeper so will never make it to Long Term Memory.

Try these ideas to help wake up your learners RAS