Learning Well Podcast
Welcome to the Learning Well podcast where we take learning seriously, just not ourselves! Join our hosts if you want to. . . • Dive deep into current trends and topics with an emphasis on the practitioner. • Gather with your community: join us as we learn from our amazing guests, and interact with us on our social media platforms. We’d love to address your concerns and questions in this podcast. • Be refreshed-Have fun with us! We often laugh at ourselves and sometimes poke fun at our industry as we share stories and practical tips. Make sure to listen to episode 0 to find out more about us.
Listen on:
Episodes
Wednesday Jul 27, 2022
Wednesday Jul 27, 2022
In this episode, we’ll discuss the exciting outcome of a 2-year project of Dr. Jerry Zandstra and others at MindSpring. The Learning ScoreCard is a software tool that measures the true ROI of your learning initiatives and displays the insights in a unique easy-to-understand dashboard.
Segment One: An Overview of the Industry Landscape
Segment Two: Weaknesses and gaps in current industry offerings
Segment Three: The Learning ScoreCard
Segment Four: ROI resources, articles and books
Monday Jul 11, 2022
Monday Jul 11, 2022
Ahh, summer! slowing down, backyard BBQs and the beach. This is our second podcast episode where we discuss a book we highly recommend for a summer beach read. Millennials, Goldfish, and Other Training Misconceptions: Debunking Learning Myths and Superstitions is about 3 years old but the content is timeless and the format highly qualifies it as an easy book to read at the beach.
Monday Jun 27, 2022
Monday Jun 27, 2022
Ahh, summer! slowing down, backyard BBQ’s and the beach. Join us on this episode as we discuss a book we highly recommend as a summer beach read. We’ll discuss the very popular Think Again by Adam Grant especially as it relates to creating learning communities that are willing to re-think to become lifelong learners.
Segments:
Segment One: Individual Re-Thinking: Updating our own view
Segment Two: Interpersonal Re-thinking: Opening others' minds
Segment Three: Collective Re-thinking: Creating communities of lifelong learners
Segment Four: Accolades, dissenting opinions and questions we still have
Monday Jun 13, 2022
Monday Jun 13, 2022
This episode explores 3 specific areas of writing that can be simplified in order to make learning experiences more easily accessible to all learners. We’ll explore word choice, syntax and cognitive load and the power of descriptive language in our writing.
Segment One:
Word Choice: Why the word you choose matters
Nouns: Anglo-Saxon vs. Latinate - Helpful resource
Verbs: Use strong ones
Segment Two: Syntax and Cognitive Load: Why putting words in the correct order matters
Segment Three: Show, Don’t Tell: Why stories and descriptive examples matter - Helpful resource
Monday May 30, 2022
Monday May 30, 2022
Join us as we talk brain science with Dr. Linda Haveman. Not only is she imminently qualified, she makes this complicated subject interesting and provides practical down-to-earth tips to apply to our learning experiences.
Segment One: The difference between neuroscience and cognitive science
Segment Two: Understanding the parts of the brain and how they function
Segment Three: How the brain processes information and its impact on learning
Segment Four: How neurodesign can impact workplace health and safety
Content outline
Neuroscience –Neuro = nerves/nervous system; science = systematic study; inner workings of the brain – cellular, functional, molecular, evolutionary, behavioral.
Cognitive science – study of emotions, perception, memory, knowledge, language and judgment. It involves many other sciences including neuroscience, psychology, linguistics, etc.
Biology of learning
Neurons: 100 billion nerve cells
cell body,
dendrites, receives signals
axon (transmits signals)
myelin sheath - speed of signals by myelin sheath
Brain stem
Controls most of body – breath, heart rate, sleep/wake
Limbic system
Amygdala – emotions and memories generated, rage, fear, pleasure, short-term memory (however, memories are scattered all over the brain)
Hippocampus – converts short term to long term memory
Thalamus – senses – relays motor and sensory signals (except small) to the cerebral cortex
Frontal Cortex – executive processing, planning behavior, expressions, decisions, moderating social behavior
White matter -- gets color for the myelin sheath – that which insulates the axon
Cerebral cortex -- gray matter
Learning
70% hands-on (many employees do not just want a job aid, need to actually do the work)
20% social learning
10% formal – while small percent, critical to gain new information
Must hear it, see it, question it, discuss it, and do it (teach it)
Memory stages
Encoding – more attention, intake
Storage
Retrieval (go from amygdala to hippocampus for processing).
