http://www.brainfriendlytrainer.com support for Brain Friendly Learning practitioners Mon, 26 Jul 2010 22:29:19 +0000 en hourly 1 http://www.brainfriendlytrainer.com/practice/feedback-and-the-x-factor#utm_source=feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=feed http://www.brainfriendlytrainer.com/practice/feedback-and-the-x-factor#comments Mon, 26 Jul 2010 22:27:45 +0000 Guest http://www.brainfriendlytrainer.com/?p=1990 In April, Annabel shared how her experience of restoring an old, WW2 Jeep  helped her learners understand the S.M.A.R.T. method of objective setting. We are delighted that she has now given us her thoughts on giving feedback. I don’t know if you’ve watched any of the many shows where a panel of judges pass comment on [...] Related posts:

1. Feedback with a stroke not a poke. The other day a colleague took me to one...
2. Bop It and leadership We have had some discussions recently about management development...
3. Table toys R you I’ve been involved in a great discussion on LinkedIn...

]]> http://www.brainfriendlytrainer.com/practice/feedback-and-the-x-factor/feed 2 http://www.brainfriendlytrainer.com/practice/learn-to-drive-in-a-day-the-brain-friendly-way#utm_source=feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=feed http://www.brainfriendlytrainer.com/practice/learn-to-drive-in-a-day-the-brain-friendly-way#comments Sun, 20 Jun 2010 20:08:10 +0000 Paul http://www.brainfriendlytrainer.com/?p=1950 It’s a big day in our family. My eldest son is 17 and the only thing he has wanted for his birthday since last year has been driving lessons. So this morning, having spent a large proportion of his inheritance on insurance, I drove him to a quiet street in his mother’s car where the learning [...] Related posts:

1. Brain Friendly tips for students For a lot of us, the exam season is...
2. Watching the Brain Learn Following a link a few months ago I found...
3. Brain Friendly(ness) as a way of life? In his book “Blink” Malcom Gladwell makes several references...

]]> http://www.brainfriendlytrainer.com/practice/learn-to-drive-in-a-day-the-brain-friendly-way/feed 17 http://www.brainfriendlytrainer.com/practice/take-your-learners-to-a-concert-or-two#utm_source=feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=feed http://www.brainfriendlytrainer.com/practice/take-your-learners-to-a-concert-or-two#comments Sun, 23 May 2010 19:40:30 +0000 Paul http://www.brainfriendlytrainer.com/?p=1899 The use of background music during lectures, vocabulary decoding, or group readings is a cornerstone of Accelerated Learning techniques. Two methods for using music, designed to create very different but equally effective learning environments, were developed through Lozanov's methods. They are called concerts. Related posts:

1. Learners smell your fear New Scientist magazine recently reported a study that concluded...
2. Experience or memory – how do you know your learners are happy? Last week, I watched a fascinating TED video called...
3. Help learners learn with PRAGMATIVITY Have you ever been on a course and felt your...

]]> http://www.brainfriendlytrainer.com/practice/take-your-learners-to-a-concert-or-two/feed 5 http://www.brainfriendlytrainer.com/theory/brain-friendly-tips-for-students#utm_source=feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=feed http://www.brainfriendlytrainer.com/theory/brain-friendly-tips-for-students#comments Mon, 17 May 2010 22:45:30 +0000 Paul http://www.brainfriendlytrainer.com/?p=1886 For a lot of us, the exam season is upon us;  for some it’s mocks, for others it’s the real thing. Whichever is your current situation, all over the land parents can be heard encouraging their loved ones as follows: “Turn off that (delete as needed): laptop x-box playstation ipod TV mobile Wii … and DO SOME REVISION!” So I thought I would share some [...] Related posts:

1. Learn to drive in a day the Brain Friendly way. It’s a big day in our family. My eldest...
2. Brain Friendly(ness) as a way of life? In his book “Blink” Malcom Gladwell makes several references...
3. 6 Tips for training in a recession For many of us the economic downturn has brought added...

]]> http://www.brainfriendlytrainer.com/theory/brain-friendly-tips-for-students/feed 5 http://www.brainfriendlytrainer.com/practice/a-goal-without-a-plan-is-just-a-wish#utm_source=feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=feed http://www.brainfriendlytrainer.com/practice/a-goal-without-a-plan-is-just-a-wish#comments Wed, 28 Apr 2010 11:51:09 +0000 Guest http://www.brainfriendlytrainer.com/?p=1775 A while ago, Ally was inspired by a YouTube video and wrote a post about flexible training design. In the comments section, Annabel posted her experience of inspiring her learners through telling a personal story and has agreed to elaborate her thoughts here… Thanks Annabel! A Goal without a Plan is just a wish In the Past I’ve [...] Related posts:

1. Feedback and the X-Factor In April, Annabel shared how her experience of restoring...
2. A design for design Part 1 Paul reflects on a highly enjoyable afternoon with a client...
3. Are your’s firm or fluffy? (Outcomes that is) Over the years Accelerated Learning has, in some quarters developed...

