The Ten-Minute Trainer

1. Shorter instruction segments and active learner involvement enhance retention

When you use the Training Map in your teaching and training, you will design learning experiences more easily and in a shorter time.

Active participation is key. By breaking up longer lectures into shorter segments of 10-20 minutes and incorporating brief activities between these segments, trainers can significantly increase learner engagement and retention. This approach addresses the shortened attention spans prevalent in today's media-saturated culture.

Variety keeps learners engaged. Incorporating a mix of activities such as pair shares, think-and-writes, pop-ups, and doodles not only breaks the monotony of lectures but also allows learners to process information in different ways. These activities can be as short as 60 seconds, making them easy to implement without sacrificing valuable training time.

Benefits of this approach:

• Increased learner motivation and interest
• Better long-term retention of information
• Enhanced application of learned concepts
• Creation of a more dynamic and interactive learning environment

2. The reticular activating system (RAS) is crucial for maintaining learner attention

The reticular activating system is crucial to directing and maintaining a learner's attention, regardless of whether the learning takes place in formal places such as classrooms or in real-life situations such as on-the-job training.

Understanding the RAS. The reticular activating system is a small but powerful part of the brain that acts as an attention filter. It determines what sensory information is important enough to be sent to the conscious mind, effectively controlling what we pay attention to.

Implications for trainers. To engage the RAS and maintain learner attention, trainers need to frequently introduce changes in the learning environment. This can be achieved through:

• Varying voice tone, speed, and volume
• Moving around the room while speaking
• Using gestures and facial expressions
• Incorporating visual aids and storytelling
• Changing activities and instructional methods regularly
• Altering the physical environment (e.g., room layout, lighting, temperature)

By consistently introducing these changes, trainers can keep the RAS engaged, ensuring that learners remain alert and focused on the material being presented.

3. Creating a safe learning environment is essential for optimal brain functioning

A safe learning community also means that you, the trainer, can also make mistakes. You don't have to be perfect. You don't have to have all the answers.

The impact of emotions on learning. The brain's limbic system, responsible for emotions, plays a crucial role in learning and memory formation. When learners feel threatened or uncomfortable, their brains "downshift" into survival mode, inhibiting higher-order thinking and learning.

Building a safe learning community. To create an environment conducive to learning:

• Start with connection activities that help learners get to know each other
• Establish clear guidelines for respectful interaction
• Allow learners the right to pass on activities they're uncomfortable with
• Model the behaviors and attitudes you want to see in learners
• Address any negative dynamics promptly and constructively

Benefits of a safe environment:

• Increased willingness to take risks and make mistakes
• Greater participation and engagement
• Enhanced creativity and critical thinking
• Improved retention and application of learning

4. The Learning Compass guides natural learning through four key steps

All real learning—when something is learned, remembered, and used in some fashion—is a journey that includes these four steps: self, others, information, and action.

Understanding the Learning Compass. This metaphorical tool represents the natural learning process and consists of four directions:

1. North (Self): Learners connect with their own goals and prior knowledge
2. East (Others): Learners explore what others know about the subject
3. South (Information): New information is gathered and linked to existing knowledge
4. West (Action): Learners apply and practice what they've learned

Implementing the Learning Compass. Trainers can incorporate these steps by:

• Allowing time for learners to reflect on their goals and existing knowledge
• Facilitating discussions where learners share their experiences and knowledge
• Presenting new information and helping learners connect it to what they already know
• Providing opportunities for learners to practice and apply new skills or knowledge

By following this natural learning cycle, trainers can create more effective and engaging learning experiences that resonate with how the brain naturally processes and retains information.

5. The Training Map provides a structured approach to effective teaching

The Training Map is a metaphor for the four steps of the teaching process, and what a trainer needs to do in order to make the learning experience meaningful and memorable.

Four steps of the Training Map:

1. Making the Connections: Engage learners' interest and create positive feelings about the learning experience
2. Explaining the Concepts: Present new material in interesting, multisensory ways
3. Practicing the Skills: Help learners integrate and apply new knowledge or skills
4. Celebrating the Learning: Encourage application of new knowledge and celebrate achievements

Implementing the Training Map. For each step:

1. Use opening activities that connect learners to each other and the topic
2. Incorporate visuals, stories, and hands-on activities in your explanations
3. Provide opportunities for skills practice and application
4. Allow time for reflection, action planning, and celebration of learning

Benefits of using the Training Map:

• More efficient training design and delivery
• Increased learner motivation and engagement
• Enhanced long-term retention and application of learning
• Positive changes in both cognitive and affective states of learners

6. Incorporating CLUE elements increases motivation and memory in learning

When you include the four CLUE elements—creative, linked, useful, emotional—in your training, learners will engage in the learning in interactive and productive ways.

Understanding CLUE:

• Creative: Use novel and intriguing teaching methods
• Linked: Connect new information to existing knowledge
• Useful: Demonstrate practical applications of the material
• Emotional: Create positive emotional associations with the learning

Implementing CLUE in training:

Creative:

• Encourage right-brain reporting (e.g., songs, skits, art)
• Incorporate movement and brainstorming activities

Linked:

• Use analogies and metaphors to connect new concepts to familiar ideas
• Provide time for learners to discuss how new information relates to their experiences

Useful:

• Present real-life challenges and case studies
• Have learners create action plans for applying new knowledge

Emotional:

• Tell engaging stories that evoke emotions
• Create a safe, positive learning environment

By incorporating these elements, trainers can significantly increase learner motivation, engagement, and long-term retention of information.

7. Visual imagery and storytelling significantly enhance information retention

When you include imagery in your training, you will make your lectures more interesting and ensure that the information will be easier for your learners to remember later.

The power of imagery. The human brain processes visual information much faster and more efficiently than text or spoken words alone. By incorporating visual elements into training, we engage both hemispheres of the brain, leading to deeper understanding and better retention.

Techniques for incorporating imagery:

• Use metaphors and analogies to create mental pictures
• Tell stories to illustrate concepts
• Incorporate physical objects or movements to represent ideas
• Use graphics, charts, and doodles in presentations
• Encourage learners to create their own visual representations of concepts

Benefits of using imagery:

• Increased learner engagement and interest
• Improved understanding of complex concepts
• Enhanced long-term memory retention
• More efficient use of training time

By consciously incorporating visual elements and storytelling into training, educators can create more impactful and memorable learning experiences that resonate with learners long after the training has ended.

Last updated: October 5, 2024