I love traveling by train so when I found myself on the platform in Amsterdam looking for the right platform I was like a kid looking forward to an ice cream cone on a hot summer's day. (The fact that I was headed to Paris didn't hurt either.) Despite a well-organized system though I couldn't find … [Read more...] about Time for audience participation (that means you): we see what we expect to see
20 Awesomely Untranslatable Words from Around the World
Know what Toska means? How about Jayus? Jason White wrote an article about '20 awesomely untranslatable worlds from around the world for Matador Abroad. Toska and jayus are two of 20 untranslatable (or at least tough to translate) words from other languages. Toska is a Russian word meaning … [Read more...] about 20 Awesomely Untranslatable Words from Around the World
Ditching dichotomous thinking: blending old & new
Dichotomous thinking gets us into trouble. old / new love / hate either / or yes / no black / white right / wrong Forcing our brain to think along these dichotomous lines causes us to loose opportunities, get boxed into a corner and what's more makes creativity and innovation tank. How … [Read more...] about Ditching dichotomous thinking: blending old & new
Where's your off switch?
When I was doing some training for the United Nations in East Africa a while back, some friends and I got together one night at a house to watch a movie and make cookies. The cookie dough never made it to the oven (a destination few cookie dough batches in my world meet) and the movie was … [Read more...] about Where's your off switch?
The blind leading the blind … literally
Remember the old joke about 3 blind men describing an elephant? One man, holding the tail, describes it entirely differently than another man who is touching its truck, which is yet again different from the man touching its tusk. Perspective. It can be a potential killer. Limited perspective … [Read more...] about The blind leading the blind … literally
10 tips for trainers part two: avoiding hairy, naked guys
This is part two of 10 tips for trainers. See part one here. It's my gift to you the day after my birthday. I figured as I don't have to wait until Christmas to open gifts why should you. 6. Avoid the hairy, naked guy; part A when we're stressed our brains aren't primed for objective … [Read more...] about 10 tips for trainers part two: avoiding hairy, naked guys
10 tips for trainers part one: bumblebee butts & booty
It's my birthday tomorrow and as tomorrow's not a usual day for posting I thought I'd give you a gift today. Ever since I hit the earth some 4+ decades ago I've not had to wait for Christmas to open gifts so I thought I'd share the bounty with you, my dear blog reader, with you. Thanks for your … [Read more...] about 10 tips for trainers part one: bumblebee butts & booty
Are you ‘Educating for a Change?’
Educating for a change is one of my all time favourite books. It’s a lovely blend of: 1. Explaining what popular education is and why it’s important 2. Example activities that you can use to effect change As a learning and development specialist do you know what your pedagogy is? Pedagogy … [Read more...] about Are you ‘Educating for a Change?’
How you get kids to wash their hands can tell you a lot about effecting change
Washing hands prevents sickness, prevents spreading disease. Washing your hands properly can reduce your chances of death, yes death, by up to 35%. Nothing new there. Smoking kills. The World Health Organization says that 4.2 million people died prematurely in 2000 from smoking. Smoking stinks, … [Read more...] about How you get kids to wash their hands can tell you a lot about effecting change
Learning about change & the power of music to rock the world from United Nations 'Messenger of Truth' Sara Mitaru©
Imagine being able to write “Messenger of Truth” as a job title on your CV. That’s what the incomparable Sara Mitaru can claim. What exactly is a messenger of truth? The United Nation’s Messengers of Truth (MOT) Project has 3 major objectives: to inform youth living in slums and inner cities … [Read more...] about Learning about change & the power of music to rock the world from United Nations 'Messenger of Truth' Sara Mitaru©
What's your theory of change? Evolution or Revolution?
Ever wondered what your theory of change is? How do you believe change happens? If you're a learning and development specialist then you're out to change - change minds, expand learning, influence behaviour. Face it, you're a changemaker. One way to look at change is on a continuum with evolution … [Read more...] about What's your theory of change? Evolution or Revolution?
10 ways how to wrap a training (and a cat)
It's the end of the week and all good things must come to an end, especially trainings. The primacy and recency effect in training tells us that participants tend to remember what happens first and last, hence the need for a good ending. How do you end your trainings? Here's a checklist of things … [Read more...] about 10 ways how to wrap a training (and a cat)
