Adding Sizzle and Substance to your teachingwith

Welcome !

If you haven’t already done so, please choose a postcard from the table

Say hello to the person next to you and tell them why you chose that particular card

Aims of this workshop

• To introduce (or re- introduce) you to the key principles of creative brain friendly learning.

• To share some experiences of using these methods to add sizzle and substance to undergraduate and post-graduate teaching in the School of Nursing Midwifery and Health.

• To motivate you to consider trying out some of these techniques

NB. This is not intended be an expert led session on education research etc.

Learning outcomes

By the end of this workshop you will:•Have experienced a rich and multi- sensory learning environment.

You will be able to: •Identify potential benefits of using creative, brain friendly learning methods in your teaching (and maybe in your staff meetings as well!).

 You will feel motivated to:•Learn more… and tailor these methods to your specific circumstances, adding sizzle and substance to your teaching.

• Brain friendly learning is a philosophy and variety of techniques for making learning faster, more fun and more effective.

• It is learner-centred, with a focus on positive outcomes and strategies for success1,2

 • It is closely related to experiential learning3,4,5

(which has been a mainstay of adult learning for many years).

• As far back as 450 BC the ancient Chinese philosopher Confucius said:

“Tell me, and I will forget. Show me, and I may remember, involve me, and I will understand.”

The Learning Legacy of the Past

19th and 20th century traditional learning models

• Teacher or trainer as “expert”

• Classroom style, serious, dry learning

• The factory model- one size fits all

• Individualistic, often competitive approaches

• Based on books, words and abstract concepts

Diseases & Cures Activity

In this activity we refer to the older approaches as “diseases” of traditional training and suggest some possible “cures” based on creative brain friendly learning.

• Please work in pairs to complete the activity on the handout.

5 Key Principles• The 5 Principles discussed

in this taster workshop are copyrighted by Kaizen Training.

• The Kaizen book The Trainer’s Toolkit: Bringing Brain-Friendly Learning to Life, by Kimberley Hare and Larry Reynolds is recommended as further reading.

Copyright Cornwallis Associates

State is (almost) everything

Resourceful states for learning• Curiosity

To create attention

• High energy To energise or create emotions

• Healthy concern To create higher motivation and a vested interest (NB. Too much is unhelpful)

• Well being To improve focus, enhance comfort, and reduce stress

• Confidence To celebrate, have fun, fix long term memory

• Relax To focus inwards and promote reflection

Copyright Cornwallis Associates

Facilitate creation not consumption

Copyright Cornwallis Associates

Honour uniqueness

Multiple Intelligences

Gardner identified 8 types of intelligence

1. Interpersonal

2. Logical/Mathematical

3. Visual

4. Musical/Rhythmic

5. Intrapersonal

6. Bodily

7. Naturalistic

8. Linguistic/Verbal

Copyright Cornwallis Associates

Make learning rich and multi-sensory

Copyright Cornwallis Associates

Keep it real !

Interpersonal

Characteristics:Aptitude for understanding, empathising and communicating with other people.

Creative strategy:Bounces ideas off others.

Logical/Mathematical

Characteristics:Aptitude for processing analytically, good at calculating and carrying out steps in a sequence.

Creative strategy:Breaks down the problem into concrete, do-able steps.

Visual

Characteristics:An aptitude for seeing, imagining and creating pictures – both inside the mind and externally.

Creative strategy:Creates visual representations- sees things happening. Paints or draws

Musical / Rhythmic

Characteristics:A sensitivity to pitch, rhythm, tone and melody. An enjoyment of music.

Creative strategy:Listens to music, plays an instrument, hums or sings in order to think more creatively.

Copyright Cornwallis Associates

Intrapersonal

Characteristics:An aptitude for accessing wisdom through reflection. Good at thinking things through, processing events and experiences and learning from them.

Creative strategy:Sits and thinks

Copyright Cornwallis Associates

Bodily

Characteristics:An aptitude for physical movement and using the body.

Creative strategy:Thinks whilst throwing a ball around, or clicking a pen, or just pacing.

Copyright Cornwallis Associates

Naturalistic

Characteristics:An aptitude for appreciating and being with nature. Often concerned about the environment and about ecology.

Creative strategy:Goes outside, gardens, hikes, walks, climbs mountains

Linguistic/verbal

Characteristics:An aptitude for expressing thoughts clearly through the spoken or written word

Creative strategy:Uses metaphors and stories. Reading what others have said or thought inspires their own creativity

Activity

In 3 groups present one of the 5 key principles in a way that engagesparticular intelligences bypresenting it as :

• A song, poem or rap• OR drama, comedy sketch, mime

or dance.• OR formula, flow chart , spider

diagram or mind map• OR as an outdoor or other

naturalist type of activity.

Use props, music etc.