Content needs to be relevant and chunked
2-4 chunks at a time, drawing on a person’s memory, using questions to structure a mental model with
Speed of talk – we can hear 400-500 words/minute. If the facilitator speaks slowly, minds get bored and wander
Spacing effect (1885 by Hermann Ebbinghaus) == practice opportunities are spaced over time
Give listeners a chance to internalize information every 8 minutes
Job aides
Retention – question of the day for review/practice (EM)
Pop quizzes in the middle of training – neuron model, executive brain …
Choice of words are important. Biech in The Art and Science of Training notes that a single word can influence our physical and emotional stress. Whether they are positive or negative words, the changes can be noted on an fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging) scan. Increased activity occurs in the amygdala and hormones and neurotransmitters are released.
Relief of brain overload
Stress hormones killing your brain
Relax – interconnected regions suddenly become quite active (behind your forehead and toward the middle of your brain).
LT memory relies on use of new information and transferred into the workplace. If not transferred, it will be pruned.
Work Environment
Green space, outdoors
Get into the woods
12% decrease in cortisol; 7% decrease in nervous system; 6% lowering of heart rate
Persons living near green spaces were the equivalent of getting a 20K raise
Room color:
Color green – focus like a magnifying glass
Blue = alert and aroused (suppresses melatonin hormone)
Room Size:
Cathedral effect – focus on the gist of the problem
Lower ceiling – focus on the details
People who spend less time on work statistically do their jobs more effectively than people who spend more time.
Break every 90 minutes
Moderate stress good
Procrastination Is fueled by an attempt to avoid adverse feelings
Do activity at higher energy time of day
Exercise – or walk around your office – not matter the size – move
Naps in midafternoon – no longer than 30 minutes
Groups that excel (Medina)
Able to read each other’s cues
Take turns in conversation
Have more women
Books:
Andreatta, B. (2019). Wired to Grow: Harness the Power of Brain Science to Learn and Master any Skill
Andreatta, B. (2017). Wired to Resist: The Brain Science of Why Change Fails and a New Model for Driving Success.
Beich,E. (2016). The Art and Science of Training.
Jesen, E. & McConchie, Liesl. (2020). Brain Based Learning (3rd ed.).
Medina, J. (2021). Brain Rules for Work
Monday May 16, 2022
Monday May 16, 2022
In this episode we discuss how we can apply good principles of psychology, sociology and consumer science to the remote learning experiences we are now designing. Join us as we get a better understanding of these 3 sciences and discuss practical ways to improve our learning design for remote workers. Listen to the end as Jeff and Jerry have to make a high-stakes decision about a mid-afternoon snack as they apply consumer science principles.
Segment One: Psychology
Segment Two: Sociology
Segment Three: Consumer Science
Links referenced:
5 Trends Disrupting Learning and Development in 2022
Wednesday Apr 27, 2022
Wednesday Apr 27, 2022
In this roundtable conversation, we discuss learning with several visual and graphic designers. We find out how their backgrounds bring a fresh and interesting perspective to learning design. They also offer some great ideas for L and D managers to best make use of these types of designers.
Segments:
Segment One: Introduction and Background
Participants background
Why designers are attracted to the learning industry
Segment Two: How strong visual design creates better learning experiences
Segment Three: UX Fundamentals
Segment Four: What are you learning well now?
Monday Apr 18, 2022
Monday Apr 18, 2022
In this episode, we talk to two design experts about the role design plays in learning. We interview Jeff Joanisse-Chief Creative Officer and Ryan Klotz Director of Development/Creative Director.
Segments:
Segment One: Introductions and Background
Segment Two: Discussion of Design and Learning
We think differently about design and even though it means different things to all of us the goal is a successful learning experience.
Discussion/Interview questions
What does the word design mean in your world? Design is universaldetermine the type of learning experience
examples
unpack the elements
What kinds of design is there in the world that you live in?
What types of design projects do you typically work on?
How do you go about determing who your audience is?
How does the audience inform your design?
Design for Know, Believe, DoHow do you design for knowledge change
How do you design for belief or attitude change
How do you design for skills change
How does design impact a users motivation?How can it kill it?
How can it motivate and engage?
Segment Three: What are you Learning Well now?