]]> http://www.brainfriendlytrainer.com/practice/a-goal-without-a-plan-is-just-a-wish/feed 4 http://www.brainfriendlytrainer.com/practice/the-power-of-a-good-story#utm_source=feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=feed http://www.brainfriendlytrainer.com/practice/the-power-of-a-good-story#comments Mon, 12 Apr 2010 23:59:16 +0000 Paul http://www.brainfriendlytrainer.com/?p=1648 For ages now I have been planning to write some posts about the power of “story” but for a number of reasons (some of which I don’t yet understand myself) I have been unable. SO, when I came across an article by Jill Chivers yesterday,  I thought I’d share it with you. It’s called “The Power [...] Related posts:

1. Podcast: Interview with Stella Collins Pt2 In this second part of our interview with Stella...
2. 10 fantastic quotes about UNlearning Over Christmas I spent some time trawling the interweb...
3. Top 10 activities for participant centered learning Following on from my “top 10” (ways to split...

]]> http://www.brainfriendlytrainer.com/practice/the-power-of-a-good-story/feed 5 http://www.brainfriendlytrainer.com/practice/top-10-ways-to-not-facilitate-learning#utm_source=feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=feed http://www.brainfriendlytrainer.com/practice/top-10-ways-to-not-facilitate-learning#comments Sun, 28 Mar 2010 17:16:53 +0000 Paul http://www.brainfriendlytrainer.com/?p=1587 Following on from my “top 10” (ways to split a group) post a couple of weeks ago I thought I would do another one. So here, in no particular order, are my top 10 activities for un-facilitated learning: Check list – each participant is provided with a tick list of activities they should have completed by the [...] Related posts:

1. Learning by falling off. There is a new game show in the UK...
2. Great Learning State = Focus + Physiology The state of our learners is crucial to the quality...
3. The birds, the bees and the joy of learning We have regularly mentioned the fact that humans are...

]]> http://www.brainfriendlytrainer.com/practice/top-10-ways-to-not-facilitate-learning/feed 4 http://www.brainfriendlytrainer.com/practice/the-battle-for-brain-friendly-cont#utm_source=feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=feed http://www.brainfriendlytrainer.com/practice/the-battle-for-brain-friendly-cont#comments Thu, 18 Mar 2010 23:23:47 +0000 Paul http://www.brainfriendlytrainer.com/?p=1480 A couple of postings ago Paul mentioned working with a very traditional organisation trying to promote the brain friendly message. Since then quite a few of you have asked what happened next. In this post, Paul explains the rest of the story and shares his experience of how brain friendly learning reduces the pressure on learners to read up on course materials to ensure training success. Related posts:

1. It’s not just fun and games – Games as corporate training tools Games, which engage participants in the learning process and encourage...
2. To-Do Lists: 10 Tips for Increasing Productivity Many people involved in designing and delivering brain friendly...
3. Evaluation is NOT hard… … but it is essential A couple of weeks...

]]> http://www.brainfriendlytrainer.com/practice/the-battle-for-brain-friendly-cont/feed 2 http://www.brainfriendlytrainer.com/practice/evaluation-is-not-hard#utm_source=feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=feed http://www.brainfriendlytrainer.com/practice/evaluation-is-not-hard#comments Sun, 07 Mar 2010 21:13:43 +0000 Paul http://www.brainfriendlytrainer.com/?p=1470 … but it is essential A couple of weeks ago Ally and I spent an extremely enjoyable day with the Brain Friendly Learning Group, a UK networking group for brain friendly trainers set up by Stella Collins. In the morning we ran a session about music in the training room (there will be much more on this [...] Related posts:

1. Kirkpartick re-writes Level 1 evaluation Jim Kirkpatrick, son of Don (creator of Kirkpatricks 4-levels...
2. ROI and double standards Last time we talked about Kirkpatrick’s model for evaluation...
3. One way to break through corporate inertia A couple of postings ago Paul mentioned working with a...

]]> http://www.brainfriendlytrainer.com/practice/evaluation-is-not-hard/feed 1 http://www.brainfriendlytrainer.com/practice/10-ways-to-split-big-groups-into-small-groups-or-pairs#utm_source=feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=feed http://www.brainfriendlytrainer.com/practice/10-ways-to-split-big-groups-into-small-groups-or-pairs#comments Thu, 04 Mar 2010 20:00:34 +0000 Paul http://www.brainfriendlytrainer.com/?p=1485 As trainers we are constantly looking for fresh and interesting ways to subdivide our groups into smaller groups and over the years I guess we all have our favourites. So what are yours? As a starter for 10, here are my top 10 (in no particular order!) that I have begged, borrowed, designed and stolen: A continuum of [...] Related posts:

1. 3 ways the brain creates meaning (video by Tom Wujec) We all know that great visuals enhance learning. A recent...
2. Julian Treasure: The 4 ways sound affects us Playing sound effects both pleasant and awful, Julian Treasure shows...
3. Congruence – What is that about? We hear a a fair bit about being congruent...

