If you prefer video content over text, I explain this material with fun, musical examples in my YouTube video.
How do you get people to learn – when there’s so much to distract them?
In this article, I break down the cornerstone of modern pedagogy: experiential learning.
What Not To Do
Consider this situation. I want to teach you about the importance of color, and I show you this image:
I say, “Color is what makes all these 3s stand out.”
Makes sense. But because you’re just passively listening, not actively putting the pieces together, you’ll forget this in an hour.
Various theories of adult learning exist, but two popular models – Mezirow’s critical reflection model and Schön’s model of reflection on action – emphasize the need for reflection on experience:1
- Learners must experience something that challenges their old knowledge and beliefs.
- They must reflect on that experience.
- They must change their perspective based on the integration of new knowledge.
What To Do
Check out how Cole Nussbaumer Knaflic, bestselling author of “Storytelling with Data,” teaches the same material. You only need to watch about 30 seconds from the video below to get a sense of Cole’s technique.
First, Cole has you experience something that challenges your old knowledge and beliefs.
She says, “In a moment, I’m going to put a bunch of numbers up on the screen. What I’d like you all to do as fast as you can is count the number of 3s that you see. We got it? We’re going to count 3s. When you know the answer, shout it out. It is a race. You would like to win. Ready, set, go!”
She continues, “All right, six is the correct answer. This took a bit of time, though, right?”
Second, Cole has you reflect on that experience.
She says, “You had to physically read through these four lines of text, look for a 3, which is kind of a complicated shape.”
You understand you are missing a critical piece of knowledge necessary for you to ace this visual task.
Third, Cole has you change your perspective by integrating new knowledge.
She says, “Watch what a different exercise it becomes when I make one tiny change.”
She continues, “Don’t have time to think. Don’t have time to blink. Suddenly there are six 3s in front of you. This is so apparent so quickly because I’m leveraging your iconic memory. I’m using the pre-attentive attribute of intensity of color, in this case, to make the 3s the one thing that stand out as different from the rest.”
You gain the piece of knowledge you were missing: color can flag attention instantly, when used purposefully. In the future you will use color as a “pre-attentive attribute”.
Summary
While lecturing is an efficient mode of delivery, it is not always the most effective one. Adult learners need to experience what they’re learning.
Make sure you challenge your audience’s beliefs, give them space to reflect, and offer an opportunity for perspective change.
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