I've just returned from a whirlwind trip around Europe, speaking at the WIN conference in Paris, launching Life Lenses®, visiting old friends and meeting new ones.I spent one weekend in Scotland, in a tiny village near Stirling, where an old friend Tara Fenwick has started ProPEL, a … [Read more...] about The creme de la creme of learning
Calling all carrots (one of the Life Lenses® self-assessment)
God is in the details (Ludwig Mies van der Rohe) Do you love to create systems? Do you notice details that other miss? Do you have an uncanny ability to focus? Do you not like to leave things undone?If so, perhaps you're a carrot or know someone else who is a carrot, one of the 8 Life Lenses®. … [Read more...] about Calling all carrots (one of the Life Lenses® self-assessment)
Learning from a hole in the wall
Check out the video below about the TED hole in the wall educational experiment (forward to 7:15 min). It's the work of Dr. Sugata Mitra, of India.His office butted up against a slum and one day he punched a hole in his wall and stuck a computer in it. A computer that faced out, into the … [Read more...] about Learning from a hole in the wall
5 lessons on learning from international dancing sensation 'Where the hell is Matt?'
As I've recently been working in Turkey, traveling is on my brain. Hence the focus on international learning and specifically lessons on learning from international dance sensation Matt, of 'Where the Hell is Matt' fame. If this makes no sense to you then I'm tempted to ask 'where the hell have you … [Read more...] about 5 lessons on learning from international dancing sensation 'Where the hell is Matt?'
Putting learning technology in the back seat – where it belongs
At its best learning technology should disappear into the background, allowing the learning to shine.At its worst technology is so much in the foreground that nothing else is discernible (enter video conferences where participant faces look like something a Star Wars make-up artist dreamed up … [Read more...] about Putting learning technology in the back seat – where it belongs
Turkish swirling smoke, whirling dervishes & Wi Fi; learning with the old & new
I'm in an outdoor restaurant watching folks rest up after a long day. I'm not sure which is more responsible for the slouching against the low slung couches - the heat and humidity or perhaps not having eaten all day, for it's the first day of Ramadan, the Islamic month of fasting.It's my last … [Read more...] about Turkish swirling smoke, whirling dervishes & Wi Fi; learning with the old & new
How do you like your learning – with or without olives?
Being in Istanbul, Turkey to do a program evaluation training on behalf of the United Nations naturally means eating a Turkish breakfast. This morning I found myself musing about learning over olives. Yes olives. I was watching the pile of uneaten olives grow on the plates of my breakfast mates. … [Read more...] about How do you like your learning – with or without olives?
Learning comes in all shapes, sizes & venues (including family reunions)
Some prefer their learning delivered through stacks of facts. Facts lined up with their edges squared and precise, like the desks in an old classroom. Facts stuffed to (over)fill precious time. Trainers channeling their knowledge into (supposed) empty and (un)willing brains.Others (in the know) … [Read more...] about Learning comes in all shapes, sizes & venues (including family reunions)
Knowledge management – how about a 'to-consider' list
I'm all about learning, about soaking up new knowledge and creating a sumptuous, creative smorgasbord of learning opportunities for my workshop participants. I have lists of books that I've read, dog-eared, highlighted, scribbled in and otherwise marked up for how to transfer the knowledge they … [Read more...] about Knowledge management – how about a 'to-consider' list
Doing things differently gets attention- even when it comes to saying thanks
I've been on a roll with two prior posts about how we as trainers can do things differently, in order to help prime our participants for learning. I think being creative and doing things differently is critical to being a great trainer.If participants don't want to learn, if they're not paying … [Read more...] about Doing things differently gets attention- even when it comes to saying thanks
Doing things differently as a trainer gets attention
Learning can't happen without attention. Our brains have to be sitting up, ready to absorb, in order to learn. One way of getting our participant's attention is by doing things differently. By doing things creatively.How much have the estimates changed of how much oil is pulsating into the … [Read more...] about Doing things differently as a trainer gets attention
Doing things differently gets attention
I'm all about creating a sumptuous banquet of learning opportunities that participants can't help themselves but dive into. One way to do that is to do things differently.Doing things differently gets our brain's attention. "Hey you gray matter - pay attention - something unusual is … [Read more...] about Doing things differently gets attention