]]> http://www.brainfriendlytrainer.com/practice/10-ways-to-split-big-groups-into-small-groups-or-pairs/feed 17 http://www.brainfriendlytrainer.com/practice/there-is-no-such-thing-as-a-difficult-delegate#utm_source=feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=feed http://www.brainfriendlytrainer.com/practice/there-is-no-such-thing-as-a-difficult-delegate#comments Sun, 07 Feb 2010 21:32:17 +0000 Paul http://www.brainfriendlytrainer.com/?p=1377 Last week, Paul was running a workshop with a new group with a new colleague who was familiar with the group. At the end of the session, the new colleague expressed surprise that a normally difficult learner seemed very happy and didn't disrupt the group. Paul reflects on this experience and pinpoints the reasons why he believes the normally difficult delegate responded well during the session. Related posts:

1. 10 ways to split big groups into small groups or pairs As trainers we are constantly looking for fresh and...
2. A design for design Part 1 Paul reflects on a highly enjoyable afternoon with a client...
3. Do you over-complicate the simple? The thing that differentiates humans from animals is the simple...

]]> http://www.brainfriendlytrainer.com/practice/there-is-no-such-thing-as-a-difficult-delegate/feed 9 http://www.brainfriendlytrainer.com/practice/a-design-for-design-part-2#utm_source=feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=feed http://www.brainfriendlytrainer.com/practice/a-design-for-design-part-2#comments Thu, 04 Feb 2010 21:06:11 +0000 Paul http://www.brainfriendlytrainer.com/?p=1381 In the final instalment, Paul explains how the subject of the training is like The Olympic Games. This conclusion then influences the content sequencing and ensures that the learning is layered by starting with the common basics and layers complexity as new understanding is gained. Related posts:

1. A design for design Part 1 Paul reflects on a highly enjoyable afternoon with a client...
2. Acoustic guitar and flexible training design Ally shares a remarkable acoustic guitar performance that inspired insights...
3. What goes around goes around… I sometimes think it’s interesting to take a step...

]]> http://www.brainfriendlytrainer.com/practice/a-design-for-design-part-2/feed 1 http://www.brainfriendlytrainer.com/practice/a-design-for-design-part-1#utm_source=feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=feed http://www.brainfriendlytrainer.com/practice/a-design-for-design-part-1#comments Wed, 03 Feb 2010 21:45:43 +0000 Paul http://www.brainfriendlytrainer.com/?p=1379 Paul reflects on a highly enjoyable afternoon with a client designing a 2 day training session around a very specific process. By challenging the common design practice of training the sequential process in a logical fashion, he demonstrates how to increase effectiveness by beginning with the learning outcomes. Related posts:

1. A design for design Part 2 In the final instalment, Paul explains how the subject of...
2. Acoustic guitar and flexible training design Ally shares a remarkable acoustic guitar performance that inspired insights...
3. There is no such thing as a difficult delegate Last week, Paul was running a workshop with a new...

]]> http://www.brainfriendlytrainer.com/practice/a-design-for-design-part-1/feed 3 http://www.brainfriendlytrainer.com/practice/great-learning-state-focus-physiology#utm_source=feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=feed http://www.brainfriendlytrainer.com/practice/great-learning-state-focus-physiology#comments Fri, 29 Jan 2010 10:18:51 +0000 Paul http://www.brainfriendlytrainer.com/?p=1305 The state of our learners is crucial to the quality of their learning and their state can be profoundly influenced by our state so this is as important for them as it is for us. In this post, Paul explores how Focus and Physiology can enhance learning and improve the experience for both learner and trainer. Related posts:

1. Watch out for that tree! or You get what you focus on A few years ago I had the pleasure of...
2. The teacher, the piano and modelling great behaviour One of the honours in my life is to...
3. The ballet of state management One of the pillars of Brain Friendly Learning is...

]]> http://www.brainfriendlytrainer.com/practice/great-learning-state-focus-physiology/feed 2 http://www.brainfriendlytrainer.com/practice/a-question-of-curry#utm_source=feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=feed http://www.brainfriendlytrainer.com/practice/a-question-of-curry#comments Sun, 24 Jan 2010 20:48:51 +0000 Paul http://www.brainfriendlytrainer.com/?p=1309 The Friday night ritual of watching TV while waiting for the Indian take-away to be delivered inspires Paul to double the amount of visual imagery he uses in his workshops this year. Related posts:

1. As Debbie Harry would say: “Picture this” During the late 1990s I was working as an...
2. One, two, three times embedded We love quizzes. We use them all over the...
3. ‘Oprah neuron’ hints at nature of memory – life – 23 July 2009 – New Scientist Interesting article from New Scientist that reports development in...

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