Monday Mar 28, 2022
Monday Mar 28, 2022
We’ve gathered a group of avid gamers to join us in this episode. We’ll discuss White and Black Hat motivators and what those look like in the games we love. Come for the discussion and be inspired to add more motivational elements to your learning design. Stay for the game tips and life hacks offered at the end in our What are you Learning Well now segment.
Segments:
Segment One: Introductions and our favorite games
Participants:
Andrea Mikulenas, Austin Bowles, Cade Wilson, Eric Balut, Nathan Pastrick, Producer Extraordinaire-Jeff Helmus
Segment Two:
White Hat Motivators
Development and Accomplishment
Empowerment of Creativity and Feedback
Social Influence and Relatedness
Epic Meaning and Calling
Black Hat Motivators
Ownership and Posession
Scarcity and Impatience
Unpredictability and Curiousity
Loss and Avoidance
Segment Three: Application of these Principles
Segment Four: What are you Learning Well now
Topic resources mentioned in this segment:
Gardening:
TV: Gardeners' World (BBC): https://www.gardenersworld.com/
TV: Big Dreams Small Spaces (BBC): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8006786/
Podcast: Joe Gardener Podcast: https://joegardener.com/podcasts/
Youtube: Canadian Permaculture Legacy: https://www.youtube.com/c/CanadianPermacultureLegacy
Book: Edible Landscaping by Rosalind Creasy: https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/7356490-edible-landscaping
Reddit: r/NativePlantGardening https://www.reddit.com/r/NativePlantGardening/
Reddit: r/NoLawns: https://www.reddit.com/r/NoLawns/
BBC Gardeners World Magazine-gardenersworld.com
Big Dreams, Small Spaces (TV Series 2014–2017) - IMDb
Gardening Podcast | Organic Gardener | joe gardener®
Canadian Permaculture Legacy
Edible Landscaping
Additional Resources
Game Links
Dungeons and Dragons website
Matthew Volville Youtube-Running D & D is fun
Cade’s board game suggestions you may not be familiar with
Dead of winter
King of Tokyo
Blood Rage
Pokemon Go Friend codes from Eric and Andrea
Eric: 246938484283
Andrea: 2605 5819 4756
Monday Mar 21, 2022
Monday Mar 21, 2022
We’ve gathered a group of avid gamers to join us in this episode. We’ll discuss White and Black Hat motivators and what those look like in the games we love. Come for the discussion and be inspired to add more motivational elements to your learning design. Stay for the game tips and life hacks offered at the end in our What are you Learning Well now segment.
Segments:
Segment One: Introductions and our favorite games
Participants:
Andrea Mikulenas, Austin Bowles, Cade Wilson, Eric Balut, Nathan Pastrick, Producer Extraordinaire-Jeff Helmus
Segment Two:
White Hat Motivators
Development and Accomplishment
Empowerment of Creativity and Feedback
Social Influence and Relatedness
Epic Meaning and Calling
Black Hat Motivators
Ownership and Posession
Scarcity and Impatience
Unpredictability and Curiousity
Loss and Avoidance
Segment Three: Application of these Principles
Segment Four: What are you Learning Well now
Topic resources mentioned in this segment:
Gardening:
TV: Gardeners' World (BBC): https://www.gardenersworld.com/
TV: Big Dreams Small Spaces (BBC): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8006786/
Podcast: Joe Gardener Podcast: https://joegardener.com/podcasts/
Youtube: Canadian Permaculture Legacy: https://www.youtube.com/c/CanadianPermacultureLegacy
Book: Edible Landscaping by Rosalind Creasy: https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/7356490-edible-landscaping
Reddit: r/NativePlantGardening https://www.reddit.com/r/NativePlantGardening/
Reddit: r/NoLawns: https://www.reddit.com/r/NoLawns/
BBC Gardeners World Magazine-gardenersworld.com
Big Dreams, Small Spaces (TV Series 2014–2017) - IMDb
Gardening Podcast | Organic Gardener | joe gardener®
Canadian Permaculture Legacy
Edible Landscaping
Additional Resources
Game Links
Dungeons and Dragons website
Matthew Volville Youtube-Running D & D is fun
Cade’s board game suggestions you may not be familiar with
Dead of winter
King of Tokyo
Blood Rage
Pokemon Go Friend codes from Eric and Andrea
Eric: 246938484283
Andrea: 2605 5819 4756